Traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Alberta, and British Columbia, we had expected to see the elusive bald eagle long before this. And now, in the far northern reaches of Olympic National Park off Highway 101 in Washington State, there it was in all its white-crowned, enormous-wing-spanned glory.

Olympic National Park
Located in the north-central expanses of Washington State, Olympic National Park is a special place. Home to the most rainfall in the U.S. (up to 240 inches annually), an unbelievable and endless mix of flora and fauna, and a rare natural beauty, the park is one of those not-to-be-missed spots. During a recent four-month fifth-wheel trip to the western half of the U.S. and Canada, we had the chance to visit upper Washington State and Olympic National Park for the better part of a week and to experience an excellent cross-section of what the area had to offer.

Northern Washington is known for its pristine beauty, clear waters, abundant wildlife, moss-covered old-growth forests, and soaring snow-tipped mountains. The jewel of this area, Olympic National Park, attracts visitors from around the world to view its many-faceted features.

Olympic was set aside as a national monument in 1909 and further protected as national parkland in 1938. Today the park is internationally recognized as a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, testimony to the area's unique nature.

Bears to Forests
Located approximately 100 miles from Seattle, Olympic is host to a wide variety of recreational opportunities and magnificent sights. Ranging in elevation from sea level to 7,980 feet, Olympic features lowland forests, lakes, sandy coasts, soaring mountains, and a temperate rainforest. Some of the highlights of the area include Hurricane Ridge (5,242 feet), Lake Crescent, Hoh Rain Forest, Lake Quinault, and Ruby Beach. Western hemlock, Douglas firs, big-leaf maples, and Sitka spruces dominate old-growth forests in the park. Lakes are everywhere, and the wild coastline offers low-tide exploration, beachcombing, and plenty of hiking. Our time there was spent doing as much as possible, although just relaxing was tempting. You can fish, birdwatch, kayak, picnic, swim, take a scenic drive, surf, do some beachcombing, or catch a glimpse of a bear.

We drove to the heights of Hurricane Ridge (17 miles up a paved road from Port Angeles) to take in the scenery, hiked several moss- and fern-strewn trails of the Hoh Rain Forest, had a tasty bite at the Lake Crescent Lodge, and took a stroll along the lake. We also visited the hot springs and spa at Sol Duc and walked the sandy, driftwood-covered stretches of Ruby Beach. We checked out the unbelievable beauty of Staircase at the extreme southeastern edge of the park, watched the introductory film at the visitors center in Port Angeles, picnicked in the middle of a rainforest (on a sunny day), and drove scenic Highway 101 around the park.

There's an endless list of recreational opportunities within the park, and the area is large enough for visitors to see something different each day no matter how long their stay. There's never a bad season to enjoy this national treasure, but keep in mind that rain is definitely abundant, especially in the spring.