Dear Friend of the National Parks,

It’s your turn to experience one of the most dynamic and beautiful national parks in the United States -- Olympic National Park. From ancient rain forests to crystal-blue lakes and glacial peaked mountains to crashing ocean waves, visiting Olympic National Park is like visiting multiple parks in one.

Alongside NPCA experts, master guides, local specialists and National Park Service staff, you can explore the vast seascapes and landscapes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, all with the ease of an NPCA small-group tour. Our Ancient Forests of the Olympic Peninsula trip offers a world-class journey through Washington state’s most stunning, awe-inspiring sights.

Take a look at these highlights from our fall 2022 Ancient Forests of the Olympic Peninsula trip that we think you’ll love:

The Quietest Place in America

Imagine yourself in the calm serenity of one of the most spectacular temperate rain forests in the world — Hoh Rain Forest. Here you will feel like you’ve been transported to another world. As you look around, you’ll see the vibrant greens of moss and ferns blanketing the ground and engulfing the towering evergreens above. But the natural, rare sounds really make this place otherworldly. The Hoh Rain Forest is a unique refuge from man-made sounds, earning itself the title of “the quietest place” in the lower 48 states.

NPCA is advocating to protect these natural sounds from overhead naval training flights and air tours which will disturb the park’s precious ecosystems. During this exclusive excursion, Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist who has circled the globe three times over the last 35 years in pursuit of Earth’s rarest nature sounds, will guide you through this ancient rain forest and its extraordinary acoustic environment.

Ruby and Rialto Beach

Leveraging intimate knowledge of the flora, fauna and history of the region, a local naturalist will lead you through the towering sea stacks of Ruby Beach and the transitory beauty of Rialto Beach’s bustling tidepools. As you trek through the distinct reddish sand, keep a watchful eye out for exciting appearances from seals and sea otters. Experience the striking formations and delicate ecosystems of these beaches in ways only available to NPCA members.

Hurricane Ridge

Continue your expert-led journey through the Olympic Peninsula’s dramatic landscape to magnificent panoramic views of the park at Hurricane Ridge. Here, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore Hurricane Ridge with Tim McNulty, a poet, essayist and nature writer based out of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. McNulty’s expansive understanding of the natural history of Olympic National Park, his unparalleled poetic talent and the surrounding scenery of snow-capped mountains will surely take your breath away. Here, you’ll also visit the site of the former Elwha Dam where you’ll learn about how NPCA helped restore the salmon population through the removal of two dams on the Elwha River.

Find our full Fall 2022 travel collection at npca.org/trips.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me by phone at 202-454-3305 or by email at [email protected]. Thank you for your support.

See you in the parks,


Jared Dial
Associate Director, Educational Travel Program

Photos, top to bottom: Elk in Olympic National Park © Shutterstock Rybarmarekk; Rialto Beach, Olympic National Park © Shutterstock Sean Pavone; A deer in a meadow in scenic Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park © Jared Dial.