Olympic

https://www.nps.gov/olym https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_National_Park Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. The park sprawls across several different ecosystems, from the dramatic peaks of the Olympic Mountains to old-growth forests. The summit of glacier-clad Mt. Olympus is popular with climbers, and hiking and backpacking trails cut through the park's rainforests and along its Pacific coastline. With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Come explore! You can reach Olympic National Park via the I-5 corridor or by any one of the quieter state roadways. Once you arrive on the Olympic Peninsula connect to Hwy 101 to reach any destinations in and around Olympic National Park. From Olympia: take I-5 to Hwy 101 From Tacoma: take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104. From Washington/Oregon Coast connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen. Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center Located in the Hoh Rain Forest. The visitor center is open daily during the summer and intermittently during the winter. Educational exhibits and informational brochures available. Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is located at the terminus of the Upper Hoh Road. The Upper Hoh Road is accessible via Highway 101, south of Forks, WA. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center burned down on May 7, 2023. A Visitor Contact Station with information window is staffed daily in summer. Restrooms, water, information and maps are available. Guided walks and talks are offered during the summer. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is located at the terminus of Hurricane Ridge Road. This road is accessed from the city of Port Angeles via Mount Angeles Road. Kalaloch Ranger Station Kalaloch Ranger Station is open daily during the summer and closed the rest of the year. Educational exhibits, informational brochures, a small sales area, and restrooms are available. Kalaloch Ranger Station is located 36 miles south of Forks off of Highway 101. Mora Ranger Station Small ranger station located two miles from Rialto Beach. Mora Campground nearby. Ranger Station is closed during winter. Open intermittently during the summer. Park maps and informational brochures available. The Mora Ranger Station is located off of Mora Rd via Highway 110. Highway 110 is accessible from Highway 101, a few miles north of Forks, WA. Olympic National Park Visitor Center This is the main Visitor Center and Wilderness Information Center for Olympic National Park. Park staff are available daily at the visitor center, and by phone (360-565-3130) or email. Restrooms are available during the day. Visit the Olympic National Park website for detailed directions and park maps. Ozette Ranger Station Ozette Ranger Station is open intermittently during the summer and closed during the winter. Informational brochures available. Ozette Ranger Station is located near Lake Ozette along the Hoko-Ozette Road. The Hoko-Ozette Road is accessible from Highways 112 and 113, both of which connect to Highway 101. Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station CLOSED Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station is open intermittently during the summer and closed during the rest of the year. Educational exhibits and informational brochures available. Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station is located along the North Shore Road in the Quinault Rain Forest. The North Shore Road is accessible via Highway 101. Sol Duc - Eagle Ranger Station Unstaffed Eagle Ranger Station is located off of the Sol Duc Hot Springs Rd. This road is accessed by Highway 101. Staircase Ranger Station Staircase Ranger Station is open intermittently during the summer and closed during winter. Informational brochures available. Staircase Ranger Station is located Northwest of Hoodsport, WA. It is accessed by Highway 119, which will then turn into an unpaved road. Highway 119 connects to Highway 101 in Hoodsport, WA. Storm King Ranger Station Storm King Ranger Station is open intermittently during the summer and closed during the rest of the year. Informational brochures available. Storm King located off of Highway 101 in the Lake Crescent area. Deer Park Campground At 5,400 feet in elevation, Deer Park boasts mountain views and starry skies. With a steep and winding gravel access road, Deer Park is not RV accessible. Campsite 15.00 $15 per night camping fee. Deer Park A view from the top of a mountain with trees and mountains in the background. Mountain views from the Deer Park Campground. Fairholme Campground (10/2/2023) CLOSED for the winter, Reopening for summer 2024. Neighboring Lake Crescent, Fairholme includes lakeside campsites and a nearby boat launch. Fairholme Campground Fee 24.00 Fee is $24.00 per a night. Fairholme Walk In Site 01 A campsite with a picnic table. Beyond the trees, glittering turquoise water. A walk-in campsite at Fairholme Campground. Sunrise from Fairholme Campground 01 A lake surrounded by mountains reflects a brilliant orange sunrise. Sunrise from Fairholme Campground Graves Creek Campground Located in the Quinault Rain Forest, relax near a serene stream at Graves Creek Campground. Graves Creek Campground 20.00 $20.00 per a night. Graves Creek Campground 01 A campsite with a picnic table among tall trees. A site at Graves Creek Campground. Heart O' the Hills Campground Surrounded by old growth forest, Heart O' the Hills offers summer ranger programs and great family fun Heart O' the Hills Campground Fee 24.00 $24.00 per night. heart campground site A campsite with picnic table among tall trees. A site at Heart o'the Hills Campground. Hoh Campground Surround yourself with moss and ancient trees in this temperate rain forest. Hoh campground offers summer ranger programs and some riverside campsites along the Hoh River. Reservations in summer, first come first served the rest of the year. Hoh Campground Fee 24.00 $24.00 per night. Hoh Campground 01 A campsite with picnic table surrounded by mossy trees and ferns. A site in the Hoh Rain Forest Campground. Hoh Campground 01 A campsite with a tent in the grassy field A campsite in the Hoh Rain Forest Campground. Hoh Campground 03 A path through grass to a blue river. A path to the Hoh River from the campground. Kalaloch Campround Oceanside camp at Kalaloch with some sites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Online reservations accepted for peak season. Check recreation.gov for current season dates. All sites are first-come, first-served in off season. Kalaloch Campground Fee 24.00 $24 per night. Kalaloch Campground 01 A campsite with a picnic table and tent, overlooking the ocean. A site at Kalaloch Campground. Mora Campground Situated in a coastal forest, some sites offer views views of the Quillayute River. Mora is located two miles from Rialto Beach. Mora Campground Fee 24.00 $24.00 per a night. Mora Campground 01 A campsite with picnic table among very tall trees. A campsite at Mora Campground. North Fork Campground Surrounded by temperate rain forest, this small and remote campground is a great spot for campers seeking solitude. North Fork Campground Fee 20.00 $20.00 per night. North Fork Campground 01 A campsite with picnic table nestled among conifer trees and ferns. A campsite at North Fork Campground nestles among trees and ferns. Ozette Campground Adjacent to Lake Ozette, this small campground is great for those that enjoy lakeside camping and water activities Ozette Campground Fee 20.00 $20.00 per night. Ozette Campground 01 A grassy campsite with picnic table. A campmsite at Ozette Campground. Ozette Campground 02 Deer Two deer passing through a grassy campsite with a picnic table. A lake is visible through the trees. Blacktail deer pass through a campsite at Ozette Campground. Queets Campground Relax in this secluded campground near the Queets River. This campground is only accessible from the Upper Queets River Road due to a past mudslide Queets Campground Fee 15.00 $15.00 per a night. Queets Campground 01 A campground with a fire pit and picnic tables among conifer trees, beside a rushing river. A riverside campsite in the Queets Campground. South Beach Campground Positioned on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, South Beach offers panoramic ocean views and beach access. South Beach Campground Fee 15.00 $15.00 per a night. South Beach Campground 01 Picnic tables on a bluff overlooking the ocean. South Beach Campground, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Staircase Campground Camp near the Skokomish River and enjoy old-growth forest at Staircase. Summer ranger programs and riverside campsites available. Staircase Campground Fee 20.00 $20.00 per a night. Staircase Campground 01 A riverside campsite with many large, yellow maple leaves. A riverside campsite in the Staircase Campground in the fall. Roosevelt Elk A herd of elk crossing a river. A herd of Roosevelt Elk cross a river in Olympic. Tide Pools of the Olympic Coast Orange sea stars on a rocky coast. Ocher sea stars rest on the rocks during a low tide on one of Olympic's beaches. Mountain Sunset Hikers sit and watch the sun set behind snow-capped mountains. Backpackers stop to enjoy a spectacular sunset in Olympic's high country. Hurricane Ridge Fresh snow atop the Olympic Mountains. A fresh layer of snow covers Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. Olympic Forest Large trees and ferns Large trees and ferns inhabit the temperate forests of Olympic. 