| The Olympic National Forest is located on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington State. The forest is surrounded on three sides by saltwater and is noted for its marine climate, lush rain forests, Roosevelt elk and rugged, mountainous terrain.The Olympic Mountains rise from sea level to 7,965 feet in the center of the Peninsula, while temperate rain forests cover the seaward slopes. Variations in elevation and moisture create a rich landscape which offers many opportunities for camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, and boating. Special activities include clam digging, oyster picking, beachcombing, scuba diving, wildlife viewing and mountain climbing.The forest offers over 200 miles of trails, half of which are at low elevations and can be enjoyed year-round. It also has five wilderness areas, totaling 88,265 acres and the many lakes and streams on the Peninsula, as well as the surrounding bodies of salt water, offer outstanding fisheries. Anadromous fish (those that migrate to and from the ocean) include steelhead trout and Pacific salmon. Resident fish include cutthroat, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. The beaches and estuaries offer a variety of shellfish including oysters, razor and steamer clams, and crab.The Peninsula's Roosevelt elk population is the largest of its kind anywhere. Often weighing over 600 pounds, they are a major hunting and tourist attraction. A wide variety of other species are also found on the forest including coyote, beaver, black bear, fox, bats, otters, bobcat and snakes and lizards. |
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