OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Poetry complements nature beginning today as the North Olympic Library System and Olympic National Park work together to offer the annual Poetry Walks.
This year’s program will continue through May 31 on five trails in the park.
“The Library and Olympic hope the playful combination of nature and art will encourage residents and visitors to get out and be active, and remind them of two great local resources that are always available to explore,” said Clair Dunlap, librarian, in a news release.
Poems will punctuate the scenery along the Peabody Creek Trail and Living Forest Trail near the park visitor center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles, as well as the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest, the Madison Creek Falls Trail in the Elwha Valley and the Spruce Railroad Trail near Lake Crescent.
With the exception of the Hall of Mosses Trail, access is free.
Poets featured along the trails include Mary Oliver, Ross Gay, Jericho Brown and Tim McNulty of Sequim, among others.
“Those who find themselves inspired to write a poem or take a photo while on one of the Poetry Walks are encouraged to share it on NOLS’ Facebook page or share it with their friends on Twitter with #FindYourPark,” Dunlap said.
The Living Forest and Peabody Creek trails at the park visitor center offer half-mile loops and are lined with blooming skunk cabbage in the spring.
The Madison Creek Falls Trail is a paved 200-foot walk to the base of the falls.
The Hall of Mosses Trail is a 0.8-mile loop trail that passes through big leaf maples and Sitka spruces covered in green and brown mosses.
It begins near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, which requires regular park entrance fees to access.
The Spruce Railroad Trail follows the historic railroad grade of the Spruce Railroad along the north shore of Lake Crescent for 4 miles one way. It offers several points of beach access as well as views of the Punchbowl, Mount Storm King and Barnes Point.
More information can be found at www.nols.org and www.nps.gov/olym.
The timing of Poetry Walks isn’t coincidental, Dunlap said. April is National Poetry Month and National Park Week will take place April 16-24.
National Park Week is celebrated at all national park areas across the country and features free admission to all national park units on Saturday, April 16. The theme of this year’s National Park Week is Park Connections, and Sunday, April 17, is focused on Park Creativity.
NOLS — which oversees libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay — is hosting the Fierce and Fabulous Movement Challenge. The program, which began March 1 and continues through May 3, encourages adults 18 and older to create and maintain new healthy habits and movement goals.
“Taking in one of the Poetry Walks can count toward badges for movement activities and get participants one step closer to an entry into the drawing for an annual pass to Olympic National Park,” Dunlap said.
To register, and for more information, go to www.nols.org/movement-challenge.
Clallam County’s public libraries also offer hiking guides, trail maps, wildlife guides and poetry volumes for checkout.
They also offer Explore Olympic! daypacks — filled with discovery tools for exploring the park, including trail and field guides, binoculars and reading materials for kids.
Because of a donation by Washington’s National Park Fund, a family who checks out a pack will receive a seven-day entrance pass to Olympic National Park.
The Poetry Walks program is being offered free to the public thanks to the support of local Friends of the Library groups.