2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Recipients of the 2015 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Shark Awareness Before heading into the ocean, review some safety information to further minimize the chances of a shark encounter. Shark and fish in the blue ocean waters Partnerships add a Charge to your Travel Plans The National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, BMW of North America, the U.S. Department of Energy, concessioners, and gateway communities have collaborated to provide new technologies for travel options to and around national parks. As part of this public-private partnership, BMW of North America, working through the National Park Foundation, donated and arranged for the installation of 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports in and around national parks. Park Air Profiles - Olympic National Park Air quality profile for Olympic National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Olympic NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Olympic NP. “Chicken of the woods” fungi on a tree Tribute: Gary L. Larson, Limnologist A remembrance of limnologist Gary L. Larson Gary Larson Dutch Creek Incident, Andy Palmer Fatality These reports address the accident which occurred on July 25, 2008 when firefighter Andrew “Andy” Palmer was fatally struck by a falling tree while assigned to the Eagle Fire, part of the Iron Complex on the Shasta Trinity National Forest in Northern California. At the time of the accident, Andy was employed as a firefighter at Olympic National Park in Port Angeles, Washington. A young man near the skeleton of a ship. Glacier Monitoring in the National Parks of Washington State: A virtual field experience. Increasing public awareness of Glacial resources in the North Coast / Cascades National Parks Virtual reality is being investigated as a means of providing the average visitor and the public with the experience of glaciers and glacier research. 2016 Recipients: George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Learn the invaluable contributions of the 2016 Hartzog winners, celebrating excellence in volunteerism. Group of school kids pointing at things in a marsh area National Park Service Visitor and Resource Protection Staff Focuses on Week of Leadership Staff from all levels of the National Park Service in law enforcement, United States Park Police, as well as fire and aviation spent a week learning leadership lessons from one another as well as from a diverse group of leaders during the last week of September 2019. A group of women and men on a rocky outcrop in high desert. 2019 Connecting with our Homelands Awardees Hopa Mountain, in partnership with the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the 2019 awardees of the Connecting with our Homelands travel grants. Twenty-one Indigenous organizations, schools, and nonprofits have been awarded travel funds for trips to national park units across 12 states/territories within the United States. An elder and young student talk while sitting on a rock. Butterflies of the North Coast & Cascades A comprehensive list of butterfly species found in Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park Complex, Olympic National Park, and San Juan Island National Historical Park. Brightly colored Milbert's tortoiseshell on the ground Washington Fisher Restoration Fishers, a member of the weasel family, are being reintroduced to Washington State. A fisher, a medium-sized mammal with brown fur. PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!! NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth. View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space North Coast and Cascades Network Exotic Plant Management Team The North Coast and Cascades Network Exotic Plant Management Team (NCCN EPMT) manages a diverse array of exotic plants across the dramatic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The team works with partner parks and agencies to augment vegetation management across the network. People loading weed control equipment into the back of a vehicle Moths of the North Coast & Cascades Moths are insects and members of the taxonomic order of Lepidoptera. They and their larvae provide food for other insects, fish, and animals, and they are pollinators for many nocturnally flowering plants. Over the last five years, parks in the North Coast and Cascades Network have conducted Bioblitzes to begin developing species lists of moths in our parks. Scribe moth specimen What’s That Buzz? Documenting Pollinator Diversity in North Cascades and Olympic National Parks Most flowering plants rely on insect pollinators for successful reproduction. Thus many plant-feeding animals (like bears, goats, elk) are also dependent on insect pollinators for their well-being. Still, park scientists know relatively little about the diversity of native insect pollinators. We designed a study to document the diversity of two very important groups of insect pollinators in North Cascades and Olympic National Parks: bees and flower flies. Side view of a yellowhead bumble bee specimen with a substantial pollen load on its hind leg Glacier Surveys in Olympic National Park The winter of 2015 was representative of Washington climate-change scenarios with a 2° C increase in temperature. This provided an ideal opportunity to analyze glacier distribution, glacier melt, and the downstream contribution from Olympic glaciers impacted by climate change. Glacier flowing through rocky valley with blue sky in background Nitrogen Deposition in the North Coast and Cascades Nitrogen deposition is a widely an unknown yet poignant issue in the west. Studies at Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, and North Cascades National Park are investigating effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Of salmon and success: Partnership across boundaries in Olympic National Park Invasive species management in national parks can be hard, but success is possible! Learn how the Exotic Plant Management Team, along with tribal and state partners, fought invasive knotweed - but not vampires - in Olympic National Park. A man standing in a tall thick of knotweed Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on High Alpine Lakes in North Coast and Cascades Parks Remote high alpine lakes are sensitive indicators of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Anthropogenic N deposition has potential to change species composition and ecosystem function in alpine lakes. Alpine lake surrounded by mountains. Historic Visibility Studies in National Parks Haze can negatively impact how well people can see and appreciate our national parks across the country. This article summarizes the visibility studies from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s aimed at identifying the sources of haze causing pollution at specific parks and improving visibility monitoring methods. Big bend national park river Understanding Mercury Concentrations in Mountain Lake Fish Mountain lakes may seem pristine, but they are subjected to multiple types of man-made stressors. Since the industrial revolution, toxins from industrial activities have begun to travel through the atmosphere and be deposited onto the mountain landscape, where lakes act as collection basins. This study sought to determine the range of mercury concentrations in mountain lake fish, and to understand which variables contribute to high mercury in fish. Researcher in an inflatable boat on a sparkling mountain lake Bees of the North Coast & Cascades Bees are some of the most abundant and important pollinators in the world – especially in mountainous environments. Despite the importance of bees in our natural environments, many national parks do not know what species live within their boundaries. In 2016, to celebrate the Centennial of the National Park Service, North Coast and Cascades national