September 22-27, 2024
I loved my camping trip to Dosewallips State Park back in 2017 so much that I decided to go back again this year. And I had another great time! And, yes, the Elk were there again during my visit this year. I have heard people say they go camping there year after year, different weeks of the autumn months, for a week or ten days, for years on end, hoping to see the Elk, and they never see the Elk. I’ve now been there twice, once in 2017, and now this year, 2024, and I’ve seen the Elk inside the campground, around my trailer, every time. What … do I smell like an Elk? 🙂
If you use that link above and check out my first visit here, you’ll notice that the travel trailer I had back then is not the one I have today. I bought that used trailer in late 2016 just to try it out for a year, to make sure I liked camping, and if I did like it, then I also wanted to learn the details of what I wanted in my “forever” travel trailer. That process worked really well, and I ended up selling that first trailer and then ordering a brand new, custom trailer from Escape Trailer Industries in Canada. And that’s the trailer I have today and will keep as long as I’m camping. I love it!
But, let’s get on with this 2024 camping trip ok? Here’s a map … you know I like maps.
In the map above, I left my home near Olympia, WA, with Towhee the Trailer in tow. We headed up Highway 101, past the town of Shelton, then touched the south end of the Hood Canal, then traveled up right along the very western edge/shore of Hood Canal. This is one of my favorite drives ever and I surely never hurry.
Traveling north on 101, eventually I reached Brinnon, WA. Just a half mile or so north of Brinnon, the big white truck turned left into Dosewallips State Park. The big RED E is for “entrance” in the map below.
Then inside the state park, I drove all the way up past the campground until I got to the registration kiosk, then I drove northeast a bit, then finally I turned and headed south into the area where those circles of campsites are. In the map above, in 2017 when I was here, I was in campsite #31 (the yellow circle and yellow arrow). But on this trip, I had reserved campsite #3 (the red circle and red arrow). I was a little concerned that campsite #3 was so close to the inbound road into the campground that it might be noisy. Ha, it was so quiet. Also, when I was here in 2017, the Elk congregated around the center of the campground, so campsite #31 was right in the middle of them. Since campsite #3 is way off at the far end of the campground, I worried I might not get to see the Elk. Ha! Wow, did I see Elk. 🙂 Turns out the path the Elk take out of the campground is that BLUE LINE … which runs almost right past campsite #3. They sleep in the campground (in the area with the BLUE HEART), then head out the BLUE LINE to spend the day over by the water … or the opposite, they sleep out by the water, then come back into the campground along that long blue line to spend the day eating the grass here in the campground. I’ll share more details and photos.
Today, I simply drove and arrived and got my rig set up in #3. Happy as a clam. 🙂 I didn’t know whether I would see Elk or not, but this is a gorgeous place and I was happy to be here. Dosewallips is pronounced “doe-see-WALL-ips” … doe, as in “doe, a deer, a female deer”.
Besides the formal state park sign above, there was this information board below with its own “Welcome to Dosewallips State Park” sign. I loved the roof of this structure with its moss and lichen and ferns.
If you were driving into the campground, and then drove all the way to the north end of it, then headed south in amongst all of those circle campsites … this (below) would be your first view of my truck and trailer nicely parked in campsite #3. What a lovely setting. That’s a cabin on the left, but no one was ever there all week.
You’d then drive into that specific circle of campsites (#1-#10) and see the big white truck and Towhee the Trailer in campsite #3 (below). I had one neighbor to the left … quiet, courteous folks. And for a few nights I had one neighbor to the right (between me and the cabin), and they too were wonderful neighbors. And the entrance road behind me (that I was worried about) was absolutely lost in the trees. No problem.
Later that afternoon, after I got the rig settled, I went for a walk along that entrance road. Here’s a photo of my truck and trailer taken from the edge of the entrance road. There’s actually a tiny little stream in between the access road and my campsite too. It was just the sweetest place.
And here below is that entrance road, looking north right after you would have driven in the entrance. How gorgeous, and how peaceful.
Partway from the entrance to the registration kiosk, and off to the left, is the state park work area. Several buildings here, several work trucks. This state park is huge, it includes thousands of acres of land to the west up into the hills of the Olympic Mountains, so there are miles of ATV roads and foot trails to maintain, as well as the campground itself which is large.
