On Sunday we took a day trip to Olympic National Park in the Northeast corner of Washington state.
It’s a large park, nearly a million acres, mostly mountainous. We went in the Staircase entrance in the Southwest corner of the park, then skirted the park up highway 101, and went in again at the Hurricane Ridge entrance.
Here’s the Staircase ranger station:
![Staircase ranger station Staircase ranger station](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1795.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Staircase info sign:
![Staircase info sign Staircase info sign](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1787.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase:
![North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1791.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1365&ssl=1)
An animated GIF of the river:
![North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1875.gif?resize=450%2C600&ssl=1)
A little further downstream, next to the Staircase campground:
![North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1781.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The water was so amazingly clear:
![North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1782.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Some fallen trees:
![North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase North Fork Skokomish River at Staircase](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1785.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
An interesting structure:
![Interesting structure Interesting structure](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1780.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1365&ssl=1)
Further downstream:
![North Fork Skokomish River North Fork Skokomish River](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1798.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Lake Cushman:
![Lake Cushman Lake Cushman](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1801.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Lake Cushman Lake Cushman](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1803.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The portion of the road to Staircase outside the park was a somewhat rough dirt road; an opportunity to engage 4WD mode on our truck:
![Dirt road Dirt road](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1804.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
At the visitor center in Hoodsport, an interesting relief map:
![Relief map Relief map](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1805.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1365&ssl=1)
We had lunch at El Puerto De Angeles in Hoodsport, with a waterfront view from our table of a couple of seals relaxing on a dock:
![Seals on a dock Seals on a dock](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1812.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Seals on a dock Seals on a dock](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1813.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
A GIF of the seals:
![Seals on a dock Seals on a dock](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1876.gif?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
I experimented with the iPhone 13 Pro Max macro camera on my margarita:
![Macro margartia Macro margartia](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1810.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1365&ssl=1)
A tasty margarita and burrito:
![Burrito Burrito](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1815.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
After lunch, we headed north up highway 101, and saw a sign for a viewpoint, so headed up a road… that turned out much longer than expected. Apparently the viewpoint was at the top of a mountain. Looking at the map, we still had a long way to go, so decided to turn around, since it was socked in with clouds anyway. The road was quite interesting, with a sea of clouds next to sheer drop-offs:
![clouds next to dirt road clouds next to dirt road](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1818.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![clouds next to dirt road clouds next to dirt road](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1820.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Our truck wasn’t quite so clean after those dirt roads:
![Dirty truck Dirty truck](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1823.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
On reaching Port Angeles, we headed into the park again at the Hurricane Ridge entrance… which was using a temporary entrance station in a cargo container while the permanent ones were being renovated:
![Temporary entrance station Temporary entrance station](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1826.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
At a viewpoint on the road to Hurricane Ridge, an info sign:
![Info sign Info sign](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1827.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The view:
![Viewpoint on the road to Hurricane Ridge Viewpoint on the road to Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1828.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The first of three tunnels as we entered the cloud layer:
![Tunnel on the road to Hurricane Ridge Tunnel on the road to Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1830.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Tunnels on the road to Hurricane Ridge Tunnels on the road to Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1832.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
We drove through the thick fog-like cloud layer for several miles, wondering if the top would be socked in… but no, we saw the sun again as we neared the top:
![Nearing the top of the clouds Nearing the top of the clouds](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1834.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Nearing the top of the clouds Nearing the top of the clouds](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1835.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The Hurricane Ridge visitor center:
![Hurricane Ridge visitor center Hurricane Ridge visitor center](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1838.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Awesome views from above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge:
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1839.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1840.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1842.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1843.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
A selfie:
![David and Jenn at Hurricane Ridge David and Jenn at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1848.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1849.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1850.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
An info sign on the North side of the ridge:
![Info sign Info sign](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1851.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The view on that side:
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1853.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1852.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Unicorn Peak looked like a whale breaching:
![Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge Above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1855.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Heading downhill into the clouds:
![Heading downhill Heading downhill](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1863.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Heading downhill into the clouds Heading downhill into the clouds](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1865.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Heading downhill into the clouds Heading downhill into the clouds](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1867.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
We went for a stroll on the dock at Port Angeles:
![Dock at Port Angeles Dock at Port Angeles](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1869.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
![Dock at Port Angeles Dock at Port Angeles](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1873.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1365&ssl=1)
For dinner, Jenn had fish and chips, and I had a burger and fries at Smugglers Landing Restaurant on the wharf:
![Burger and fries Burger and fries](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1870.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Followed by “New Zealand-style” Welly’s fruit ice cream from a trailer outside:
![Ice cream trailer Ice cream trailer](https://i0.wp.com/sinclairtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_1874.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
The sun had set at that point, so we headed back to Mom’s place in the dark. About 12 hours round-trip, and we only saw a tiny fraction of the park. But it was a great day-trip, a sample of the kind of thing we want to do more of in our new RV lifestyle.