Olympic National Park in June
Nov 8th, 2010, 10:46 AM
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Olympic National Park in June
I am considering a trip to Yosemite or Olympic in June. Having been to Yosemite once, I am uncertain as to which way lean towards.
I am a little concerned that I should do Olympic in Late July. Late July might work for me, but it might not. I know that June would work fine. Any thoughts on the weather, roads, trail in June(3rd or 4th week)?
I am a little concerned that I should do Olympic in Late July. Late July might work for me, but it might not. I know that June would work fine. Any thoughts on the weather, roads, trail in June(3rd or 4th week)?
Nov 8th, 2010, 11:08 AM
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This PDF is a good start for weather at Olympic NP:
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisi...&PageID=176266
The only certainty about weather there is its uncertainty. It can change from beautiful to horrendous, at any time of the year, literally in a few hours -- when we were on Hurricane Ridge, a fog bank rolled in and reduced visibility from a few kilometers to a few hundred meters in a matter of MINUTES. Also, it can be beautiful in one part of the park, horrendous in another.
The plus side to Olympia is that, if weather forces you make alternate plans, you usually CAN make alternate plans. Snow and fog in the mountains? Go to the rain forest. Rain makes the forest trails impassable? Spend some time on the ocean beach.
Paved roads will all be completely clear by June, and (most likely) all dirt roads will be okay as well. But you still may get a nasty storm coming through on the days you are there, making mountain travel inadvisable. If that happens, just go somewhere else!
Trails in June may well be quite wet, unless there's an unusual dry and warm spring. Just check with the Rangers on which trails would be good for your level of skill, stamina, and experience.
http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisi...&PageID=176266
The only certainty about weather there is its uncertainty. It can change from beautiful to horrendous, at any time of the year, literally in a few hours -- when we were on Hurricane Ridge, a fog bank rolled in and reduced visibility from a few kilometers to a few hundred meters in a matter of MINUTES. Also, it can be beautiful in one part of the park, horrendous in another.
The plus side to Olympia is that, if weather forces you make alternate plans, you usually CAN make alternate plans. Snow and fog in the mountains? Go to the rain forest. Rain makes the forest trails impassable? Spend some time on the ocean beach.
Paved roads will all be completely clear by June, and (most likely) all dirt roads will be okay as well. But you still may get a nasty storm coming through on the days you are there, making mountain travel inadvisable. If that happens, just go somewhere else!
Trails in June may well be quite wet, unless there's an unusual dry and warm spring. Just check with the Rangers on which trails would be good for your level of skill, stamina, and experience.
Nov 8th, 2010, 09:13 PM
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June is too early for alpine hiking--most mountain trails won't be snow free until July (sometimes mid-July). And, the PNW gets the "June Gloom". It's really a dreary month here. So, I'd wait until July, or just go to Yosemite.