parks focused on inventories of pollinators, including bees. Macro photo of the metallic blue head of a mason bee Glacier Monitoring in North Coast & Cascades Parks The North Coast and Cascades Network currently contains 485 glaciers that are iconic features of the region, and vital components of the parks hydrology and ecosystems. The remains of Banded Glacier in 2016 Effects of Nitrogen Deposition on High Alpine Meadows in North Coast and Cascades Parks Alpine plant communities are limited by nitrogen (N) because they have evolved in ecosystems with naturally low levels of reactive N. Increased N deposition is projected to alter plant communities, soil processes, soil carbon and N storage. An alpine meadow in bloom with mountains in the background. Modeling climate change effects on the hydrology of North Cascades wetland ecosystems Through field research and modeling, this study examines the effects of climate change on mountain wetlands and the fauna, like amphibians, that are dependent on those habitats. World War II Plane Crashes in National Parks During WWII, more than 7,100 air crashes involved US Army Air Force (USAAF) aircraft occurred on American soil. Collectively these crashes resulted in the loss of more than 15,599 lives (Mireles 2006). Many of these military aircraft accidents occurred in remote, often mountainous, areas managed by the National Park Service. plane crash at base of grassy hill POET Newsletter March 2013 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from March 2013. Articles include: The Japan Tsunami Marine Debris Summary; Restoring "Plastic Beach" Back to Kamilo Point; Coming to a Beach Near You; and An Unexpected Visitor. dock on beach Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established. Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Olympic National Park, Washington Olympic National Park mostly contains igneous and sedimentary rocks that were formed in the last 60 million years. Many of these rocks geologic formations were deposited offshore as an accretionary prism and were uplifted and folded by the tectonic convergence between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates. rainforest Syrphid Flies of the North Coast & Cascades Syrphid flies, also known as hoverflies or flower flies, feed on nectar or pollen and are frequently observed on flowers in subalpine and alpine ecosystems. However, there is little research on their distribution or importance as pollinators. In 2014, Dr. Jessica Rykken conducted pollinator surveys in Olympic National Park and North Cascades National Park Service Complex, and documented 57 taxa of syrphid flies. A syrphid fly with yellow and black coloration similar to that of a wasp Lisa Turecek, Chief, Facility Management at Olympic National Park, Washington The work we do is very important... a great mission gives a sense of purpose to my work. Also, public sector work allows for more work-life balance. Lisa smiles into the camera with mountains in the background 1997–1998 El Niño / 1998–1999 La Niña Wind-driven waves and abnormally high sea levels contributed to hundreds of millions of dollars in flood and storm damage in the San Francisco Bay region, including Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Pinnacles National Monument. In addition to California, the 1997–1998 El Niño and the following 1998–1999 La Niña severely impacted the Pacific Northwest, including many National Park System units. colorful ocean surface mapping image History of the Panoramic Lookout Project Most documentation of the panoramic lookout photos project, which began about 1930 to document areas seen from the lookout system, comes from the US Forest Service. The NPS project began in 1934. Lester Moe worked for the Forest Service taking photos in 1933 and 1934, and later worked for NPS. Several innovations came about from this project: the Osborne photo-recording transit and “special emulsion infra-red sensitive film” not affected by smoke and haze. sample of the panoramic lookout project Pacific Border Province The Pacific Border straddles the boundaries between several of Earth's moving plates on the western margin of North America. This region is one of the most geologically young and tectonically active in North America. The generally rugged, mountainous landscape of this province provides evidence of ongoing mountain-building. Drakes Estero in Point Reyes National Seashore. NPS photo/Sarah Codde National Parks’ Homefront Battle: Protecting Parks During WWII Though the National Park Service (NPS) was only 25 years old at the outbreak of World War II, the agency found itself fighting a battle on the homefront. With little precedent to work from and dwindling budgets and staff, the NPS strongly defended its parks against a flood of demands to log, mine, graze, drain, and take over national parks Protecting Olympic's Forests During World War II Olympic National Park became the first major battle in a long homefront war over natural resources. Olympic was added to the national park system in 1938. As early as 1940, Olympic National Park’s began fielding requests for timber. Though not yet involved in the war, the UK and other allies made urgent requests for the US to provide them with raw, natural resources. National Park Getaway: Olympic National Park A stunning variety of sights, sounds, and experiences beckon visitors to Olympic National Park. Explore the distinctly different ecosystems of the wild Pacific coast, valleys of ancient forests and rushing rivers, and rocky, glacier-capped peaks. Hiker near July Creek in Olympic POET Newsletter May 2014 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from May 2014. Articles include: Ocean Acidification on the Pacific Coast; Ocean Acidification Science and Communication Emerging and Evolving Together; Olympic Ocean Stewards--A New Junior Ranger Program; and Ocean Acidification Facts. People on boat with a large gray cylindrical device. Russian Shipwreck Near Olympic National Park During WWII A network of coastal defenses were set up along the Olympic Coast in reaction to the frightening early days of World War II. On April 1, 1943, a Russian ship wrecked off the coast of Olympic National Park activating the La Push Coast Guard Station into action. A dangerous search and rescue ensued. B&W photo of ship on side amongst rocks and crashing waves Coastal Defenses in Olympic National Park in World War II Abandoned coast guard stations and aircraft warning station lookouts remind visitors of the frightened and earnest efforts made at coastal defense in the earliest days of World War II on the Olympic Peninsula. small white building; B&W photo Bat Bombs and Balloons on Fire: Bizarre Occurrences in WWII National Parks An auxiliary field at the Carlsbad air base was the site of one of the war’s stranger experiments as a secret government project envisioned captured bats strapped with bombs dropped over Japan. In Olympic National Park, Japanese Incendiary Balloons fell across the pacific northwest, trigger Conserving pinnipeds in Pacific Ocean parks in response to climate change The evolutionary record from previous climate perturbations indicates that marine mammals are highly vulnerable but also remarkably adaptable to climatic change in coastal ecosystems. Consequently, national parks in the Pacific, from Alaska to Hawaii, are faced with potentially dramatic changes in their marine mammal fauna, especially pinnipeds (seals and sea lions). black harbor seal How are Landbird Populations Doing in the North Coast and Cascades Network? Landbirds are one of the vital signs monitored in five national parks of the North Coast and Cascades Network. Two recent studies show that for species with discernible trends, most populations are stable or even increasing. A greenish-yellow bird singing from a perch Bat Projects in Parks: North Coast Cascades Network Eleven bat species occur in North Coast Cascades Network Parks. Each species is unique, except that they're all facing threats of some kind in their environments. Learn more about how scientists study bats and what you can do to help. Pinnacles National Park Biologist Shares Non-lead Ammunition Expertise with Olympic National Park Volunteers Sometimes, national parks are faced with a daunting challenge: removing ecologically disruptive, non-native mammals. Pinnacles National Park knows what it’s like. They have worked hard to successfully remove feral pigs. So when Olympic National Park needed to remove introduced mountain goats using non-lead ammunition, they sought the expertise of Pinnacles Invasive-Wildlife Biologist and Non-lead Ammunition Specialist Daniel Ryan. Dan holding a radio tracker high up in a snowy mountain range. Series: Panoramic Project Shows