BEST PHOTO LOCATIONS: THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA
byAnitaElderlastmodifiedMon,Feb9,201510:36PM
Ive been compiling a list of place/things to photograph around
WA state. This is my list for the OlympicPeninsula area. Links go
to Google Maps where you can get directions.
NORTH OLYMPIC PENINSULAIf you like to photograph old
architecture, there are a low of Victorian Homes in the Uptown are
of Port Townsend.Many are local businesses or serving as hotels or
B&Bs. A good starting point is the Ann Starrett Mansion on
thecorner of Clay and Adams.
If youre into wooden boats, head to Port Townsend on the second
weekend in September for the Wooden BoatFestival.
Kai Tai Lagoon is located in the middle of Port Townsend and has
acres of natural areas, open water and wetlands.There, you will
find a variety of birds, including greenwinged teal, Coopers hawk,
great blue heron, flickers,waxwings, and blackbirds.
The Port Townsend Shipyard has a variety of fishing boats in dry
dock. Photograph details and people working onthe boats. Sunny
mornings are good for reflections and foggy mornings are good for
mood shots.
Photograph interesting shapes, colors and textures of the old
batteries at Fort Worden State Park. Take aflashlight with lots of
candle power and experiment photographing light writing inside the
dark batteries.
The Point Wilson Lighthouse is situated on a small peninsula and
has several ways to approach a shot. Walk downto either beach to
see the possibilities. If youre there at sunrise, try including the
sun reflecting in one of thewindows.
Fort Flagler offers great views of the regions two major
mountains. The best places to photograph wildlife areMarrowstone
Point and a sand spit on the northwestern corner.
The isthmus where Indian Island and Marrowstone Island meet is a
good place to photograph bird habitat.
The Sequim Lavender Festival is typically the second weekend in
July, but to avoid the crowds and get betterphotos, visit the farms
before or after the festival. Two favorites are Jardin Du Soleil
and Purple Haze.
Ediz Hook in Port Angeles offers extremes in photographic
subject matter. Each of the large tanks there has astaircase
spiraling up its side. This is a great noontime, sunnyday
location.
The Port Angeles City Pier offers flower displays and sculptures
to photograph. There is also a viewing tower at theend of the pier
that gives you a good view of the city and harbor.
Tongue Point is located in the Salt Creek Recreation Area. Its
considered the premier location for tide poolphotography on the
peninsula. Use caution the seashore is typically slippery and the
rocks are sharp, making footingprecarious. Consult a tide table for
best times, typically in MayJuly. Start making your way to the tide
pools an hourbefore the predicted low tide. Salt Creek is also a
good location for sunrise and sunset photos.
Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point in the continental
United States. There are some interesting shapedtrees along the
trail to the point. When the forest is shrouded in mist, it makes
for a magical scene photo. From thepoint, you have views of cliffs
and Tatoosh Island. There are lots of birds and you have a good
chance of seeingtufted puffins, auklets, bald eagles and
oystercatchers. The Cape Flattery Lighthouse is just offshore on
TatooshIsland. Its usually windy, so be aware of the vibrations
when shooting your picture. In the Neah Bay area, its verypossible
to see and photograph bald eagles. Also, harbor seals are frequent
at the marina.
HOOD CANAL AREA
When you get to the top of Mount Walker, you have a choice of
north or south viewpoints. You can see MountRainier as well as
Tacoma and Seattle from here and on a clear day you might even see
the Space Needle. Sunrise is agreat time to shoot since the Hood
Canal is often shrouded in mist or fog this time of morning.
At milepost 3 on the Dosewallips Road, theres a small bridge
with a pullout. Take the trail on the north side past asmall
powergenerating building to view the 100foot Rocky Brook Falls.
The Whitney Gardens and Nursery in late April through May is a
great place to photograph various species ofrhododendrons in
bloom.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARKAt the Heart O the Hills campground, drive
to the large parking lot near the amphitheater. At the far end of
theparking lot, opposite from where you park, and across from a
picnic table, is an old stump partially covered withbunchberry. In
late May and early June, these will be in full bloom and make a
stunning setting to photograph.
Along the 17mile Hurricane Ridge Road, youll find several
viewpoints looking both east and north. Mount Baker isvisible in
some spots along the road. From late spring through summer youll
find lots of flowers along the side of theroad. At the top, but
sunrise and sunset shots are possible here. There is lots of
mountain lupine in the meadows, aswell as roaming deer, to
photograph. Flowers are usually at their peak in midJuly.
Deer Park has views of Port Angeles, Sequim, the Dungeness Spit,
Port Townsend, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, theSan Juan Islands,
Vancouver Island, Anacortes, Mount Baker and the North Cascades,
with the best being right fromthe parking lot. This is a great
place to set up for a sunrise or sunset photo. Also nice burned out
trees and subalpinewildflowers at campground; deer, marmots, high
alpine phlox on Blue Mountain
Madison Falls is on the way to Lake Crescent and isnt as well
known and is a lot easier to get downstream to thebase of the
waterfall.
At Lake Crescent, stop at Barnes Point, park at the Ranger
Station, and take the short hike to Marymere Falls.The falls are
tall, so you can get close to it. There are two viewpoints from the
trail: one below the falls and one fromnear the top. Also
investigate the trail along the shore from the Lake Crescent Lodge.
In the summer, this can be agreat for earlymorning photography
since the lake is often shrouded in fog with streams of light
outlining the trees.Lake Crescent has lots of potential for moody,
earlymorning shots as well as good sunset photos. Use the
pulloutsalong the highway.
From the west end of Lake Crescent, take the Sol Duc Hot Springs
Road to the Sol Duc Valley to the SalmonCascades where the Sol Duc
tumbles through boulders for flowing water shots. Theres a viewing
platform on a shorttrail from the parking area where you can
photograph leaping salmon. Spawning season is in the fall, so you
can alsoget some fall color. For forest photograph, look for
fingers of light along the Ancient Groves Nature Trail. At theend
of Sol Duc Road, take the Sol Duc Trail to Sol Duc Falls. Between
early May and into June, there will be lots offlowers along the
trail. As you cross the footbridge, stop and turn around. The
backlit leaves of a maple branchoverhanging the end of the bridge
makes a fine photo. Youll find the Sol Duc Falls packed int he
summertime, so youbest bet is to visit midweek and early in the
morning. A rainy or cloudy day has an advantage because the light
isgreat and there are no tourists. A good spot to photograph the
falls is just as you walk onto the bridge.
Another good place for tidepool photography is at Rialto Beach.
Its also a good place for sunsets and moody, foggylandscapes. From
the beach, cross the stream where it enters the ocean (you may need
to use a log bridge). Beyondthis area is the rock formations and
Hole in the Wall, a large sea stack witha big hole in it.
The Hoh Rainforest offers many hotspots if you like forest
photography, especially along the Hall of Mosses.Besides moss and
trees, look for ferns, mushrooms, nurse logs, and undergrowth
plants.
Ruby Beach is one of the most photogenic beaches on the coast.
You can photograph sea stacks, tide pools and nicesunsets (bring a
flashlight to find your way back in the dark).
