Travelling to Three Washington Area National Parks

<p>Hello experts,</p>

<p>I am planning to visit Seattle area from jul 1 to jul 7 and plannnig to spend Jul 4 at friends house in Seattle. I have on my agenda to visit Cascades, Mt. Rainer and Olympic National Parks during this visit.</p>

<p>I plan to visit as many good photo spots as possible. Any suggestions on how I should approach this vacation given the time I have on hands? Also if you think that I cannot do all 3 NPs in this trip, can you suggest how to approach the remaining NPs and the locations to visit at each?</p>

<p>Also any specific lens I should carry? I plan to shoot a lot of Nature/Landscape shots.</p>

<p>Really appreciate your inputs.</p>

<p>Best<br>

Sagar Kulkarni</p>

<p>I'm working on a <a href="http://www.wsrphoto.com/mtstart.html">photo guide</a> to Mt. Rainier NP which has Web pages for a road trip to and in the NP. Early July will be one of the busiest times for the holiday and the opening of the White River road, campground and Sunrise area along with the seasonal visitors to Paradise (shuttle service starts mid-June). Goog luck.</p>

<p>I think you'll be overwhelmed by the opportunities to photograph. In addition to the visits to each location, while in Seattle, weather permitting, you might get a great shot of the Olympics near sunset, or Mt. Ranier shortly after sunrise, or the Cascades in the afternoon from the space needle, (or more fun) from the ferry boats. I caught the attached quick snap from one of the boats...Mt. Ranier is approx. 100 miles away from the spot I was shooting from.</p><div></div>

<p>I do not believe that you have enough time to do all three made even worse by your intention to be in Seattle on July 4th. Given the choice of having to recommend only one of the NPs, I would recommend Olympic National Park. To make the trip even more interesting I recommend taking the car ferry from Seattle area to Port Angeles. You can easily spend 5 days or more thoroughly enjoying yourself in the Olympic National Park Area. If you really feel the need to do more than one park, my second recommendation would be Mt. Ranier do to its proximity to Seattle.</p>

<p>I would echo Allen's thoughts about how much time you don't have. There are so many places to go that it's kind of hard to know where to start. As long as you're prepared to get up early, and stay until dark you can do a day-trip to Mt. Rainier, but I would want to plan a couple of days there. If you are serious about the Olympic peninsula, that is a multi-day process. I would recommend that you spend some time around Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Angeles and if the weather is good, go up to Hurrican Ridge for a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. We usually budget at least 5 days, preferably a whole week, to do the whole park, including the Pacific Coast around Kallaloch, so I really don't think that's a good idea for you to try. But you could head across the sounds on a ferry from Seattle, and go up to Port Angeles in a couple of days. As long as you stay along the shore you'll find multiple places for photography.</p>

<p>As far as a lens? Bring them all!! Wide angles for sure, and I find myself using the 70-200 a fair amount as well.</p>

<p>FYI - there's another active thread about that area underway, with some good ideas in that one</p>

<p><a href="00aONH">http://www.photo.net/travel-photography-forum/00aONH</a></p>

<p> </p>

<p>You are really not allocating enough time. While Seattle is reasonably close to all of these places, driving time can be substantial because of backroads -- especially to North Cascades. However, here are some suggestions:<br>

1) Artist Point, near Mt. Baker (just past the ski area). While not in North Cascades proper it has fantastic views of Mr. Shuksan and a trail which goes up to Mt. Baker. This is a gorgeous area in fall -- haven't been up there in mid summer, although I expect it is just as beautiful.<br>

2) Olympic takes at least 3 days as there are 3 sites that I really like for photos: Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest and Rialto Beach. <br>

That's four days out of seven, plus the 4th which makes 5. <br>

For North Cascades, I once spent a week up there camped at Colonial Creek, going to a different place each day. Didn't even scratch the surface because I was limited to day hikes. North Cascades is a backpacker's and hiker's paradise, but not so good for a quick out and back from Seattle.</p>

 

<p>Agree with the above comments, barely enough time to enjoy one NP let alone 3 with July 4th taken out of the equation.</p>

<p>I'd arrive, check the weathewr forecast, chose to visit the NP with most desirable weather for the first 3 days, quickly return to Seattle and do likewise for the second NP or hang about Seattle and the sounds after July 4th.</p>

<p>Personally I'd go to Olympic NP for the whole week!</p>

<p>Sagar like the rest have said to do it right you need to spend some more time... but if you just want to scout out the parks it is doable... July is not the best time for the mountains since we had records snowfalls this year the wildflowers will not be showing until Aug. this year. Last week there was 7 inches of new snow at mount Rainier and it is snowing again this week. <br>

So I would do this on the 1st head on up to the north cascades on I-5 take ws20 to ws97 to Yakima then ws410 to mt rainier. Do this route the first three days and it will take you through some of Washington's most photogenic country side <img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/DSC5004/22357000_Mo8Dk-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

North Cascades near Rockport</p>

<p><img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/Mt-Rainier/DSC9162-2/837642402_RSvUv-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

