The far side of the Olympic National Park, on the west coast of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is indeed rain forest. Its Hoh River Valley is drenched with a dozen feet of rain a year. Think 50 shades of green in a wondrous tangle of trees, moss, ferns.
Yet Olympic National Park is so vast – almost 1 million acres of mountains, forest and ocean beaches – that you can find drier sides and your own natural haven, rain or shine.
At Hurricane Ridge, in the park’s northeast corner, drive up the winding road to the 5,242-foot viewpoint on a gloriously sunny afternoon. The park’s wild heart stretches as far as the eye can see, a maze of snow- and ice-tipped peaks.
Hurricane Ridge is one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest for easy access to the high country. Gentle, short nature trails – some even paved – radiate from the parking lot, through flowery meadows and along ridges. Or the intrepid could hike for hours or backpack for days deep into the wilderness.
I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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