This spring the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) is teaming up with Olympic National Park to offer the sixth season of Poetry Walks. This year’s program will begin April 1 and continue through May 31 and features inspiring poetry along four dazzling trails in Olympic National 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.
During Poetry Walks, poems will be placed on signs along the following trails in Olympic National Park: the Hall of Mosses Trail, the Living Forest Trail, the Madison Creek Falls Trail, and the Peabody Creek Trail. With the exception of the Hall of Mosses Trail, access to these trails is free. Due to the current closure and ongoing improvements along the Spruce Railroad Trail, poems will not be placed there this year.
About the Trails
The Living Forest and Peabody Creek trails begin at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, and offer pleasant 0.5 mile loops. In the spring, skunk cabbage, a native plant found along streams and other wet areas of the woods, blooms and provides vibrant color (and possibly scent) along the trails. The Madison Creek Falls Trail is located in the Elwha Valley and offers a paved 200-foot walk to the base of the beautiful falls. The Hall of Mosses Trail is a 0.8 mile loop trail that passes through big leaf maples and Sitka spruces covered in vibrant green and brown mosses. The Hall of Mosses Trail begins near the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, which regular park entrance fees must be paid to access. More information about the trails and areas of Olympic National Park can be found at www.nols.org and www.nps.gov/olym.
Poets featured along the trails include Emily Brontë, Ogden Nash, Shel Silverstein, Gary Snyder and many more. 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.
National Poetry Month and National Park Week Events
The timing of Poetry Walks isn’t coincidental. April is National Poetry Month, and National Park Week will take place April 20-28. 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 20.
More Information
Whether you’re interested in additional poetry or new trails to explore, the NOLS collection has something for you. Hiking guides, trail maps, wildlife guides and poetry volumes are all available for checkout! Explore Olympic! daypacks—filled with discovery tools for exploring the park, including trail and field guides, binoculars and reading materials for kids—are perfect for families and are available at all four NOLS locations. Thanks to a generous donation by Washington’s National Park Fund, families that checkout 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 generous support of the Port Angeles Friends of the Library. The Port Angeles Main Library is located at 2210 S. Peabody St. in Port Angeles. For more information about this and other upcoming events, visit www.nols.org or email discover@nols.org.
