Elaine Fonken's New Itinerary

Surrounded by rain forest valleys and within minutes of the rugged Pacific Coast, Forks is a friendly little town full of recreation opportunities. Within an hour of Forks, one can be strolling a rain forest trail, kayaking a tidal estuary, surfing a wilderness beach, soaking in natural hot spring waters or canoeing a clear blue glacier-carved lake.

From Coast to Forest

THE BEACH IS CALLING YOU!

But not just any beach. Come visit awesome Rialto Beach. Not only is Rialto one of the most popular beaches on the Olympic Peninsula, it's also one of the most accessible. Park your car and you are there! So, if the thought of a long hike through rough terrain isn't exactly your idea of a great way to spend a relaxing afteroon, then Rialto is destined to be on the top of your list.

Location

Travelers will find the northwest entrance to Olympic National Park’s 57 miles of coastal wilderness at Lake Ozette.* (From Hwy 112 past Clallam Bay, turn southwest onto the Hoko-Ozette Road, follow 21 miles to the Ozette Ranger Station.) Three miles of plank-and-stair trail lead the hiker to Cape Alava, with rocky shores and reefs to explore at low tide. Cape Alava is near the site of an ancient Makah village partially buried in a mudslide over 500 years ago. Artifacts recovered from this site can be viewed at the Makah Museum in Neah Bay.

Location

Port Williams is a great beach for families, lovers, birdwatchers, dog lovers and kayakers. Usually, overlooked, it is seldom busy except for the birds. Be sure to keep an eye out for an elk herd along the way.

Port Williams official name is Marlyn Nelson County Park at Port Williams. This 1-acre gem was deeded to the Clallam County Parks in 1976. The state owns tidelands to the north that link with 1,000 feet of County tidelands ending at the privately-owned Graysmarsh Farm property.

Location

Scenic ocean shores with easy access are found in the Kalaloch (pronounced clay-lock) area, 15 miles south of the Rain Forest Road on Hwy 101. Beach Trail 4 is a pebble beach with dramatic surf (beware of the strong undertow), tidal pools and is a popular place to dip for smelt (schools of small fish that spawn in the surf in warm, calm weather and can be caught with a large net). Picturesque Ruby Beach with a meandering creek, dramatic sea stacks, and drift logs is named for its sometimes garnet-colored sand. A gold mining operation was located here in the early 1900’s.

Location

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK       http://www.nps.gov/olym/

OLYMIC NATIONAL FOREST     www.fs.usda.gov/olympic

The Moments in Time Nature Trail is an easy 0.5-mile trail that meanders through the woods and along the shoreline of Lake Crescent offering a variety of environments from breathtaking views of Lake Crescent and Pyramid Mountain to tiny fern and wildflower meadows to lush woods with towering evergreens and spectacular mosses and fungi. Appropriate for the entire family, it begins just off the parking area of the Storm King Ranger Station on Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park.

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