By Douglas Scott
Despite the past three months of historically unprecedented great weather, fall is just around the corner. There is a chill to the air at night, school has started, the leaves are changing color, and everywhere you look pumpkin-flavored beverages are being sold. For many, these are signs to batten down the hatches and retreat indoors, while others know that fall is the time for exciting outdoor activities and some of the most authentic Pacific Northwest events in the region. As the temperature drops and the clouds return, the sky is the limit for exciting weekend adventures.
Whether you enjoy hiking, beach-combing, salmon fishing, clam-digging or mushroom hunting, the great outdoors of Grays Harbor has everything you need for a fantastic weekend. Despite the gray weather’s impending invasion, getting outside is as easy as grabbing a raincoat and exploring the numerous wonderful natural areas right in our own backyard. Fall is here, so step outside and explore the most beautiful place in the world: the Pacific Northwest.
Clamming
Standing on a cold beach in the early morning, as the tide reaches its low point, it is common to see hundreds of locals lining the beaches of Grays Harbor digging for the delicious razor clams we hold so near and dear to our local culture. For thousands of years, these clams have been eaten and enjoyed, and we still get a chance to dig for them! Starting in October, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be updating their webpage, letting everyone know where and when we can hit the coast and try our luck at reaching our limit for razor clams. The season is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-to-late October, but you can learn how to dig for clams right now.
Storm Watching
The beaches in and around Grays Harbor are some of the most-rugged and beautiful coastal wilderness found in America. Mostly untouched by time and development, our local beaches are vacant of signs of human existence. Rocky sea stacks, amazing tide pools and some of the best storm watching experiences in the country await you at the coast, with Kalaloch being named both the best sunset location and the best beach to watch a storm in the State of Washington. With numerous hikes for all abilities and home to the state’s most exquisite sunsets, the Olympic Coast is a perfect destination no matter what the weather.
Mushroom Picking
Once the rain returns and the moisture settles on the forest floor, the ground changes from the brilliant green we are accustomed to in the Evergreen State, transforming into a fungus festival. While most of the best mushroom locations are a secret and will remain so, the regions around Olympic National Forest are some of the best places for foraging around. The Hoh, Quinault and Staircase regions of Olympic National Park are also a great way to see and experience the mushroom eruption that occurs each fall. Before you head out, check for updated rules and regulations about foraging by calling Olympic National Park at 360-565-3130, or Olympic National Forest at 360-956-2300.
Hiking
Hiking in and around Grays Harbor gives us some of the best trekking experiences, right outside our front door. In the fall, the majority of the tourists have gone, allowing the locals to return to trails they have been avoiding. With fall colors visible, as well as glimpses of the first snow fall on the mountain peaks of the Olympics, hiking in the fall gets us active, out of the house and into one of the most beautiful and diverse regions in the world. There is nothing better than experiencing the fall months hiking in the Hoh or Quinault Rainforest regions, and seeing them in the fall is a sight that is completely under-rated. Experiencing Fall in Olympic National Park, or on any trail in Grays Harbor is a great way to not only stay healthy and sane in the gray months, but also see our region in a way few are able to do.
Fishing
Grays Harbor is considered by many to be the best salmon fishing location in the world, and the residents who fish along the rivers or out of Westport won’t argue with that distinction. The 2014 Sports Salmon Season is scheduled to end on September 30, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting Westport and trying your hand at catching anything from Ling Cod and Tuna which, according to the Port of Grays Harbor, can be fished until mid-October.