How National Parks Change Over Time In the 1930s, panoramic photographs were taken from lookout points. Comparing these images to present-day photographs allows us to understand change over time. Viewing photographs of different eras in the national parks can give many insights on ecosystem processes, as well as simply change over time. The panoramic lookout photographs provide a window on the past and an opportunity to compare to the present with changes to landforms and land cover. Lester Moe documenting park landscapes in the 1930s Series: NPS Environmental Achievement Awards Since 2002, the National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Environmental Achievement (EA) Awards to recognize staff and partners in the area of environmental preservation, protection and stewardship. A vehicle charges at an Electric Vehicle charging station at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Series: Coastal Geomorphology—Storms of Record Storms can bring about significant coastal change as well as substantial economic damage and loss in the human environment. Read about a few storms of interest that have since made history due to their unique intensity, characteristics, or impacts. aerial view of a major storm along the northwest coast of the united states and canada Series: Physiographic Provinces Descriptions of the physiographic provinces of the United States, including maps, educational material, and listings of Parks for each. George B. Dorr, founder of Acadia National Park Series: Park Air Profiles Clean air matters for national parks around the country. Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ Data Manager Profile: Kristen Bonebrake Meet Kristen Bonebrake, Data Manager for the North Coast and Cascades Network Inventory & Monitoring Network, and discover the important role that data managers play in protecting the natural resources of our parks! Explore Kristen's journey—from counting roadkill as an intern at Saguaro National Park, to collaborating with bright minds around the country to solve the complex challenges facing our nation's most special places. Kristen kneels on a rock in front of a dramatic snow-capped mountain scene. Listening for Owls: A Multi-agency Collaboration to Preserve Spotted Owl Habitat Across the West For over 25 years, biologists from the National Park Service and several other agencies have collected spotted owl monitoring data to inform forest management that is guided by the multi-agency Northwest Forest Plan. Yet traditional field surveys for spotted owls have become less effective as their numbers have dwindled. Thus in 2021, the Northwest Forest Plan’s spotted owl monitoring design is transitioning to remote acoustic monitoring (also known as passive monitoring). Audio recording unit, with microphones on either side, mounted on a tree trunk. West Coast National Parks Work with NOAA to Better Understand Ocean Acidification in the Rocky Intertidal and Beyond Ocean acidification (OA) is a huge threat to marine life. But it is hard to track remotely on a large scale. So this summer, seven West Coast national parks are teaming up with the 2021 NOAA West Coast Ocean Acidification Cruise. They’ll collect water samples in-person to check several OA indicators. Their data will help paint the most detailed picture yet of OA conditions up and down the coast, from parks’ rocky intertidal zones to dozens of miles offshore. Collage of different rocky intertidal creatures photographed against a white background. An Ocean on the Edge Along the northwestern tip of the continental United States, large rocky stacks rise like sentinels from the mist. Shrouded in beauty and wonder, the expansive coastline of Olympic National Park sets a dramatic stage for the convergence of several unique ecosystems. Pristine, glacier-capped mountains painted in lush rainforests descend swiftly into the crashing waves where land meets sea. This is where our story begins. Black-and-white photo of impressive rocky stacks rising up above an expansive coastline. POET Newsletter September 2014 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from September 2014. Articles include: Sea Star Wasting Disease; Corallivore: Crown of Thorns Starfish Wreak Havoc in American Samoa — The NPS Responds; Seafloor in 3D; and Coral Bleaching Monitoring on Guam. A large, red-colored sunflower sea star that appears to be melting or disintegrating. Series: Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) Newsletters From 2009 to 2015, the Pacific Ocean Education Team published a series of short newsletters about the health of the ocean at various National Park Service sites in and around the Pacific Ocean. Topics covered included the 2010 tsunami, marine debris, sea star wasting disease, ocean acidification, and more. Ocean waves wash in from the right onto a forested and rocky shoreline. POET Newsletter Winter 2009 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from Winter 2009. Articles include: Stewardship Without Boundaries: Conserving Our Ocean Ecosystem from Baja to the Bering Sea; A Seamless Network of Parks, Sanctuaries, Refuges & Reserves; Life Entwined with the Sea: The Non-Coastal Park Connection; Engage Visitors in Ocean Park Stewardship; Inventory Map & Protect Ocean Parks; and Ocean Stewardship: A Commitment to Collaboration for Conservation. A color map indicating the depth of the Pacific Ocean floor. Darker blue represents deeper oceans. POET Newsletter February 2014 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from February 2014. Articles include: A Beacon of Light for the Channel Islands; A Challenging Place; Isolation within Isolation; Destruction Island Lighthouse A black and white historic photo of the Destruction Island lighthouse tower on a bluff top. POET Newsletter Summer 2010 Pacific Ocean Education Team (POET) newsletter from Winter 2009. Articles include: Stewardship Without Boundaries: Conserving Our Ocean Ecosystem from Baja to the Bering Sea; A Seamless Network of Parks, Sanctuaries, Refuges & Reserves; Life Entwined with the Sea: The Non-Coastal Park Connection; Take the Plunge into Ocean Stewardship; Nearshore Vertebrates in Four Hawaii Parks; and Ocean Stewardship: A Commitment to Collaboration. Sea stacks rise above ocean waves washing ashore. A wooded ridge rises in the distance. North Coast and Cascades Network Delivers a New Generation of Vegetation Maps North Coast and Cascades Network has developed vegetation maps for Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks in partnership with the Institute for Natural Resources. Two field crewmembers collecting vegetation data in a lush forest Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Challenging The Ranger Image In spite of programs to encourage hiring of individuals with disabilities, it was often others’ misconceptions or discomfort that prevented women with disabilities from getting National Park Service (NPS) jobs. Those hired in the 1970s and early 1980s brought diverse skillsets and new perspectives to the workforce. Like the earliest women rangers in the 1910s and 1920s, they often only had short-term positions. They all challenged ideas of what it takes to be a park ranger. Ranger Vicky White in a wheelchair with a visitor and man in military dress. Native Conservation Corps Learn about a program for Native American youth to engage in conservation work in national parks and extend their experiences into their communities. Native Conservation Corps members become dual ambassadors between the National Park Service and Native American tribes. Pillow Basalts Pillow basalts are named for the rounded shapes that form when lava cools rapidly underwater. photo of golden gate bridge How an Insect Became a National Park Service Superhero Through the power of partnerships, the Dragonfly Mercury Project elevated the importance of a commonly found insect. It also showed that citizen science can be a potent research tool. A group of young people surround a man in an NPS uniform holding a net next to a stream Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Olympic National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funding This project will bring the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge into compliance with current codes and ABAAS accessibility standards. It will create a safer and more energy efficient lodge by replacing, fixing, and updating structural elements of the lodge. a building sits behind a parking lot full of cars. A mountain range is in the background Estuary Landforms Estuaries are buffer zones between river (freshwater) and ocean (saltwater) environments that are affected by tidal oscillations. sunset over wetlands Series: Beach and Coastal Landforms Our national parks