Olympic National Park - March with mom
 

My 72 year old mother loves the Pacific Northwest. My father refuses to travel with her, so I have helped her plan and gone with her on a couple of trips (with help from this board!). The problem is that we are limited to traveling in mid-March. We've been to Portland once and Seattle once in March and found it cold, somewhat dampish, but utterly doable and enjoyed ourselves both trips.

She is really wanting to go to Olympic National Park this March. I've done some research and it looks like the park is certainly open. We can handle cold weather down to possibly the 40's and overcast skies and moderate rain. But coming from Texas I always fear severe weather that we might not be used to ... like heavy snow or below freezing temperatures. I've checked the averages on online and it looks doable, but I just need a reality check from someone who really knows the area. Am I crazy to take my elderly mother to Olympic National Park in March?

Follow up question: She's wanting to stay at Kalaloch Lodge and there is availablility. Are there going to be some easier trails for her near there? Maybe something with a boardwalk? I did see that the Park runs van tours which appear to be running in March, so that is a positive sign. Also, we will have car so we can do scenic drives and such.

I would love to know if I'm headed into disaster!

Snow is possible but unlikely in March.

Rather than Kalaloch, we much prefer Quinault Lodge. The fireplace rooms are especially pleasant and the restaurant there is better than the one at Kalaloch.

One of our favorite walks is the Maple Glade Nature Trail on the north shore of Lake Quinault (on North Shore Road just north of Amanda Park). We also like the easy hike to Marymere Falls. The trail begins at the ranger station on Lake Crescent. These hikes are no problem for our septuagenarian relatives, but the way you describe your mother they may be too difficult for her.

Kalaloch is located on a cliff high above the ocean.

HTTY

Lake Quinault looks lovely - maybe a combination of the two during our stay. The one good thing about March is that there is still plenty of availability at both places.

I may have mischaracterized my mom. She doesn't have to have a boardwalk but I'm mostly needing to avoid rocky trails, trails that require you to hike quite a bit to "get to the good stuff", steep inclines, and ice/snow. The more I look at it the more I think this trip is as do-able as our other Pacific Northwest trips. Thank you for the info!

Quinault and Kalaloch are both in the southern part of ONP. Consider staying in the north part of the park at Port Angeles (Olympic Lodge with golf course view) or in Port Townsend: http://www.ptguide.com

Returning to Seattle, Highway 1 skirting the west side of Hood Canal is very scenic. Or, if you take the ferry from Kingston to Edmonds, you will pass through Port Gable--one of the quaintest towns in WA.

HTTY

You can sure do the walk at the Hoh rain forest - might be a good time of year to see the rain and fog (though most of the year is pretty good for that!). You might even luck out and have decent weather. I'd go for it!

Thanks everybody. I'm still looking at it but I'm inclined to think we could do it. I appreciate your help!

You likely won't have snow but could have a very rainy trip. I agree with Quinault Lodge being a LOT nicer place to stay than Kalaloch.

It could be rainy. . . or it could be lovely. I have only been out that way for winter hiking (Lake Ozette loop, Shi-Shi beach) and both times it was a sunny day. You really can't count on anything weather-wise, but snow is extremely unlikely on the coast.

I'm glad others have suggested suitable hikes as the two I have done out there are not "easy."

You might include the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula in your route. Most of it in in the "rain shadow" and gets far less of the wet stuff than arreas nearby. Port Townsend is a charming place to stay and Fort Worden offers lots of short easy walks, some with views of Puget Sound.

The Hoh valley is really interesting at that time of year. The Roosevelt elk (huge beasties) come down from the high country and browse all the undergrowth below the trees, leaving a remarkable vista - long distance views below the fog/cloud-topped trees, with the trunks and moss hanging down from the mist, and just moss and stumps (and some ferns they don't eat) on the floor of the forest. Very spooky and beautiful.

The elk themselves hang out around the Hoh visitor center and are wonderful to see.

Just bring lots of raingear (ponchos, hats) and enjoy the scene.

Wow, that description makes me wish I were there right now!

And I was just reading up on Port Townsend. I will see what I can find on Fort Worden. Sounds like something she might like. Thank you all!

More about elk in the Hoh Rain Forest:

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...gainst-elk6310

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/124256114.html

We won't be feeding them!