Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Olympic National Park, Washington, United States
This wilderness covers about 877,000 acres and combines rugged mountain ranges, forested valleys, and raw Pacific coastline within a single protected area. A network of roughly 600 miles of trails weaves through the landscape and links different terrain types together.
The area became legally protected in 1988 when Congress passed the Washington Parks Wilderness Act to keep it from development. In 2016, it was renamed to honor Senator Daniel J. Evans, who championed the conservation effort.
The Skokomish, Quinault, Queets, Hoh, Quileute, Makah, and Klallam peoples have deep ties to these lands that shape how the place is understood and valued. Names and locations throughout the area reflect this long indigenous connection.
Visitors can enter from many different points, with main access areas near Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh River valley, and Ruby Beach. The terrain can change quickly and weather shifts without warning, so solid preparation makes a big difference.
Mount Olympus here hosts one of the largest remaining glacial systems in the lower 48 states, with ice fields that flow down from high peaks. Few places in the continental US still have glaciers of this scale and accessibility.
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