contain diverse coastal landforms: high-energy rocky shorelines of Acadia National Park, quiet reef-lagoons within War in the Pacific National Historic Park, and the white sandy beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Coastal landforms are, or have been, affected to some degree by the direct or indirect effects of waves, tides, and currents, and may extend inland for many miles. aerial view of island and reef Guide to the Thomas J. Allen Photograph Collection Finding aid for the Thomas J. Allen Photographs in the NPS History Collection. Travel Blog: Olympic National Park Writing Prompt: Travel Blog written by Sarah Desmarais for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series. Sarah is a NPS Workforce Management Fellow, in partnership with Northwest Youth Corps Olympic National Park Rain Forest 50 Nifty Finds #11: Carving a Place in NPS History Few employees have left as visible a mark on National Park Service (NPS) exhibits as John A. Segeren. His work has been enjoyed by generations of park visitors who never knew his name but appreciated his intricate wood carvings and playful animal figures displayed in parks throughout the system. A master woodcarver described by former President Lyndon B. Johnson as "a legacy to this country," Segeren carved out his own place in NPS history. Round wooden plaque with bison, globe, and waterfall Taking the Pulse of a Forest JANUARY 2023 – Pacific Northwest forests are vital living systems, cycling huge quantities of carbon and nutrients, filtering pollutants from waterways, and serving as a living bulwark against climate change. However, forests worldwide are threatened by increasing warming and drought, leading to tree die-offs. A new study asks the question: Is this pattern playing out in the mature and old-growth forests of western Washington? Woman stands in a forest writing on a clipboard Enjoy the View like David Pohlman A beautiful red and orange sunset lights up the sky and reflects upon the water. Silhouettes of small rocky islands and the steep tree-covered shoreline bring a stark contrast to the scene...David Pohlman shares his favorite view at Olympic National Park. a brilliant orange sunset over the ocean with silhouettes of sea stacks and coastline Long-term Ecological Monitoring of Mountain Lakes, 2013 An on-going long-term study of the impacts of atmospheric pollution, climate change, non-native species, backcountry visitation, and other factors on park lakes. Woman in NPS ballcap sitting on rocky lake shore operates water sampling equipment. Intern Spotlight: Kai Victor Meet Kai Victor, a former Mosaics in Science Biology Assistant intern at Mount Rainier National Park! Young Asian male smiling with arms crossed, wearing a light gray shirt, dark gray pants 50 Nifty Finds #30: So Funny It Hurt Humor is a form of commentary that often reveals serious truths. Cartoonists combine artistic talents with razor-sharp wits to shine light on political and social issues. In most cases, those artists are external observers. In the National Park Service (NPS), employees in the 1960s to 1980s drew cartoons, published in official newsletters, that provide unique insights into NPS organizational culture, working conditions, and employees' concerns—many of which still exist today. A ranger showing a coloring book to a visitor saying that they care about children's education Terminus: Mount Steel Glacier by Maddi Bacon Comic artist Maddi Bacon takes a visual journey through glacier monitoring in the North Coast & Cascades Network. Through conversations with physical scientist Bill Baccus, this piece explores why monitoring still matters in a world where glaciers are rapidly vanishing. Watercolor painting of rugged mountain with handwritten text and trees in foreground. Project Profile: Build Seed Bank for Threatened Conifer Restoration North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park will build a collaborative network and internal capacity to identify seed source trees, collect and curate seeds from whitebark pine and other 5-needle pine species. a tree climber places protective coverings on developing cones on conifer trees in the mountains Project Profile: Restoring Wildlife Habitat in 7 Parks in Washington and California The National Park Service will restore highly sensitive habitats along 13 trails and two campgrounds through native plant revegetation and trail stabilization and re-routing. By restoring habitat and damaged riparian zones along heavily impacted trails and in over-capacity campgrounds, this project will prevent further erosion, redirect visitor use, protect fragile habitats that harbor numerous endangered species, and enhance visitor safety, enjoyment, and access. a sloping coastal beach habitat in California with buildings and a parking area along the shoreline Automated Radio Telemetry Will Shed Light on Olympic's Bats SEPTEMBER 2023 – What happens to bats in Olympic during the winter? While scientists know that some species migrate while others stay local, many of the details are still a mystery. That’s a problem, because winter is when bats are at greatest danger from white-nose syndrome. The installation of a new receiver connected to a global network of wildlife tracking stations will offer knowledge that park managers could use to help promote resilience to WNS in the future. A radio antenna with a branching river seen in the background Written in the Water: Four Parks Wrap Up Phase I of New Genetic Census SEPTEMBER 2023 – Over two years, teams at four parks in the North Coast & Cascades Network hiked hundreds of miles to collect samples of environmental DNA (eDNA) from park waters. These delicate samples promise to greatly expand our understanding of aquatic ecosystems, answering important questions about threatened species, emerging pathogens, ecological invaders, and more. What's next for this project? A hand holds a paper sample envelope in front of a forest stream. Seven National Parks Collaborate on Project to Accomplish Shared Restoration Goals Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will support restoration projects in seven national parks across California and Washington. The involved parks demonstrate one or more of the following project objectives: ‘keep wildlife wild’, endangered species habitat restoration, and improving visitor access and enjoyment of parks. coastal beach habitat sloping down towards the ocean The Devoted People behind Big Data in National Parks Citizen science volunteers collect massive amounts of crucial scientific information. They gather it from sources as varied as oceans, mountainsides, and historic archives. Smart new tools are making their contributions even more powerful. Two smiling women stand in front of a national park sign. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act support range-wide efforts to rescue disease-addled whitebark pine forests Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funds enable whitebark pine recovery work at 10 national parks. In addition to identifying disease resistant trees and cultivating rust-resistant seedlings, increased staffing and expanded partnerships will also allow parks to collect and store seed during years when the pines produce massive amounts of seed during "mast" events. a whitebark pine tree on a hillside Early Detection Is the Best Protection for Old-Growth Forests Despite dire evidence of rising tree death, researchers found resilience and hope deep inside western Washington's forests. But it will take 21st-century monitoring methods to keep that hope alive. A lush green forest with large, moss-covered trees, and ferns My Park Story: Todd Grabow Read about Todd's path to landing a job at a park that holds a special place in his heart! A smiling man stands next to a red helicopter in front of a mountain range at sunset. Dwindling Numbers Spur a New Approach to Northern Spotted Owl Monitoring SEPTEMBER 2023 – Northern spotted owls are in trouble. Populations on the Olympic Peninsula fell by over 80% between 1995 and 2017; in Mount Rainier National Park, they declined nearly 75% over the same period. In response to declining numbers, autonomous recording units have become the front line of monitoring across the species’ range. This technology offers unique advantages, but challenges to the species survival remain. A researcher in a patterned rain jacket examines a green plastic recording unit in a forest. Liz Putnam: The Visionary Behind the Creation of the Student Conservation Association When looking at the achievements and legacies of women throughout our nation’s history, there are so many to honor and commemorate. In the conservation world, Elizabeth (Liz) Putnam is known by many for creating the current model of conservation and service corps when she founded the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in 1957. Several people stand around a forest clearing talking 50 Nifty Finds #45: Holding the Line The National Park Service (NPS) was only 26 years old when the United States entered World War II. The young bureau faced very real threats to its mission, with increasing pressure to contribute its natural and cultural resources to the war effort even as its budget and staff were slashed. Under the leadership of Director Newton B. Drury, the NPS was able to do its part for the war while maintaining its public trust responsibilities to the American people. Worth Fighting For fire prevention poster Landscape Disturbance in Pacific Northwest National Parks MARCH 2024 – Even national parks transform over time—sometimes in dramatic ways! Explore a new visual tour through 30 years of data from the NCCN’s landscape change monitoring program, which uses satellite remote sensing to track disturbances in Olympic, Mount Rainier, and the North Cascades. This analysis also offers clues to how climate change may be altering disturbance patterns in wilderness areas across the Pacific Northwest. Hiker with red backpack views a large fire scar on a mountainside. