I am planning a trip to Olympic National park at the end of July this year and wanted to get some ideas from anyone about where to go. My first 2 thoughts were to go up the Hoh rainforest to the base of Mt Olympus and over Appleton pass. Or to the Elwha river trail and around the needles. I would love to summit one of the higher mountains in the park but it seems most are not backpacker friendly. Well those are my ideas, I welcome any suggestions.

Seven Lakes Basin/High Divide Loop (about 18 to 24 miles depending on which route) from trail head at end of Sol Duc River Road. Haven't done it, but it's on my "maybe" list for this summer.

See Green Trails Map 133S (Seven Lakes Basin/Mt. Olympus Climbing), and this archived description from Olympic NPS: http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/wic/dsoduhidi.htm

Appears easy to combine this looop with other entry/exit points, including valley trails for the Hoh River and the Bogachiel River, if transportation can be arranged.

See http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1423829

Shuttle service may be one option -- http://www.windsox.us/

I've read that the loop route is pretty popular. Here's a trip report from 2006: http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin/wtaweb.pl?7+reports+displayM+2006090312.

JRS

All I can say is the Olympics were my backyard growing up, and you really can not go wrong anywhere there. Myself I enjoy the outlying areas some on national forest land framing the park. The things to do and see just on the outer edge are far more numerous than in the interior in my opinion. The interior takes a bit more planning as well.

I would suggest trying to see both the alpine country as well as the beaches of the ocean. I traversed the park in it's entirety this summer and the feeling that is achieved by walking up into subalpine and alpine environs, looking out across the ocean and then hiking down to and alongside it is a true joy.

I did a 45-mile loop starting and ending at Hurricane Ridge (a drive up from Port Angeles) about 5 years ago and still remember how amazing it was. There were quite a few passes to go up and over, but well worth the effort.

well if the snow ever melts... i hiked the 10 miles to canyon camp on the elwha river trail this weekend. i wish i had more time to have gone further. the valley was vibrant green and the river was real high and flowing hard. i'll be hiking it again later in july when the top portion is snow free. here's some highlights, but i'd reccomend it.

[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p186/rooinater/Elwha%20River%20Trail/100_0898.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p186/rooinater/Elwha%20River%20Trail/100_0907.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p186/rooinater/Elwha%20River%20Trail/100_0925.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p186/rooinater/Elwha%20River%20Trail/100_0941.jpg[/IMG]







trail conditions here:
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-trail-conditions.htm