Take a self-guided tour around the Olympic Peninsula to visit its seven unique
and famous landmarks. The tour of the Seven Wonders of the Olympic Peninsula includes
a canal with only one entrance, two islands, the longest spit in the United States,
a mountain known as "the home of the gods," and the deepest natural
harbor on the west coast.
The seven landmarks designated as the "Seven Wonders" are Hood Canal,
Protection Island, Dungeness Spit, Mt. Olympus, Tatoosh Island, the Olympic rain
forests and Grays Harbor.
Hood Canal is nature's waterway that joins the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas.
Over 600 feet deep in places, it is a large producer of salmon, oysters, clams,
shrimp and geoducks. Best views are near the Hood Canal floating bridge, which
crosses Hood Canal near Port Ludlow. Bridge will be closed for repair and replacement May-June 2009. See map for alternate travel.
PROTECTION ISLAND - Entrance to Discovery Bay at Port Townsend
Protection Island, at the entrance to Discovery Bay and just off the beach from Port Townsend, is a national marine sanctuary
and home to endangered species of waterfowl and mammals. The island is home to
tufted puffins, pigeon guillemots, eagles and seals. Best views are from beaches
north of Port Townsend.
DUNGENESS SPIT - North of Sequim
The Dungeness Spit north of Sequim is the longest natural sand spit in the United
States. Over 6 miles long, it grows 30 feet a year in length. Over 200 species
of birds visit the spit. Dungeness, which means "Sandy Cape" protects
the Bay, which is the natural habitat of Dungeness crabs.
Mt. Olympus, "home of the gods," is the highest peak (7965 ft.) in the
Olympic mountain range. Best views are from Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National
Park south of Port Angeles. The mountain's tallest peaks are named for Greek,
Roman and Norse gods, such as Athena, Mercury and Thor. It is also home of a native
American god, Thunderbird.
TATOOSH ISLAND - Entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca
Tatoosh Island, at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, was a sacred fishing
ground for native Americans. It is off the coast of the most northwestern point
of the contiguous USA. Best views are from cliffs west of Neah Bay, the Makah
Indians' fishing village.
OLYMPIC RAIN FORESTS - Hoh, Queets and Quinault
The Olympic Rain Forests -- the Hoh, the Quinault and the Queets -- are the only
temperate rain forests in the USA. Best views are at the Hoh Ranger Station in
Olympic National Park and around Lake Quinault. The rain forests are cathedrals
of giant trees and hanging mosses where elk and deer live.
GRAYS HARBOR
Grays Harbor is the largest and deepest natural harbor on the west coast of the
United States. Bowerman Basin Refuge in the harbor is a national wildlife preserve
and major flyway for the west coast's migrating birds. Best views are along shores
of Hoquiam, Ocean Shores and Westport.
OTHER WEB SITES WITH INFORMATION ON OLYMPIC PENINSULA
DISCLAIMER: This web site is not associated with, nor sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee or International Olympic Committee. The word "Olympic" is used on this website with the permission of U.S. Code: Title 36: Section 220506 : (3)(B) "use of word 'Olympic' refers to the naturally occurring mountains or geographical region; and" (3)(C) "marketed in the State of Washington west of the Cascade Mountain range, and operations and marketing outside of this area are not substantial."
7 Wonders of the Olympic peninsula. Copyright MMIX Youra Guides and Maps
DISCLAIMER: This web site is not associated with the United States Olympic Committee nor International Olympic Committee. Use of the word "Olympic" on this site is permitted under US Code Title 36 : Section 220506, allowing any person who used the word "Olympic" prior to September 21, 1950 to continuing such lawful use for the same goods and services, recognizing its use by the Olympic Peninsula Resort and Hotel Association starting in 1932 and continuing to the present.