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Siti·yak Splitter The siti·yak splitter appears to be a simple, functional tool of the Makah people of the northwestern Olympic Peninsula. Makah women used it to split fibers from their rich forest homeland into strips for weaving baskets. When examined closer, you see that the siti·yak is carved into the shape of a seal, capturing the Makah’s profound connection to the sea. It carries with it women’s specialized knowledge, embodying Makah women’s defiant persistence of cultural expression. Siti·yak splitter, wooden tool used by the Makah to split fibers for basket weaving. Series: Home and Homelands Exhibition: Work What does it take to build a home? These women lived and breathed hard work, building their homes in difficult circumstances. Several were settlers who benefitted from stolen Indigenous lands. Some shared their knowledge of the land. They all had pride in their work. They all put their hands in the soil to claim resources and build homes. Whether wielding a kapa beater to create cloth or planting a tree to sustain a family for generations, these women created futures for their communities. Thick white paper peeled back to reveal collage of women. Intern Spotlight: Gia Flores-Arellano Meet Gia Flores-Arellano, a former Latino Heritage Internship Program intern at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This summer, she will be an interpretive ranger at Olympic National Park. A woman at Mount Rushmore 2024 Director's Management and Administration Awards The annual 2024 Director’s Management and Administration Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the advancement and service of management, administration, Information Technology, and Information Management by NPS employees. The Excellence Awards recognize employees who go beyond day-to-day duties to solve problems or create new opportunities. They do so with creative thinking and action. a man wearing a collared gray shirt with a "J Loggins" name tag smiles for the camera Dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on how dragonfly mercury studies uncover unexpected atmospheric delivery pathways: Janssen, S.E., C.J. Kotalik, J.J. Willacker, M.T. Tate, C. Flanagan Pritz, S.J. Nelson, D.P. Krabbenhoft, D. Walters, and C. Eagles-Smith. 2024. Geographic Drivers of Mercury Entry into Aquatic Foods Webs Revealed by Mercury Stable Isotopes in Dragonfly Larvae. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02436 close up of dragonfly larvae on white spoon Project Profile: Whitebark Pine Restoration and Resilience The National Park Service will build climate resilience and increase biodiversity in threatened whitebark pine forest ecosystems by increasing capacity to collect seed and propagate blister rust resistant seedlings. a man with a beard examines cones on a whitebark pine tree How a Tree Created a Pivotal New Conservation Community Found mainly on public lands, whitebark pine is one of America’s most threatened and ecologically valuable tree species. A multi-agency alliance is using innovative strategies based on science to help it avoid extinction. Recent federal funding is helping. A stand of tall pine trees with white bark on a gently sloping hillside. Inventory & Monitoring Partnerships Aim to Improve Park Forest Health from Coast to Coast From coast to coast, the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division is helping park managers improve the health and function of forest ecosystems. From promoting resilient forests in the Northeast, to conserving whitebark pine in the West, to protecting Hawaiian forest birds from avian malaria, scientific partnerships are helping parks to share information, leverage funding sources, and work together for outcomes that extend beyond what any park could accomplish on its own. Four people, one in NPS uniform, stand in a forest. Three look upward through binoculars. Snapshots: A Third Chapter in Monitoring Olympic’s Elk? AUGUST 2024 – So, how many elk are there in the park, anyway? It’s a common question at Olympic visitor centers, but surprisingly hard to answer. Threats including wildlife diseases and hunting on adjacent lands means wildlife managers need an accurate understanding of the size and makeup of the park's iconic Roosevelt elk herds. However, aerial surveys, which had been taking place since 1984, ended in 2015. Now, biologists are experimenting with a new way to monitor elk. A person in a forest looks into a yellow instrument, game camera strapped to tree behind them “Cracking the code” on mercury bioaccumulation Read the abstract and get the link to a published paper on a model to predict mercury risk park waterbodies: Kotalik, C.J. et al. 2025. Ecosystem drivers of freshwater mercury bioaccumulation are context-dependent: insights from continental-scale modeling. Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c07280 A person stands in a field looking at a bug through a magnifying lens.

o "JZ 0> c B >o CO § « E £1 0 - co CO (I) §Q '•co W Z D .* E CO ; £ "co s IZo c© o en a.E II •i? co o§ .91 It OI Olympic National Park Coast to Glaciers rill/ v^vA/\i3A Some 57 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline form a vital component of Olympic National Park. This coastline has remained little changed over time except for the impact of the pounding surf and storms upon the mainland. The coastline looks much as it did when early Indians built their first villages upon these shores, thousands of years before European explorers arrived. The coast is where the land meets the sea, vibrating with lile and energy. Drift logs cast high on the beach; sculptured arches and sea stacks; the roar of crashing waves; the calls of gulls, bald eagles, and blackoystercatchers; three-dimensional clouds; dramatic sunsets, the sheer vastness of the ocean and a myriad of other elements impress themselves upon you. Scooping up a handful of sand, you discover that it is virtually impossible for you to count the shades of colors or to classify shapes, so varied are the grains. At low tide you can walk toward the surf stopping at tidepools along the way. If you squat down and spend some time just looking, you will be amazed at what you see as your eyes start ferreting out objects that look like rocks, but which in fact are small sea animals. Slowly extending your horizon, you may see some raccoons feeding on shellfish that are reachable now that the tide is out and the danger of the surf is withdrawn. You are likely to find the footprints of shore birds all over the beach, but you will also find those of bear, deer, raccoons, river otters, and a host of other creatures. Beware of the Tides The beach is one of the most wonderful places to hike. But danger lurks where the tides come in to the base of cliffs and headlands. Never attempt to hike around a point or headland on an incoming tide. Rising water can cut you off from advancing or retreating. People have lost their lives by foolishly thinking that they could beat the water. Always carry a tide table or copy down the tide times. Know when the tides occur; don't guess. The sheer quantity of flotsam and jetsam cast upon the beach is astonishing. Probably the most exotic are the glass floats that Japanese fishermen use to support their nets. It takes the ocean currents about one year to carry the floats across the Pacific to the Washington coast. Among the debris cast upon the shores are huge trees felled from inland stream bank