Olympic N.P. for the weekend (Tacoma, Port Angeles: how much, home, buy)

[Macanudo]

Howdy. We're going up next weekend for two nights. We live outside of Tacoma and plan on leaving around noon on Friday. We're taking our 4 year old and 2 year old.

The first night will be at Lake Quinault Lodge. Other than getting there on Friday, we have no specific plans. If we arrive early enough, we'll do the lake loop or just see some of the stuff on the south side of the lake by the lodge (big trees, waterfalls.) Our youngest is an early riser (up by 6 most mornings) so she and I will check out whatever we didn't get around to on Friday. Once mom and big sister are up, we plan on going up to Ruby Beach and then to the short trails near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center.

We'll drive on to Port Angeles Saturday night. On Sunday morning, I'm thinking of backtracking with the little one to Hurricane Ridge then back to get mom and big sister. We'll drive home down 101 and if something catches our eye, we'll pull off and check it out.

Is that too ambitious, especially the Saturday idea? We're not going to try and get into La Push to see Rialto Beach and we are definitely not going up to Shi Shi Beach.

[kanhawk]

I have taken similar peninsula trips myself and it sounds like a good plan. The short hikes around the Hoh visitor are especially nice for kids. If you do go up Hurricane ridge now I check road conditions before you go. Could be deep snow on the road.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by kanhawk

If you do go up Hurricane ridge now I check road conditions before you go. Could be deep snow on the road.

Agreed. You can check here:

Olympic National Park - Hurricane Ridge Current Conditions (U.S. National Park Service)

[Macanudo]

Good tip. I noticed on the Park website that we're required to have for Hurricane Ridge until May 1. Did not know that. Not sure if I'll buy them since it's still up in the air if we even go on that route.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by Macanudo

Good tip. I noticed on the Park website that we're required to have for Hurricane Ridge until May 1. Did not know that. Not sure if I'll buy them since it's still up in the air if we even go on that route.

I assume you're talking about chains? Usually the road is open if it's plowed and/or clear and not if it's not. They do a pretty good job of keeping it plowed if the ski lift/tow is open. So in my experience I don't think it's mandatory you have chains. This year has been a little different though, seems we've had more snow so it could be an issue (FWIW, there's a Les Schwab in PA and they usually will let you return chains you've purchased from them for refund if you don't use them-)

Maybe call the Visitor Center at the park entrance to check on road conditions before you decide yeah or nay to venture up the hill?

[Macanudo]

Yeah, chains. I dropped that entirely when typing.

[Macanudo]

Spectacular trip. Lake Quinault was a great family stop and the Hall of Mosses at Hoh was amazing. Highly recommend to anyone who has never been.

[nwcountrygal]

Did you make it up to Hurrican ridge - if so how much snow!
glad you had a good time - going there sometime next week... I know the area for years but being tour guide without kids - so used to it is there a place you loved as a first timer?

[Macanudo]

We did not attempt Hurricane Ridge. We did not get into Port Angeles until almost 5:00 pm Saturday and the weather got nasty on Sunday. We'll do the Ridge in the summer.