[mbravenboer]

For the second daytrip with my parents (previous one was Mt. Fremont Lookout), we visited the Olympics and did a quick sampler of easily accessible trails: Hall of Mosses, Hoh River trail, and Ruby Beach. From Seattle this is a somewhat epic undertaking, but I don't regret doing it. The Hall of Mosses was pretty nice. I was only moderately impressed by the Hoh River trail, particularly compared to the Quinault hike we did a couple of years ago (and even compared to Cascade options like the North Fork Sauk). I think that the Quinault hike was more varied and equally green, and has better opportunities for seeing wildlife. We saw various people going up and down equipped with ice axes and stuff, presumably heading for the Olympus. I did like Ruby Beach (we hiked to the Hoh outlet). Plenty of wildlife to enjoy, and great scenery. Close to the Hoh outlet we found a bear track on the beach. We saw a Bald Eagle catch a seagull in flight, which was nice. Not so much for the seagull. Hall of Mosses:

Hall of Mosses

Hall of Mosses

Hall of Mosses: Tiny people and big trees

Hall of Mosses

Hall of Mosses

Hoh River Trail:

Hoh River Trail sign

Big tree along Hoh River Trail

Hoh River

Ruby Beach:

Hikers on Ruby Beach

Abbey Island from Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach

Ocean life at Ruby Beach

Seastar (Ruby Beach)

Sea Anomes (Ruby Beach)

Seastars (Ruby Beach)

Seastars (Ruby Beach)

Sea Anemone (Ruby Beach)

Driftwood

Mom & Dad with Abbey Island

Pelican (north of Ruby Beach)

Pelican (north of Ruby Beach)

Driftwood (between Ruby Beach and Hoh outlet)

Driftwood (between Ruby Beach and Hoh outlet)

Hoh River right before it reaches the ocean

Hoh River outlet

Looking back from Hoh River outlet to Abbey Island

Bald Eagle flying away with a seagull it caught

Hoh River outlet