NATIONAL PARKS SAMPLER

A wealth of national and state parks, national forests and scenic areas plus the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument make Washington State a one-of-a-kind nature destination. From temperate rainforests, volcanic ruins and craggy mountain peaks to high desert terrain, Washington State truly has it all. Five easy trips from Seattle include:

Mt. Rainier National Park: Views of Mt. Rainier can be seen around the Puget Sound area. You probably noticed it if you landed at Sea-Tac International Airport (65 mi/105 km away). Affectionately called "The Mountain" by locals, Mt. Rainier towers 14,410 ft (4,392 meters) and is the fifth tallest mountain in America. If you only have a day to explore Mt. Rainier, you can still get a good feel for the many aspects of the mountain. Start with a visit to the Longmire Museum and a walk down the self-guided half-mile (1 km) Trail of the Shadows. Drive on to Paradise (5,430 ft/1,645 meters) for a 360-degree view of the area as well as exhibits on the park's flora, fauna, glaciers and geology. Park rangers are onsite here. Continuing up toward White River and Sunrise (6,435 ft/1,950 meters) the road winds through forests of cedar, fir and hemlock, with views of four dormant volcanoes including Mount Baker and Mount Adams. The Sunrise Visitors Center features guided nature walks and viewing telescopes that bring the mountain's slopes and glaciers into sharp focus. Overnight stays can be enjoyed at Paradise Inn (seasonal) or National Park Inn located inside Mount Rainier National Park. Many campsites are located inside the park or in areas outside the park. Accommodations are also available in the surrounding communities.

North Cascades National Park: Part of the Cascade Loop, the main highway is the only part of this park accessible by road. For the most dramatic views drive the road from east to west. The highway crosses two passes — Washington Pass and Rainy Pass. At Newhalem, the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center provides exhibits, maps and information about the park and permits for backcountry travel and camping. Overlooks above Ross and Diablo lakes are excellent vantage points for photographs of the lakes. To take full advantage of this park we recommend experiencing the full Cascade Loop (see Regional Destinations). Return to Seattle by evening. This can be a self-drive experience or an escorted tour offered by local tour operators. Gray Line of Seattle will even drop off backpackers and pick them up a couple of days later.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument: (more info) Five visitor centers are located inside the boundaries of the monument offering a variety of presentations and educational opportunities. For adventurers wishing to get a closer look, hiking trails are open and scenic helicopter tours are available. Return to Seattle in the evening.

Olympic National Park: Ninety miles (145 km) west of Seattle across Puget Sound is Olympic National Park, tenth most popular in the USA. Easily reached by car and ferry, the park offers towering peaks, lush rainforests (it's the only temperate rainforest in the continental USA) and a long, pristine shoreline. Stop at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, where park rangers are available to answer questions. On a clear day take the 17-mile (27 km) drive up Hurricane Ridge for spectacular views. Return to Port Angeles and continue west to Lake Crescent, a deep, glacier-carved freshwater lake. A two to three hour drive away is the Hoh Rain Forest. With approximately 140 inches (3,555 millimeters) of rain a year, the feeling of nature as green, damp and big dominates. Check out the conifers, which grow over 195 feet (60 meters) tall. Some are 165 ft (50 meters) in diameter as well. And walk the Hall of Mosses Trail for a quick introduction to the rain forest ecosystem.

Continue to the coastline ... a pristine stretch that offers majestic cliffs and fabulous rock formations. From Ruby Beach to Kalaloch, paths lead down to six different beaches. The northern beaches are the places to see sea stacks (giant rocks). At low tide, discover amazing aspects of marine life in the tide pools. Return to Seattle in the evening. OPTION: Overnight stays can be enjoyed at a lodge or campsites within the national park or at accommodations or campsites in the surrounding communities.

San Juan Island National Historical Park: American Camp & English Camp (more info) Orca whales and bald eagles abound here, as do more than 200 species of birds navigating the Pacific flyway. But the park was created in 1966 based upon an idea: that individuals and nations can solve their problems peacefully without resorting to violence. For it was here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over a pig shot by an American farmer. Actually, it was a bit more complicated than that. Pressures had been building between the two nations over possession of the San Juan Island group since 1846 when the Treaty of Oregon left ownership unclear. Thus came the "Pig War" crisis, at the height of which more than 500 U.S. Army soldiers and three British warships were nose to nose on the island's southern shore, not 10 miles from Victoria, BC. Fortunately, officials on both sides quickly restored calm and the nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the island until the boundary could be decided. The American soldiers and British Royal Marines remained for 12 years until Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany, as arbitrator, awarded the islands to the United States. Today the park is an excellent place to hike, picnic, play on the beach, experience wildlife and enjoy a wealth of programming, including the summer living history events.

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