I donned my first pair of hiking boots at 42 years old and headed solo to a hiking camp in Southern Utah. When they felt we were ready for more challenging trails they took us to Zion National Park. I returned home in love with the thrill of the challenge and the beauty that surrounded me that week. I asked my husband to buy a pair of boots and we have been hiking ever since. We have visited 26 parks and now with our $10 Senior Pass and hiking boots we plan to trek through the other 33. Friends ask, “what is your favorite park”. Such an unfair question. I haven’t been in one that didn’t capture the spirit of the land.
Sincerely,
Olympic National Park
Exploring Olympic’s dynamic landscape is like visiting three parks in one. The high mountains offer snow, glaciers, wilderness and — if you time it right — acres of wildflowers. The lush, verdant Hoh Rainforest is unlike anything else in the Lower 48, and home to Roosevelt elk, black bears and other charismatic wildlife. And the park’s stunning coast offers some of the country's wildest and most spectacular beaches, dotted with tide pools and sea stacks. Visitors can now see where park staff recently removed two large dams, letting the Elwha River flow freely again for the first time in more than 100 years.
State(s): Washington
Established: 1938
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
Enjoying a soak in Sol Duc Hot Springs on a clear September morning! The springs get pretty crowded later in the day, but early is like having a private pool to yourself. So peaceful ....
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Greetings from Olympic National Park
Strolling through the Redwoods of Olympic National Park late last Summer, I was reminded of how little we are. The Staircase area of the park that I visited took me back in time instantaneously. It gave me a sense of gratefulness that generations before me had preserved one of our…
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