Postcards from Olympic National Park

This was one of the first photos we took, honestly, and it perfectly sums up the rest of the trip. Me, staring up in complete awe, overwhelmed by how beautifully lush and green everything was. The towering trees, the thick moss draped over branches, the way the sunlight filtered through… it felt almost otherwordly!

The weather on the first day wasn’t exactly ideal, but what the hell—this is the Pacific Northwest. Rain is just a part of the experience! Undeterred, we headed to an old-growth forest near Port Angeles, hiking through the misty drizzle from the Heart O’ The Hills Trailhead. And let me tell you, the trees here are ancient. Here’s Alex standing next to the roots of a fallen giant, completely dwarfed. And he’s 6 foot tall! We came across so many trees that made us feel tiny in comparison. Alex even counted the rings on a chopped trunk and guessed it had been standing for at least a couple hundred years. Just imagine everything this forest has seen!

I mean, look at how green and lush everything is! Prior to this trip, I didn’t even know that temperate rainforests were a thing. Turns out, they’re pretty rare—only a handful exist in the world, and the Pacific Northwest is home to some of the largest. With all the rain and moisture, these forests grow some of the tallest and oldest trees on Earth, and the moss-covered branches make everything look straight out of a fairy tale.

I snapped this photo while while on the Marymere Falls Trailhead, I just thought it was so fascinating to look down and see nothing but lush greenery. All the tree branches are completely draped in moss! In fact, the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park are some of the mossiest places on Earth—certain trees here can accumulate up to four times (!!) their own weight in moss! With all the moisture in the air, it’s the perfect environment for these soft, green blankets to thrive.

Pictured in the background here is Lake Crescent, the second deepest lake in Washington State. The low nitrogen levels in the water prevents algae growth, making the water crystal-clear. But what’s even more fascinating is the lake’s unique fish population—Lake Crescent is home to the Crescenti Cutthroat trout, a species found nowhere else in the world. According to the legends of the local Klallam Tribe, the lake was formed after a great battle between mountain spirits, who split the land apart in their fury. Standing here, surrounded by towering trees and the blue water, it definitely feels like a place steeped in history and mystery.

Pictured here is the Sol Duc Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Olympic National Park. The name “Sol Duc” comes from the Quileute language and means “sparkling water”. The Sol Duc Valley has long been home to the Quileute Tribe, who have lived in the region for thousands of years. They believed the hot springs nearby had healing properties, and today, you can still soak in the Sol Duc Hot Springs, much like people have for generations. We unfortunately didn’t get to pay it a visit, but soaking in the hot springs would have been the perfect post-hike activity!

We knew we wanted to include some backpacking in our trip, so we set out on a 3-day adventure through the Hoh Rainforest. This was the first time Alex and I had done a backpacking trip just the two of us, and while I was a little nervous at first, I’m happy to report that it went incredibly well! There was something so special about not just being out in nature, but experiencing it in such a unique ecosystem. I’ll be sharing more about the hike in an upcoming post—stay tuned!

Aside from its lush rainforests, Olympic National Park also includes a breathtaking stretch of Pacific coastline. Coming from the East Coast, I’m not used to beaches being the spot for sunsets (since, you know, the sun sets in the opposite direction). But watching the sun dip below the horizon here at Rialto Beach was next-level magical. And unlike the warm, sandy beaches I grew up with in Southeast Asia, this one was all pebbles—turns out, pebble beaches can be pretty nice too! Fun fact: these rounded stones are shaped by the relentless waves of the Pacific, which have been smoothing them out for thousands of years. It was the perfect place to pull up a blanket and soak in the view. Just don’t try dipping your toes in—the water may look inviting, but even in August, it’s freezing.

Despite our legs being ridiculously sore after finishing a 3-day backpacking trip, we made a quick stop at Ruby Beach on our way to our next accommodation—and wow, was it worth it! The view was absolutely magical, especially with the golden light just before sunset. Fun fact: Ruby Beach gets its name from the reddish-colored fragments of garnet in the sand, which give it a subtle rosy hue in the right light. It’s also part of the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 states—over 70 miles of wild, untouched beauty. No wonder it felt so special standing there!

Something I hadn’t done in a while was explore tide pools, and I forgot how much fun it is! Most of the minus tide times weren’t exactly convenient, so we had to settle for medium tide—meaning we almost got splashed a lot. But honestly, that just added to the adventure. We spotted plenty of starfish and bright green anemones clinging to the rocks, totally unfazed by the waves. This little guy was hanging out at Beach 4, near Kalaloch, one of several great spots for tide pooling along the coast.

Hole-in-the-Wall was absolutely picturesque—but we definitely didn’t time our visit well. The tide was rising, the clouds were rolling in fast, and we had to scramble over some very slippery rocks to get here. Was it worth it? I’d say so! This natural arch was carved over thousands of years by relentless waves and wind, slowly shaping the rock into the dramatic formation it is today. At low tide, you can walk right through and explore the tide pools on the other side, but at high tide… well, let’s just say you don’t want to get caught on the wrong side! If you ever go, be careful—those rocks are no joke!