Olympic Peninsula & Washington Coast - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 264

( 888-226-7688; tent/RV sites $23/32) Near Brinnon along US 101 is this 425-acre, year-
round campground situated in an expanse of meadow, close to the mouth of the Dosewal-
lips River and facing Hood Canal. There are 70 tent spaces, 55 utility spaces, a dump
space and two showers.
Skokomish Park at Lake Cushman CAMPGROUND$
MAP
(Camp Cushman; 360-877-6770; 7211 N Lake Cushman Rd; tent/RV sites $25/32) Eight miles
northwest of Hoodsport, this campground is centered on a large reservoir on the Skoko-
mish River, popular with anglers, water-skiers and campers. There are 50 tent sites and
30 RV sites open from early Memorial Day (late May) to Labor Day (early September).
Northern Entrances
The most popular access to Olympic National Park is from the north. Port Angeles is the
park's urban hub, and other good access points are Hurricane Ridge, the Elwha Valley
and Lake Crescent, the park's largest lake.
South of Port Angeles the Olympic Mountains rise up to Hurricane Ridge, one of the
park's most accessible viewing points and an active ski station in the winter. Starting in
Race St, the 18-mile Hurricane Ridge Rd climbs 5300ft toward extensive wildflower
meadows and expansive mountain vistas often visible above the clouds.
Sights & Activities
Hurricane Ridge is a good base for many activities including cross-country and downhill
skiing, and snowboarding from mid-December to March, weekends only.
Hurricane Ridge is also the takeoff point for a number of short hikes leading through
meadows to vista points. Hurricane Hill Trail, which begins at the end of the road leading
up, and the Meadow Loop Trails network, starting at the visitor center, are popular, mod-
erately easy hikes. The first half-mile of these trails is wheelchair accessible.
From Hurricane Ridge you can drive a rough, white-knuckle 8-mile road to Obstruc-
tion Peak, laid out by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. Here, hikers
looking for long-distance treks can pick up either the Grand Ridge Trail, which leads 7.5
miles to Deer Park, much of the way above the timberline, or the Wolf Creek Trail, an
8-mile downhill jaunt to Whiskey Bend, where it picks up the Elwha Trail.
Lake Crescent LAKE