Olympic National Park - cycle friendly??
 

Olympic National Park. West of Seattle. On the map it looks a great place to ride. There looks to be a road around it ie to the North and West. NB I am a road tourist, NOT a mountain biker.

But a friend who has ridden the west coast of the US said "There's no accomodation" (we're not at present planning to take tents and don't really want to, we're credit card tourists).

There do seem to be towns (hamlets??) eg Discovery Bay, Sequim, Pt Angeles, Sappho, Forks, Kalaloch, Queets, Amanda Park, Quinault, Humptulips, New London, Aberdeen, Melbourne.

And on the coast: Taholah, Pacific Beach, Ocean City, Ocean Shores, Westport, Grayland, Tokeland, Oysterville.

Anyone know the area? What's it like? Is it worth a detour - given that we're not going off-road?? Is there accomodation?? We'll be there in August 2005 - 3 of us. :D :D ;)

The olympic pinensula. it's very beautiful. There are hotels in many of those towns- squim, discovery bay, Port angeles, Forks. One place in Kalaloch, the Kalaloch lodge. then places in Moclips, ocean shores, aberdeen. But it is remote. between Forks and Moclips, which is only a town of 100-200 people w 2 hotels? the only commercial place is Kalaloch lodge.(Oh, and Quinalt lodge, but its a side trip.) both Kalaloch and Quinalt are national park type lodges, with restaurant and small store. Touring from Port Angeles west to Neah Bay and the NW tip of the continental US, then down to Forks, would be worth the mileage, it's absolutely beautiful and senic roads to boot.

Beautiful, but plan your lodging in advance if you're not tenting it.

Planning is essential as there isn't a lot of accomodation especially in August, it's also not a ride for the faint of heart given all the huge logging trucks with bits of tree bark flying off them and oversized motorhomes wanting to squeeze you onto the, sometimes only, 6 inch verge. The best oysters I've had were in Oysterville fresh out of the water, and the Tokeland Hotel is a great little restored Victorian place that likes cyclists and serves great breakfasts. Ocean Shores has a great beach and is very touristy so probably easier to find a place to stay. If you're not into making reservations then a tent and sleeping bag would be the only way to go. It's well worth the trip though, lots of rugged scenery and quite a bit of ocean access. The last time I was there the roads were in great shape, so you'd be fine on a road bike. There are lots of cyclists who do this route so you wouldn't be alone but at the same time there aren't a lot of cycle shops around so carry the essentials.

Take some time off the bike by walking the Hoh River Trail. I went in May when it was dripping with water and everything was green. It was unforgetable.

Some examples, if I get the uploading to work properly...

Hint: Everything is always wet and green there. ;) Just in case you wanted to know...

The Hoh Rainforest is absolutely beautiful. Inside, you can experience all sorts of microclimates. it's definately worth a trip. Don't expect to do any biking there though except from the entrance road to the main parking lot... which is admittedly about 5 miles. There are of course many entrances.