Days 12 - 14: Reba Adventure 2026

 

Reba Adventure 2026: Days 12–14 — Olympic National Park (a.k.a. The Park That Tried to Break Us)



If Olympic National Park had a Yelp review from us, it would read: "Five stars. Would get lost in a temperate rainforest again." Here's how three days at one of the most beautiful and most confusing corners of Washington went down.

A Ferry, A Wrong Turn, and a Sheryl Crow Sing-Along

We rolled into the Olympic Peninsula after a long travel day made extra memorable by a surprise: a ferry ride none of us (Reba included) had ever experienced. An hour-long wait to load, thirty minutes to cross. Todd and I hopped out to soak in the views while Aspen and Willow held down the fort (and Reba) like the world's most loyal lake lifeguards.





We were staying on Lake Crescent, the second-largest lake in the state and a genuinely stunning 17 miles of water. Naturally, our first move on dry land was to confidently check into the wrong RV park. The receptionist barely blinked: "This happens all the time." Comforting and concerning in equal measure.

Fifteen winding miles later — yes, I sang the Sheryl Crow song the way, no regrets — we finally arrived at The Log Cabin Lodge, tucked into the woods with knockout lakeshore and mountain views. Drinks by the big window in oversized log cabin chairs one night, fresh-air lounging on Adirondack chairs the next. The air up there might be the cleanest we've ever breathed. If bottling air were a business, we'd be rich.

Three Parks in One

Here's the wild thing about Olympic: it's basically three completely different ecosystems crammed into one park. Mountains, coast, and rainforest, all doing their own thing within a couple hours of each other:

  • Mountains — moody, billowy, perpetually wrapped in misty clouds like they're trying to keep a secret.
  • Coast — windy, wild, and apparently a five-star fishing destination according to the eagles patrolling the marina.
  • Rainforest — ferns and moss on every surface, lush enough to make you feel like you wandered onto a movie set.




Fair warning to future visitors: getting between these regions is not simple. The park is enormous and dense, there are no direct through-roads, and road closures have a habit of announcing themselves only after you're already miles deep. Plan accordingly, or just embrace the chaos like we did.

Cape Flattery: As Far Northwest as You Can Go

Since detours seemed to be the theme, we figured why not lean in and drive to the literal furthest northwest point in Washington? That took us to Cape Flattery, and it did not disappoint. The trail delivered jaw-dropping views of ocean, sea caves, and lighthouses, and the pups got to come along for the whole thing. Easily one of the highlight hikes of the trip.



Reba Gets Her First Battle Scar

Next stop: a day exploring Forks before heading down into rainforest territory. Coffee run? Nailed it. Post office stop to mail the much-anticipated postcards? Nailed it. Clipping the corner of a stop sign while driving? Also nailed it.

Reba now sports a scratch; a character scar, if you will, that basically says "we were here." Todd's still processing his feelings about it, but since we already knew Reba was "used" when we bought her, we're choosing to call it part of her story and moving on.



Hoh Rain Forest: Trampoline Ground and a Two-Hour Wait

Just outside Forks (hello, Twilight fans) sits the Hoh Rain Forest, and our visit came with the perfect dose of drizzle to set the mood. The moisture, the ferns, the moss draped over everything felt like a different planet.

The visitor center had other plans for us, though: a two-hour wait and a fully packed lot. So we improvised. Reba got parked roadside, and we set off down a long gravel road that confidently led to... a dead end. No matter — we made our own trail instead. The forest floor out there is genuinely spongy, like walking on a trampoline wrapped in thick terry cloth. We didn't push too far, mostly out of a healthy fear of getting turned around in there. By evening, the drizzle had committed fully to a steady rain.

The Good Stuff

Despite the wrong turns, the stop sign incident, and the rainforest dead end, this stretch was full of wins:

  • Air so clean we wanted to bottle it and bring it home
  • Views that more than earned the navigational headaches
  • A private sandy beach where Aspen and Willow got to run off-leash, chasing each other like the happiest puppies alive
  • Plenty of quality time together, happy accidents and all

There's something to be said for letting the detours be part of the adventure. Hakuna Matata, ain't no worries — we're here for all of it.

Next up: Mount Rainier National Park. Stay tuned!




























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