sites by rushing rivers and washed out to sea. They are repeatedly thrown and banged against sand and rock. Limbs are removed and trunks are sanded smooth by the action of the waves. Finally a great storm may toss them high on the beach to join many others. The Olympic coast is a wild place, a place for endless exploration. Visitor Information Olympic National Park welcomes you to a diverse and stunning world—a fog-shrouded coast with booming surf and wave-manicured beaches, spectacular alpine country dotted with sparkling lakes, lush meadows, glaciers, and North America s finest temperate rain forest. People have lived here for thousands of years, but the earliest inhabitants lived primarily along the coast taking food from the sea and berries, roots, and meat from the land. From the nearby forests they cut cedars that provided hulls for their canoes, building materials for their lodges, and many of the miscellaneous items of everyday life. By any standard the Indians of the Olympic Peninsula lived a sophisticated, well-ordered life in 1592, when the first European—Juan de Fuca—may have come to these shores. Reliable evidence of European penetration is not available until 1774, when Juan Perez sailed along this coast. In the next 25 years a bevy of British, American, and Spanish explorers visited the area. The most enduring work was done by Robert Gray, an American, and George Vancouver, an Englishman. Both men explored the area thoroughly, establishing rival claims to this land for their own countries. Not until 1885 was any real attempt made to explore the interior of the Olympic Peninsula. That year Lt. Joseph P. O'Neil led the first documented expedi- tion into the interior. In 1889-90 the Press expedition led by James Christie made a north-south crossing in five and one-half months. In 1890 Lt. O'Neil returned and made an east-west crossing. Slowly a movement got underway to set aside some of the peninsula as a national park. In 1897 President Grover Cleveland created the Olympic Forest Reserve, a portion of which President Theodore Roosevelt designated a national monument in 1909. In 1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating Olympic National Park, a place for the soul to expand and for the mind to be refreshed with the beauty of life—a place of serendipitous discovery. | The Rain Forest FORESTS MOUNTAINS Superlatives about the trees abound, for several specimens reach record sizes. In some locati

Bugler Olympic National Park Summer Newspaper 2017 Strength in Diversity W hat does the word “diversity” mean to you? It can define our society’s broad spectrum of culture and ethnicity, or the wide range of choices in the toothpaste aisle. At Olympic National Park, diverse ecosystems invite exploration on a grand scale. The park’s variety of life—its biodiversity—also provides strength and resilience for the future. Olympic is renowned for its coast, rain forest and mountain ecosystems. Visitors often ask rangers, “What’s your favorite place in the park?” We typically dodge the question, because we don’t have just one. We have many favorites, and rarely are two alike. That’s diversity! This variety not only presents the challenge of where to explore on an all-too-short visit, it also influences the future of the park’s plants and animals. Biologically diverse communities, such as those found on the Olympic Peninsula, confer resilience to the ecosystem. This diversity is illustrated by the glacier-capped mountains towering just miles from the ocean, as well as the sodden temperate rain forest growing only 34 miles from dry oak savanna. In diverse communities, it is more likely that some plants and animals may have traits enabling them to cope with our changing climate. Or nearby habitats may provide suitable refuge, especially in a park of nearly one million acres. For instance, some species might move upslope as the climate warms. Such adaptable plants and animals could buffer the system against the loss of other less resilient species. In other words, diverse places don’t have all of their biological eggs in one basket. Sample the park’s diversity as you explore. Look for an Olympic marmot in a mountain meadow, or peer into a tide pool teeming with anemones, urchins, sea stars and more! With the challenges ahead, careful stewardship of our public lands will help protect the variety of life and landscapes for future generations. Every scrap of biological diversity is priceless, to be learned and cherished, and never to be surrendered without a struggle. Edward O. Wilson LAKES, LOWLAND FORESTS and RIVERS information, exhibits, Discovery Room, wilderness camping permits, bear cans, park passes, bookshop and trails. Heart O’ the Hills campground, five miles south, has sylvan beauty and nearby forest trails. Elwha (2) has many trails. Madison Falls, an accessible Lake Crescent (4) is a 624-foot deep shimmering glaciercarved jewel. Stroll the shore or the Marymere Falls, Spruce Railroad or Moments in Time trails. Lake Crescent Lodge and Log Cabin Resort offer restaurants, overnight lodging and boat rentals. Visitors enjoy Fairholme Campground and a nearby convenience store with boat rentals. Sol Duc (5) has many trails including Sol Duc Falls, a 1.6-mile round-trip walk from the end of the road. The campground has some reserved sites. Call (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov for reservations. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort offers warm and cool pools, food and lodging. Ozette (9) offers boating opportunities, a small campground on the lake and trails to the coast. Staircase (11) offers a riverside campground, old-growth forest, a ranger station with exhibits, and several trails. COAST The wilderness coast provides a dynamic scene. Lower tides expose sea anemones, sea urchins, sea stars and limpets strategically arranged on the rocks. It is important to leave tide pool animals in their homes, as moving just one animal can injure it and disrupt an entire community. Mora (8) offers a campground less than two miles from Rialto Beach. Along the beach, you can hike 1.5 miles north to Hole-in-the-Wall. Other hiking opportunities include Second and Third Beach trails near La Push. See page four for road closure information affecting Rialto Beach. Kalaloch (7) offers an expansive sandy beach. Ozette (9) You can reach the beach on a 3.1-mile trail to Kalaloch Ranger Station has information, exhibits and a bookshop. Visitors also enjoy campgrounds, Kalaloch Lodge, a restaurant and convenience store. For advance reservations at Kalaloch Campground during summer call (877) 444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov. Beach 4 and Ruby Beach are popular sites for tide pool exploration. Cape Alava or a 2.8-mile trail to Sand Point; both routes are partially on boardwalk. A popular 9-mile loop combines these two trails with a 3.1-mile beach walk. Near the ranger station are exhibits and a small lakeside campground. TEMPERATE RAIN FOREST Drenched in over 12 feet of rain a year, west side valleys nurture giant western hemlock, Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce trees. Moss-draped bigleaf maples create a magical scene that obliterates all sense of time. Roosevelt elk may linger along riverbanks at dawn and dusk. Hoh Rain Forest (6) offers a visitor center, exhibits, bookshop, maps, self-guiding nature trails and a campground. AT A D ST Sequim 3 104 N A L 3 Ferry 10 C A 7 PA C I F I C 11

