Posted by Ronald Murphy on June 20, 2014 at 10:34 AM
Hello all-
We're going to Seattle early August for a little more than a week to visit my daughter, so I am looking for advice on where to go for good landscape photography in the area. I've seen many stunning photos here on NPN of various places near there, and I'm looking for any advice/suggestions you have to offer. Thanks in advance!
Ron Murphy
Posted by Bill Tickner on June 20, 2014 at 12:12 PM
I lived up there for many years. If you have time for a day trip, I highly recommend the drive around Mt Ranier. Be sure to take a lot of SD (or CF) cards along! Don't forget your ND filters, lots of waterfalls! Also, Woodland Park is nice.
Depending upon how far afield you can venture during your visit, you have a bunch of options. Mount Rainier isn't far. From Seattle, the Carbon River area is the most easily accesses. Depending upon the time of year, the Mowich Lake entrance might also be open, and if you can get up there, "playground".
The Olympic Peninsula is another stellar option. From beach to peak, you can shoot about anything you want out there. Here again, time of year is a factor as the high country isn't open yet. Typically, it's mid to late July before you can wander the high ridges.
You might pick up a copy of Greg Vaughn's Photographing Washington, too.
Your choices may depend on timing. Rainier is beautiful, but if you're going soon you'll find that many areas are still snowed under and your options there may be limited. If you're going later in the summer it could be fantastic. The lowland/coastal areas of Olympic may be a better option earlier in the summer.
If you have the time and are interested plan to go to the Northwest Trek at Eatonville. It is a large wildlife park specializing in animals of the Pacific Northwest. There are many natural looking displays for small mammals and predators, plus a large open area seen from a tram system that includes moose, elk, blacktail deer, woodland caribou, bison, mt. goats and bighorn sheep. It has been several years since I was there, so you might want to check it out before going. It is near Mt. Rainier.
Your best bet is to pick up the very comprehensive book titled 'Photographing Washington'. Highly recommended!
Posted by Greg Vaughn on June 20, 2014 at 10:56 PM
Thank you John and Wesley for mentioning my book!
Ron: early August is usually prime time for wildflowers at Paradise meadows in Mount Rainier National Park, and it can be truly spectacular. The Carbon River and Mowich Lake areas that Wesley mentions are great, but they involve a bit of hiking to get to the flowers and views of The Mountain. You could make a very nice loop trip from Seattle by going to the Nisqually Entrance of MRNP, and following the main road up to Paradise, continuing east to Reflection Lake, Stevens Canyon, Ohanapecosh, Tipsoo Lake, the Sunrise Area, and return to Seattle area from the northeast side of the Park. That's a lot driving for a day trip, so try for an overnite with lodging at Ashford, Longmire or Paradise, or one of the campgrounds in MRNP.
Others have mentioned Olympic National Park, also a great option. Depending on how long your daughter has been in the Seattle area, she probably has favorites she wants to show you, like a ferry trip to the San Juan Islands, the "Fruit Loop" over the Cascades to Leavenworth and the Wenatchee area and return, or maybe the Hwy 20 - Hwy 2 loop through North Cascades National Park to Winthrop to the Columbia River and return.
This has been a lower than normal snow year so the alpine meadows around Rainer should open earlier than usual. Quite a number of years ago my son and I hiked the whole Wonderland Trail, beginning on July 4 and running two weeks. The meadows were spectacularly in bloom then.
Another area worth exploring is the Seven Lakes basin in Olympic Park if you have any backpacking opportunities.
Good Luck and Good Shooting!
Posted by David Schoen on July 21, 2015 at 1:43 AM
We've had a really HOT summer so far. I don't think snow will be a problem for you. All the places mentioned so far are spectacular. I would add Mount St Helens to the mix. It is a little farther away but another Pacific Northwest original for landscapes you won' find in many places.
Discussion
9 repliesWe're going to Seattle early August for a little more than a week to visit my daughter, so I am looking for advice on where to go for good landscape photography in the area. I've seen many stunning photos here on NPN of various places near there, and I'm looking for any advice/suggestions you have to offer. Thanks in advance!
Ron Murphy
Bill
Depending upon how far afield you can venture during your visit, you have a bunch of options. Mount Rainier isn't far. From Seattle, the Carbon River area is the most easily accesses. Depending upon the time of year, the Mowich Lake entrance might also be open, and if you can get up there, "playground".
The Olympic Peninsula is another stellar option. From beach to peak, you can shoot about anything you want out there. Here again, time of year is a factor as the high country isn't open yet. Typically, it's mid to late July before you can wander the high ridges.
You might pick up a copy of Greg Vaughn's Photographing Washington, too.
Best,
Wesley
Max
Ron: early August is usually prime time for wildflowers at Paradise meadows in Mount Rainier National Park, and it can be truly spectacular. The Carbon River and Mowich Lake areas that Wesley mentions are great, but they involve a bit of hiking to get to the flowers and views of The Mountain. You could make a very nice loop trip from Seattle by going to the Nisqually Entrance of MRNP, and following the main road up to Paradise, continuing east to Reflection Lake, Stevens Canyon, Ohanapecosh, Tipsoo Lake, the Sunrise Area, and return to Seattle area from the northeast side of the Park. That's a lot driving for a day trip, so try for an overnite with lodging at Ashford, Longmire or Paradise, or one of the campgrounds in MRNP.
Others have mentioned Olympic National Park, also a great option. Depending on how long your daughter has been in the Seattle area, she probably has favorites she wants to show you, like a ferry trip to the San Juan Islands, the "Fruit Loop" over the Cascades to Leavenworth and the Wenatchee area and return, or maybe the Hwy 20 - Hwy 2 loop through North Cascades National Park to Winthrop to the Columbia River and return.
Another area worth exploring is the Seven Lakes basin in Olympic Park if you have any backpacking opportunities.
Good Luck and Good Shooting!
We've had a really HOT summer so far. I don't think snow will be a problem for you. All the places mentioned so far are spectacular. I would add Mount St Helens to the mix. It is a little farther away but another Pacific Northwest original for landscapes you won' find in many places.