Welcome to Olympic National Park!
Meet your guides and fellow travelers this morning at our Seattle area host hotel. After brief introductions we hop in our shuttle van and begin our three-hour transfer to tonight's established front country National Park Campground. This evening our guides walk through the daily itinerary, outline Leave No Trace principles and distribute group gear. We enjoy a delicious camp meal before tucking ourselves into our tents for the evening. Lunch and Dinner included.
Hiking mileage: minimal; transfer 4 hours.
See why the Olympic Peninsula boasts one of the largest temperate rainforests in North America.
Depending on our backcountry permit access, we'll either start from the Sol Duc Falls trailhead or straight from camp. Either way, our walk takes us from the lower elevations of the Sol Duc watershed handrailing either the Sol Duc River or Canyon Creek tributary. We will pass beautiful, plunging falls and fern choked understories while trees hundreds of years old provide cool shade along the trail. As we part ways with the diverse ecosystem of the rainforest, we start a steady ascent through alpine forests and meadows. Our views open up across the gorgeous Sol Duc Valley and we finish the day at a picturesque backcountry camp. All meals included.
Hiking mileage: up to 7 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: around 2,000'
Enjoy spectacular views from the High Divide Trail.
Today we journey along one of the most iconic backpacking trails within the National Park system. The High Divide, offering 360-degree views of Mount Olympus, the Hoh River Valley and down into the Seven Lakes Basin. Lunch will be on the trail where we take our time to enjoy a well-deserved break as we take in the expansive mountain views. Back on the trail to this evening's camp, we'll be camera-ready in the hopes of spotting the plentiful wildlife that calls the area home. Once we've made camp we share highlights from the day and enjoy our last backcountry dinner. All meals included.
Hiking mileage: up to 9 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: around 2,000'
Hike our final miles of the High Divide Loop.
We savor our final miles on the trail back to the trailhead. After loading our gear and bodies into the van, we'll have lunch before setting out for our 3.5-hour drive back to Seattle. We anticipate arriving back into Seattle later this afternoon, though this time may change based off group pace, trail conditions, weather and other elements beyond our control.
Hiking mileage: 3-7 miles; transfer 4 hours.