Scooter Chapman
Peninsula camping season begins in earnest
Published on Wed, Jun 2, 2010 by Scooter ChapmanRead More Chapman
The first camping trip of the season is history and now the Chapman clan can look forward to more outings on the Olympic Peninsula. We are really proud of the area and the availability of camping.
After spending a week at Altaire Campground on the Elwha River, it's time to get ready for trips to nearby campgrounds in Olympic National Park.
Nearly all ONP destinations are open and warmer temperatures and drier days will mean a lot more visitors to our area.
The park is starting a weeklong effort to make pavement repairs of the 12.2 miles around Lake Crescent and it will be much more comfortable now to drive in that area of the park.
Lake Crescent Lodge is open and Fairholm Campground is open on the lake. The general store at the base of Fairholm is open and the Sol Duc Road and campgrounds are open. The hot spring resort also is open for the season.
The Sol Duc is a great day trip from Port Angeles and Sequim. Pack a lunch, bring along a few layers of hiking clothes and the swimsuit. Head for the end of the road, take the short trek to Sol Duc Falls, marvel at the beauty and the power of the river, then head for the resort for a few hours in the hot water.
If you don't want to pack a lunch, the food at the resort is great.
On to the coast and Kalaloch Lodge is open all through the year and Ozette, Mora and Kalaloch campgrounds are open and going strong.
Hurricane Ridge Road is open and Heart O' The Hills is open for camping with all three loops operating. The visitor center at the top is open, as are the snack bar and gift shop.
County parks
The Chapmans will be making at least two more trips on the local scene this year, one being to Dungeness Recreation Area, the other to Salt Creek Recreation Area.
Clallam County does a great job of maintaining these two destination campgrounds and all the loops are open now.
The Dungeness, of course, is the stepping-off point to visit Dungeness Spit. Last summer I made the trek from the campground to the lighthouse and even made it back.
The hardest part was the last half-mile from the beach back to the campground. It just doesn't look that much of an uphill grade.
Salt Creek offers RV camping, tent camping and more. The electric and water hookups available make it nice for bigger RVs as well as tent trailers. Most are on a reservation system, however, so it pays to know your dates and plan ahead by visiting the Clallam County Web site.
There is really no camping in the Sequim and Port Angeles area except for commercial trailer parks. Port Angeles used to have a nice camping area at Lincoln Park but it was closed several years ago.
At any rate, we have it all on the Olympic Peninsula, so get out and enjoy, folks.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. Reach him via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
After spending a week at Altaire Campground on the Elwha River, it's time to get ready for trips to nearby campgrounds in Olympic National Park.
Nearly all ONP destinations are open and warmer temperatures and drier days will mean a lot more visitors to our area.
The park is starting a weeklong effort to make pavement repairs of the 12.2 miles around Lake Crescent and it will be much more comfortable now to drive in that area of the park.
Lake Crescent Lodge is open and Fairholm Campground is open on the lake. The general store at the base of Fairholm is open and the Sol Duc Road and campgrounds are open. The hot spring resort also is open for the season.
The Sol Duc is a great day trip from Port Angeles and Sequim. Pack a lunch, bring along a few layers of hiking clothes and the swimsuit. Head for the end of the road, take the short trek to Sol Duc Falls, marvel at the beauty and the power of the river, then head for the resort for a few hours in the hot water.
If you don't want to pack a lunch, the food at the resort is great.
On to the coast and Kalaloch Lodge is open all through the year and Ozette, Mora and Kalaloch campgrounds are open and going strong.
Hurricane Ridge Road is open and Heart O' The Hills is open for camping with all three loops operating. The visitor center at the top is open, as are the snack bar and gift shop.
County parks
The Chapmans will be making at least two more trips on the local scene this year, one being to Dungeness Recreation Area, the other to Salt Creek Recreation Area.
Clallam County does a great job of maintaining these two destination campgrounds and all the loops are open now.
The Dungeness, of course, is the stepping-off point to visit Dungeness Spit. Last summer I made the trek from the campground to the lighthouse and even made it back.
The hardest part was the last half-mile from the beach back to the campground. It just doesn't look that much of an uphill grade.
Salt Creek offers RV camping, tent camping and more. The electric and water hookups available make it nice for bigger RVs as well as tent trailers. Most are on a reservation system, however, so it pays to know your dates and plan ahead by visiting the Clallam County Web site.
There is really no camping in the Sequim and Port Angeles area except for commercial trailer parks. Port Angeles used to have a nice camping area at Lincoln Park but it was closed several years ago.
At any rate, we have it all on the Olympic Peninsula, so get out and enjoy, folks.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. Reach him via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
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