Raedan1103's Peninsula Road Trip Aug 2012!

World's Largest Red Cedar Tree

World Champion Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata)

Section 36, Township 26 North, Range 13 West, W.M.  Jefferson County

19.4 feet in diameter, 178 feet tall, estimated 1000 years old.

Location

Jefferson County WA
United States
See map: Google Maps

Around Forks

The town of Forks is situated on a broad prairie 15 miles from the ocean (in the Quillayute Valley). About 5,000 folks live in the greater Forks area, and you’ll find restaurants, lodgings, shops and services in this friendly, rural community.

Location

Forks Forks, WA
United States
47° 57' 7.0524" N, 124° 23' 7.1664" W
See map: Google Maps

Dungeness Recreation Area

This County Park, with sweeping views of the shipping traffic as they make their way through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, serves as the trailhead for the Dungeness Spit National Wildlife Refuge.  

Dungeness Recreation Area has 67 campsites, 3 restrooms (2 with showers), group camping with a shelter, playground, hiking and equestrian trails, on 216 acres.

 Summer: 7 a.m. until dusk
Winter: Campground is closed October through March

The park is open year-round for day use.

Clallam County Parks Department Phone: 360-417-2291

Location

Dungeness Recreation Area
Lotzgesell Road
Sequim, WA
United States
48° 8' 5.3196" N, 123° 10' 4.53" W
See map: Google Maps

RainForest Country

When you visit the Rain Forest Country, you are surrounded by wonders of nature. Visit the  temperate Hoh Rain Forest (a World Heritage site), with its huge five hundred year old trees and Elk herds.   There are trails to walk through the forest all beginning near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. FUrther south visit Lake Quinault Rain Forest and walk the trails. 

Twilight self tour in Forks

If you are a fan of the Twilight book series, you can come to Forks and tour the sites that are featured in the books written by Stephenie Meyer.  Just stop by the Forks Chamber of Commerce visitor center (1411 South Forks Ave.) to receive your free Twilight packet.  It includes trivia tests from all four books along with a Forks Twilight map showing where the sites are located. Hours are 10am to 5pm Monday - Saturday and 11am - 4pm on Sundays.

Location

Forks Chamber of Commerce
1411 South Forks Ave.
Forks, WA 98331
United States
47° 55' 37.2648" N, 124° 22' 45.5988" W
See map: Google Maps

Moments in Time Trail

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.

Location

Storm King Ranger Station
U.S. Highway 101
Port Angeles, WA 98362
United States
48° 3' 27.468" N, 123° 47' 14.7696" W
See map: Google Maps

Hoh Rain Forest

Among the only protected temperate rain forests in the Northern Hemisphere, the Hoh Rain Forest is a not-to-be-missed attraction on the West Side of the Olympic Peninsula. Moisture-laden air from the Pacific brings an average of 140 inches of annual rainfall to the Hoh Valley,(record of 190 inches) in addition to condensed mist that contributes another 30 inches. Nineteen miles inland from Hwy 101 you’ll find the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center.

Location

Hoh Rainforest WA
United States
See map: Google Maps

Forks

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

Olympic National Park & Olympic National Forest

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

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

 

Olympic National Forest

Olympic National Forest covers over 633,000 acres and is made up of two ranger districts: the Hood Canal and the Pacific. It offers a wide range of recreation, including hiking, camping, backpacking, picnicking, boating and other outdoor activities. It operates 17 campgrounds that are on a first-come, first-served basis and have varying overnight fees. There are five designated Wilderness Areas. These do no require wilderness permits, but a Northwest Forest Pass is required for all vehicles parked at many ONF trailheads.

ONF Hood Canal District
Quilcene, WA
tel: 360-765-2200

Location

Station WA
United States
47° 53' 49.6788" N, 123° 1' 21.0792" W
See map: Google Maps

Port Angeles

Visit www.portangeles.org to find everything you need to know about Port Angeles.

Wildlife Viewing

The Olympic Peninsula is one of the best places on the globe to view diverse wildlife at close proximity. Black-tailed deer inhabit the hills and lowlands and are frequently seen through the region. Likewise, eagles and raptors such as falcons and hawks populate many areas on the peninsula. In the fall, spawning season brings different species of salmon into the rivers and streams. In Olympic National Park, mountain goats live in the higher altitudes, while Roosevelt elk roam in the lower areas and move in and out of the Park boundaries.

Location

WA
United States
48° 5' 28.1472" N, 123° 3' 3.8916" W
See map: Google Maps