Blue Mountain Summit + Rain Shadow Loop

Within Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge gets top billing (and the most traffic) as far as vehicle-accessible panoramas go. However, just to the northeast sits the lesser known, equally spectacular summit of Blue Mountain. From the 6,007-foot summit, true 360-degree views that encompass Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, the San Juan Islands, and the glaciated interior Olympics Mountains are waiting to be enjoyed. Blue Mountain sits just above the Deer Park Campground, and it is accessed via the same forest service road. Note that this portion of the road closes seasonally due to snow. Just below the summit is a small parking lot that provides some great views in its own right, and here you'll find the trailhead for the Rain Shadow Loop Trail. To really experience all Blue Mountain has to offer, hike the 0.5-mile round-trip loop to the summit. A short pamphlet is available at the Deer Park Campground that provides interpretive information at marked posts along the trail. As one might guess, the trail gets its name due to its geographic location in the large rain shadow cast by Mount Olympus and the Bailey Range. Annually, the northeastern Olympics receive only a small fraction of the precipitation dropped on their neighbors just to the west. The Three Forks, Slab Camp, and Obstruction Point trails are all accessible from the Deer Park/Blue Mountain area, offering adventure opportunities ranging from short day hikes to extensive backpacking and making it an even more attractive destination.