Bugler Olympic National Park Winter 2016-2017 Tales From the Deep W hen the weather is wild, most folks stay indoors, but some head to the beach! Storm watchers revel in the power of the ocean, with its storm-fed swells crashing ashore, pummeling the sea stacks and arcing spray into the sky. Winter on the Olympic coast can be a front row seat to nature’s most dramatic moments! Hidden Secrets The interface between land and sea is a dynamic place of give and take. Waves gnaw away the shore but also deliver dinner to intertidal creatures anchored to the rocks. Rivers bring fresh water and protective logs to the beach while salmon—their bodies essentially packets of nitrogen, phosphorous and more—carry ocean nutrients upstream to forest communities. Though we’re attracted to this fluid landscape, mesmerized by the hypnotic rhythm of waves, wheeling eagles and racing fog, its story is relatively unknown to us terrestrials. If the sea were a mystery novel, some chapters would still be unwritten, others would celebrate exciting successes and some would tell cautionary tales. Given the human desire to build at the beach, the existence of Olympic National Park’s wilderness coast is a success. The designation of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the islands and sea stacks of offshore national wildlife refuges, extends that protection out into the ocean. This means that complex coastal food webs connecting tiny invertebrates to 40-ton humpback whales are also protected. The reintroduction of sea otters to the Washington coast in the 1970s and their increase to over 1,500 by 2014 is another successful chapter. So is the rebound of eastern north Pacific gray whales, which were removed from the Endangered Species List in 1994. Look for them feeding and migrating along the coast in spring. Changing Waters Lately, researchers are penning a cautionary chapter in this ocean saga. Sea water is acidifying. As humans pump greenhouse gases into the air, a large portion of the carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean. Thus far, this has helped terrestrial species dodge even greater warming. But it has changed ocean chemistry for the worse—a problem compounded by upwelling of carbon dioxide-rich, cold, deep water along our coast. So much sea life depends on shells—think of mussels, clams or corals. The acidifying ocean is corrosive to many species’ shells, especially in early life stages. This has forced some regional shellfish growers to shift nursery operations elsewhere. The tale of the sea is still being written and we are all co-authors. If you explore the park’s beaches this winter, consider ways to protect this priceless resource from threats like pollution, marine debris and the burden of increasing carbon dioxide. Together we can craft a masterpiece to honor the powerful oceans of our blue planet. Here were creatures so exquisitely fashioned that they seemed unreal, their beauty too fragile to exist in a world of crushing force. Rachel Carson The Edge of the Sea Park scientists monitor ocean chemistry and tide pool life, such as these ochre sea stars and green anemones. 2 Winter 2016-2017 Winter 2016-2017 Services and Facilities V isiting Olympic National Park’s mountains, coast and forests in winter can be magical, but it takes planning as fewer services and facilities are available. Many areas of the park are open and accessible 365 days a year, but roads and facilities may close due to snow, high water, downed trees or reduced staffing. Call (360) 565-3131 or see www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/currentconditions.htm for road and weather updates. Emergencies Dial 911 for emergencies or to report a crime. For non-emergency help call (360) 565-3000 ext. 0 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, or (360) 417-2459 after hours. Entrance and Other Recreation Fees Entrance fees apply year-round in main spur road areas (Elwha, Heart O’ the Hills, Hoh, Ozette, Sol Duc, Staircase). A single visit pass (1-7 days) is $25 per private vehicle or $10 per person (age 16+) entering by bus, bike or foot. The Olympic National Park Annual Pass is $50. The America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass is $80 and is honored at national park, national forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Land Management lands. A $10 lifetime pass for U.S. seniors (age 62+), and a free lifetime access pass for those with permanent disabilities are also available, as well as a free annual pass for certain military personnel and their dependents. Additional recreation fees apply for overnight camping permits. The Senior and Access passes provide a 50 percent discount on these fees. Park fees provide critical funding for projects such as road, trail and sign repair; printing brochures; and staffing entrance station and wilderness permit locations. This year fees are also being used for new exhibits for the

World Heritage Sites in the United States Governor’s House, La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historical Site Red-footed booby, Papahaˉnaumokuaˉ kea Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park © HARVEY BARRISON © KRIS KRUG JEFF SULLIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY 2 Kluane /  Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay /  Tatshenshini-Alsek 1 Statue of Liberty Grand Canyon National Park © MICHAEL BELL PIXABAY/SKEEZE © MICHAEL LOYD Olympic National Park 3 WA SH I N GTO N - 19 81 Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park vii • ix vii • viii • ix • x A L A SK A (US), C A N A DA - 1979 Features temperate rainforest, glaciers, peaks, alpine meadows, old-growth forest, and wilderness coastline. Critical habitat for endangered species including northern spotted owl and bull trout. www.nps.gov/olym Over 24 million acres of wild lands and waters are changed by glaciers and volcanic activity. www.nps.gov/glba, www.nps.gov/wrst www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/yt/kluane www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore vii • ix © MIKE CRISS Montana (US), Canada - 1995 World’s first international peace park. Rich biodiversity and outstanding scenery with prairie, forest, alpine, and glacial features. www.nps.gov/glac www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton/ Grinnell Point © MIKE KOCH Old Faithful © MARK STEVENS 23 © STEVE BOND Yellowstone National Park vii • viii • ix • x Renowned for geothermal features, Yellowstone has the world’s largest concentration of geysers. Protects grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. www.nps.gov/yell iii • iv I L L I N O I S - 19 82 With over 1,100 properties, the World Heritage List This urban complex flourished 1000– 1350 CE (Common Era). Regional center for prehistoric Mississippian culture. www.cahokiamounds.org shows a shared global commitment to preserve the world’s most important natural and cultural sites. Monks Mound Learn more about the World Heritage sites in the 22 4 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Preserved for All Humanity W YO M I N G, M O N TA N A , I DA H O - 1978 © JIM WARK/AIRPHOTO United States, described here with selection criteria Redwood National and State Parks This gift from France to the United States is a symbol of international friendship, peace, progress, freedom, democracy, and human migration. Renowned for art and engineering. www.nps.gov/stli World Heritage Sites in the United States can be pur- Coastal mountain home to California brown pelicans, sea lions, bald eagles, and ancient redwood forest—the world’s tallest trees. www.nps.gov/redw i • vi N E W YO R K - 19 8 4 scription year, and websites. The Passport booklet C A L I F O R N I A - 19 8 0 Statue of Liberty 5 in Roman numerals (details other side), location, in- vii • ix Black bear, Great Smoky Mountains National Park chased at www.eparks.com. For more on the World Pixabay Heritage List: whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/us. © AMY HUDECHEK Natural Papahaˉnaumokuaˉkea iii • vi • viii • ix • x Cultural Mixed 21 6 H AWA I I - 2010 Independence Hall This vast living “cultural seascape” embodies kinship of people to place in Native Hawaiian cosmology. Includes seamounts, endemic species, critical habitats, and coral reefs. www.papahanaumokuakea.gov vi P EN N S Y LVA N I A - 1979 An international symbol of freedom and democracy, this 18th-century building is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were created and signed. www.nps.gov/inde Greg McFall / NOAA 20 Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park © TODD LANDRY viii H AWA I I - 19 87 Earth’s greatest mass of volcanoes, including Mauna Loa and Kilauea, tower over a “hotspot” in the mantle. Continuous geologic activity builds an ever changing landscape home to rare and endemic species. www.nps.gov/havo 21 7 PACIFIC OCEAN 0 Hawaii Everglades National Park viii • ix • x 20 F LO R I DA - 1979 800 Kilometers 0 800 Miles North America’s largest subtropical wilderness has several vital habitats for plants and animals including Florida panthers and manatees. Key area for bird migration and breeding. www.nps.gov/ever NPS Yosemite National Park 19 vii • viii © CARLTON WARD JR. C A L I F O R N I A - 19 8 4 Glacial erosion helped sculpt this scenic landscape. Soaring granite cliffs, polished domes, high waterfalls, sequoia groves, wilderness, deep-cut valleys, and alpine meadow habitats. www.nps.gov/yose 18 Chaco Culture iii Castillo San Felipe del Morro N E W M E X I CO - 19 87 © ANGEL LOPEZ Prehistoric, monumental masonry structures in Chaco Canyon, along with a network of roads and outlier sites like Aztec Ruins, exhibit the vast influence of the ancestral Puebloan culture on the Southwestern landscape. www.nps.gov/azru, www.nps.gov/chcu © JOCELYN PANTALEON HIDALGO The 20th-century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site vi © OJEFFREY PHOTOGRAPHY P U ERTO R I CO - 19 8 3 ii Strategic defensive structures represent early European military architecture, e