Olympic’s Rainforests & the Edge of the US

Olympic’s Rainforests & the Edge of the US – PNW Series, Pt. 2

Published 3 months ago • 1 min read

Hey there Reader,

Welcome back for Part 2 of our 'Last Summer in the PNW' series!

Last time, we shared our adventures to Multnomah Falls and Ruby Beach. This time, we’re heading deeper into the Olympic Peninsula’s mossy rainforests and all the way to the northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S.

Into the Hall of Mosses

A hiker walks beneath a massive, moss-draped tree arch along a shaded forest trail in the Hall of Mosses. Surrounding vegetation includes vibrant ferns and mosses, with sunlight filtering through the canopy above.

Olympic National Park is famous for its moss-draped trees, and the Hall of Mosses trail in the Hoh Rainforest is the best place to see it all up close. Just east of Forks, this easy one-mile loop takes you right through the rainforest with towering trees, ferns, and—you guessed it—plenty of moss.

👉🏻 See Our First-Timer’s Guide to the Hall of Mosses

Standing at the Edge of the U.S.

A vibrant coastal landscape at Cape Flattery, showcasing rocky cliffs, lush greenery, and sparkling blue waters. The tide pools and sea stacks are surrounded by shimmering sunlight reflecting off the ocean, creating a picturesque seascape.

After a two-hour drive up to the cozy town of Sekiu (where we stayed for three days!), we had one goal: to get as close to the edge of the U.S. as we could. This brought us to the stunning Cape Flattery—a beautiful and dog-friendly hike that takes you to the very northwesternmost corner of the country. If you’re lucky, you might even spot whales offshore.

👉🏻 Plan Your Hike to Cape Flattery

The Rugged Beauty of Shi Shi Beach

View of Shi Shi Beach's rocky shoreline and tidepools, with dramatic sea stacks jutting into the Pacific Ocean and waves splashing against the textured rocks under a clear sky.

If you’re up for a bit of an adventure, the 2-mile hike to Shi Shi Beach (pronounced 'shy shy') is worth it. The first stretch is through a muddy forest, but when the trees open up to a view of the stunning coastline, you’ll be glad you hiked out there! Just a heads-up: dogs are not allowed on this trail, but it’s a must-see for humans!

👉🏻 Hike Washington’s Iconic Shi Shi Beach

Up Next: Hurricane Ridge & Grand Valley

Part 3 is all about going higher. We’ll take you up to the breathtaking Hurricane Ridge and share one of our favorite mountain hikes on the Grand Valley Trail. If you love mountain views, you won't want to miss it!

Until our next mile,

Minerva & Sam

P.S. Have you ever been to Olympic National Park? If so, what trail or spot should we check out next time?

Just a quick heads-up! We've got a new email address. We've switched to minerva.and.sam@witheachmile.com to make our communication with you a little smoother. We'll be sending out all our future updates from this address!

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

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