Blue Mountain and Deer Ridge hikes, Deer Park, Port Angeles

weather permitting

Voluntary carpooling meets at Deer Park Cinema at 9am.
Let me know if you plan to carpool or plan to meet at the Rainshadow Loop parking lot at the top.
The drive up Deer Park Rd is 17 miles and takes about 45 minutes. The road is paved for the first 8 miles, then turns to a narrow, steep gravel road for 9 miles. 4 wheel drive not required.
We will first hike the Rainshadow Loop Trail. The parking lot here is very small. This is a half mile dirt trail at the summit of Blue Mountain and has about 100 feet of elevation gain. At 6,000 feet of elevation, we will have 360 degree views of the Olympics to the south and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada to the north.
We will then drive a mile or so back to Deer Park campground and hike the first mile or 2 of the Deer Ridge/Slab Camp Trail. This trail follows a ridge on the south side and provides great views of the Olympics to the south. We will turn around and hike back the same way. Elevation gain/loss will be about 300 feet.
National Park pass required but there is no fee station up there.
No dogs allowed on National Park trails.