Olympic NP in October?

Looking into planning a fall trip for the first week in October and I have been watching airfares. I see that I can get cheap (well cheaper) fares to Seattle and am looking at Olympic NP as possible destination.

Is October a good time for Olympics or is it a bad season photography-wise? Obviously past the main tourist season, but would it be a good photography destination at that time of year?

I was thinking that with the coast, rainforest, and mountains in Olympic that there should be something worth photographing but do not have any experience in this area and looking for thoughts from those in the know.

As well as favorite places to stay or must see sights.


Would also consider Ranier or North Cascades as possible locations if they would be better.

Other alternative might be Redwood as I can also get cheap fares into San Fran.

So if Redwood would be better I'd consider that too.

Thanks for any info.

Typically, in a normal year, fall color is peak around the first week of October at Mount Rainier. Too early to tell if this is going to be a normal year, though. So far, it's not. Mount Shuksan is another option for fall color.

I don't think you can go wrong anytime of year in ONP. The first of Oct will probably be a little early for fall color in the lower elevations. Weather is often still nice but transitioning that time of year which can be great for the coast and there are plenty of options out there including Ruby,Second,Rialto, and Shi Shi beaches. The Hoh and Quinalt rainforests are worth visiting although if we have a hot dry summer the moss won't be the vibrant green you get this time of year. Sol Duc Falls and Hurricane Ridge should be on your list of places to visit as well.

If you go to ONP I would opt to stay in Forks as it is pretty centrally located for trips to the coast, etc. If you go to Rainier there are plenty of choices both in campgrounds and motels/Inns...check the MRNP website for available options.

Depending on how much time you plan on spending you may have time to visit ONP and MRNP.....they aren't all that far apart.

Thanks Mark! Just what I was looking for.

At first look I was thinking of a couple of days around Crescent Lake and then a couple around Forks or La Push.

Not much to add to what Mark said - he's covered it well. Plenty of places to keep you busy on the Olympic Peninsula, but if you do Mount Rainier as well, I recommend Skyline Trail at Paradise and the Naches Loop Trail near Tipsoo Lake (east side of MRNP) as good bets for fall color. Reflection Lakes and Bench Lake should be good, too.

Darren,

I live in Ohio, but I am somewhat familiar with the seasons in the Olympics and North Cascades. Fall color timing is elevation related. Most of the color is up high. If you are planning to hike or backpack in the Olympic mountains, the first week of October is a good bet. The High Divide trail (20 mile circuit) is a particularly good trail for fall color in ONP (the hucleberry bushes giving the mountain slopes their color). Plenty of bears as well. The same holds true in Mt. Rainier. It's also peak time for larch trees in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness (including the famous Enchanted Lakes) and in the North Cascades. The area up by Mt. Baker is noted for fall color. For more info, you might want to check out this site: http://www.sunnywalter.com/WhereView-WNW-FallColor.html#Baker

I am actually headed out there this fall myself (late Sept) for a backpack trip into the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Thanks for even more info. I grabbed airfare today. Seattle is usually a very expensive destination from DFW, but I got a decent fare for that route. Looking forward to see something a little different.

After looking over the area might spend the whole week on the Olympic peninsula and stay in two areas. Looking forward to being able to see the coast and mountains plus rainforest. Luckily I have good rain gear.

I'm not familiar with the OP, but I noticed you didn't mention Fall color specifically in your original post. If you want those drenched, fog draped forest scenes in the OP, you might find later October better (greater likelihood of sun filtering clouds and mist) but the later you get into October, the lower elevation your destinations might have to be. I'm not sure how late Rainier at Paradise is open. Some years I've hiked way up on Cooper Spur on Mt. Hood at the end of October. Other years there were 3-4 feet of snow by that time. It's good that you are thinking Coast, OP, and Rainier. It should give you lots of options.

Don't forget about Cape Flattery. Definitely Iconic but in October you might catch an awesome sunset over Tatoosh Island and the lighthouse. While the lighthouse has a somewhat industrial look to it with a big dish on top of it the light could be spectacular with the mixed sun and clouds we often get in early October. Also the masssive, rugged cliffs and seastacks at the Cape are worth a shot or two. Definitely check out the Sol Duc Valley as mentioned.

Thanks for the info this gives some ideas to work with.

Looking at spending the whole week in Olympic NP with possibly my last night at Mt Ranier before flying home.

I will be after landscape images and am looking forward to being able to see mountains, rain forest, and coastal scenes. Hoping for some some fall color too but great landscape scenes and dramatic light are always my first interest.

In order to both see as much as possible as well as stay close to different areas I am considering:

The Lake Crescent area, looks kinda like Glacier NPish from the pics. Maybe use that as a base for 2-3 nights for that area and going to Hurricane Ridge from there.

The heading over toward La Push and staying closer to the coast for 3-4 nights or so. Doing the coast and rain forest areas from there.

I'll check out some of the suggested areas and see about building a plan around that.

Looking forward to it!

Thanks again!!

Lake Crescent may not be what you are looking for. Its a cool short drive around the lake, but thats about it. But the other areas are real close, La Push, Sol Duc, Forks, Neah Bay for Shi Shi. So have fun. If you are on the East side of the Olympics, Upper Jefferson Lake can be nice with a reflection of Mt. ? i forgot, Washington or Jefferson, in the lake if the water level isnt to low, which it may be at that time of year, well, traditionally, it will be. If you do get to that area, a short (three miles?) very steep hike to a alpine lake tucked away can be very nice. It is steep. On the Dosewallips river you have a decent water fall that is just a few miles up the road from 101 that is rocky brook falls. A hundred yard hike past the little power plant on the right side of the road. I have an old photo of the Dosewallips falls off the road that looks kinda nice, you have to hike in there now, about 3 to 4 miles in to get the shot, the road is washed out from years ago so have to hike it now. Lake constance is up there also, steep hike to get there. Murhut falls up the Duckabush river, woodsy, steep around the falls, only a mile hike in, composition wise? Get creative i guess.
Up to Lake Cushman you can hit the Mount Elinor trail to the top, three miles?, and have a heck of a view of the Olympics. Or at the parking area, or just before it, rolling hills for that sunrise or sunset shot, which can be nice. Anyway, a few things on this side of the Olypmics, eastern, but not so 'wide open' as can other areas be. :)

Thanks Cliff!

Good info that should help me plan my days.