As you take WS410 from Yakama try to be at Tipsoo Lake around sunset or sunrise some of the best views of Mount Rainier can be capture right off the highway.... <br>

From Mt Rainier you will only be 70 miles from Seattle so spent the 4th with your friends.<br>

Early on the 5th head south on I-5 to WS101 and head out to the Ocean to Lake Quinault. The is the SW corner of Olympic NP work your way around WS101 till you are in Bremerton and take the ferry back into Seattle. My route some people call backwards because others take the ferry across first and then travel counter clockwise but if you do it my way you can start at anytime and not depend on the ferry timetable and at the end of your trip take the ferry back to the start.<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park2/191460775_73Kcz-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Rialto Beach</p>

<p>Another reason for spending more time at Olympic NP is that it does not really matter what the weather will be you can always find something to shoot. Since you will not have that much time the following sites are within a mile or two hike.<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park/191460732_5337u-M.jpg" alt="" /> <br>

Sol Duc Falls<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park1/191460757_SmxP8-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Hurricane Ridge<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park4/191460798_t6xiz-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Hoh Rain Forest<br>

In the three days of exploring the park you will be going in and out driving outside of the park. Unlike other parks where roads will take you through the park to see the attractions at this park requires you to travel outside of the park. This will allow you to stay in bigger towns and cities along the way. If you want to explore the Ocean side of the park there are short beach hikes like Rialto Beach where just crossing the parking lot and you are at the beach or head to the tip of Washington State to start your Hike to Shi Shi Beach considered the "best nature beach" by the Travel Channel<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/oylimpic-np/22358634_vFop3-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Rialto Beach at sunrise<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/DSC0034/22358623_FMHyb-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Shi Shi Beach (if you are there during low tide you can walk right up to the sea stacks)<br>

Shi Shi is a longer hike but you can do it in a day during this time of the year. sunrise is at 5:16am and sunset is at 9:09.... but the magic hour is about an hour long so around 4:30 am it starts getting light and the skys turn black around 10pm</p>

<p>Sagar like the rest have said to do it right you need to spend some more time... but if you just want to scout out the parks it is doable... July is not the best time for the mountains since we had records snowfalls this year the wildflowers will not be showing until Aug. this year. Last week there was 7 inches of new snow at mount Rainier and it is snowing again this week. <br>

So I would do this on the 1st head on up to the north cascades on I-5 take ws20 to ws97 to Yakima then ws410 to mt rainier. Do this route the first three days and it will take you through some of Washington's most photogenic country side <img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/DSC5004/22357000_Mo8Dk-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

North Cascades near Rockport</p>

<p><img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/Mt-Rainier/DSC9162-2/837642402_RSvUv-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

As you take WS410 from Yakama try to be at Tipsoo Lake around sunset or sunrise some of the best views of Mount Rainier can be capture right off the highway.... <br>

From Mt Rainier you will only be 70 miles from Seattle so spent the 4th with your friends.<br>

Early on the 5th head south on I-5 to WS101 and head out to the Ocean to Lake Quinault. The is the SW corner of Olympic NP work your way around WS101 till you are in Bremerton and take the ferry back into Seattle. My route some people call backwards because others take the ferry across first and then travel counter clockwise but if you do it my way you can start at anytime and not depend on the ferry timetable and at the end of your trip take the ferry back to the start.<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park2/191460775_73Kcz-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Rialto Beach</p>

<p>Another reason for spending more time at Olympic NP is that it does not really matter what the weather will be you can always find something to shoot. Since you will not have that much time the following sites are within a mile or two hike.<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park/191460732_5337u-M.jpg" alt="" /> <br>

Sol Duc Falls<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park1/191460757_SmxP8-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Hurricane Ridge<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/NationalParks/National-Parks/Olympic-National-Park4/191460798_t6xiz-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Hoh Rain Forest<br>

In the three days of exploring the park you will be going in and out driving outside of the park. Unlike other parks where roads will take you through the park to see the attractions at this park requires you to travel outside of the park. This will allow you to stay in bigger towns and cities along the way. If you want to explore the Ocean side of the park there are short beach hikes like Rialto Beach where just crossing the parking lot and you are at the beach or head to the tip of Washington State to start your Hike to Shi Shi Beach considered the "best nature beach" by the Travel Channel<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/oylimpic-np/22358634_vFop3-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Rialto Beach at sunrise<br>

<img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/Landscapes/The-NW/DSC0034/22358623_FMHyb-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Shi Shi Beach (if you are there during low tide you can walk right up to the sea stacks)<br>

Shi Shi is a longer hike but you can do it in a day during this time of the year. sunrise is at 5:16am and sunset is at 9:09.... but the magic hour is about an hour long so around 4:30 am it starts getting light and the skys turn black around 10pm</p>

Sagar, what kind of experience do you seek? Mountains, seaside, rain forest? When you say Cascaides, do you mean

Mt. Baker or some other area? Mt. Baker will be a full day round trip from Seattle. July will still have patches of snow on

the ground at the visitor center. Bring bug spray. This image was taken in July a few years ago

http://offtoalaska.shutterfly.com/bellingham/21. It is from a spot just off the loop to the VC.