The photo below is of the “bunk house” where employees stay who have their permanent homes far enough away that it’s not convenient to commute.
So … that’s the introduction to the Dosewallips State Park for this trip. The big white truck, and Towhee the Trailer, and Little Towhee (the bird), and I were settled and happy! I’ll be here all week and will share my adventures with all of you folks. Here is just a tiny sample …
Exploring the edges of the ocean salt water of Hood Canal (below). Click on photos to enlarge them.
The Elk!! (below) Rest assured, I’ll share photos of the Elk other than just photos of their rear ends. 🙂
I drove some back roads (below), explored, sometimes got lost, and got found again. 🙂
And Little Towhee (that bird!) had adventures too. She’s in the photo below, trust me. I’ll let you know what she’s up to real soon.
I sure was looking forward to this week, and I was not disappointed, not one bit.
Come on along, pull up a chair and join me outside the trailer for a chat. Thanks for being here. I love the company. 🙂
Great photo of the elk! Ha! Made me laugh. 🙂 Great camp spot, looking forward to seeing more.
Laughter is good! 🙂 Thanks Greg.
Me too, laughed out loud at the elk photo. 🙂 So irreverent! Your photos are always so wonderful and (usually) serious, it was so much fun to see this one and realize it was all butts (almost) and that you’d done that on purpose.
Glad you enjoyed it, Cindy. When I noticed them all facing away from me, I couldn’t resist snapping a photo. 🙂
Oh lord, I laughed at that photo of the elk butts! Thank you, Ann, that was priceless. Makes me wonder if that’s what THEY think of us. “Stop taking pictures of us! Mind your own business!” That’ll keep me chuckling for a good while.
Beautiful spot, though, sure looking forward to seeing more.
Oh, that would be a great caption for the photo! Or … “Humans, they are just so troublesome!” Thanks Tim, that was fun. 🙂
Ok, I don’t see Little towhee in that last photo. she’s not there! You better be telling us the truth, Ann! Where is she? Is she ok? What’s up?
Yes, really gorgeous campsite and campground. 🙂
Ah, June, she’s there! Yes indeed! I wouldn’t lead you astray, would I? Oh no no no! 🙂
FINALLY!! Some place you’ve camped that we have too! I swear you pretty much always camp in campgrounds that we’ve never been to, even though we THINK we’ve been pretty much everywhere in Washington State. We have a list so long of places we want to go because of your blog posts. But NOW we can say, hey we’ve been there. 🙂 Dosewallips is indeed a gorgeous campground and a gorgeous location. We’ve been there twice, and will indeed to back again some day. BUT, we’ve never seen elk there. You mention the autumn months, are the elk there only in the autumn? What’s the best plan to try to see them? Oh, wait, I know … we follow YOU there. 🙂 We’re looking forward to more of your adventures in the area. Love your blog. Thank you.
Jim (Jim & Janey in BC, Canada)
Oh Jim, thank heavens, at last! Yes, finally you folks have already camped where I camped. On the other hand, I bet there are dozens of places YOU have camped that I haven’t been to yet, so the shoe surely could be on the other foot, eh?
Ah, yes, the elk are usually there in late September, but it does vary from year to year, tho usually either the third week in September of the last week in September or some combination thereof. But I’m told that if the summer is really not and dry, then they stay up in the hills longer and don’t come down until the very end of September or first week in October. And … you bet you can follow me any time … that was a fun comment. 🙂
Elk butts, and Little Towhee bird hiding somewhere in that photo, what more can you tempt us with? 🙂 Oh, yes, absolutely gorgeous expanses of the salt water of Hood Canal, and more adventures to come while you’re here. I just shared your blog with two friends of mine who say they’ve subscribed, they love it.
I haven’t taken that drive up the west side of Hood Canal in years. It’s one of my favorite drives too, it’s so beautiful. Ok, on my way. 🙂 Thank you for the reminder.
Thanks Fran! Yes, indeed, two people did just subscribe to my blog so I bet they are your friends. Thank you! And … to you all new folks … welcome! I’m glad you’re here. 🙂
Isn’t that drive up Hood Canal just the most beautiful ever?
Feel sorry for that boat. 🙁 Gorgeous country tho.
Oh, me too, Rob. I felt so sorry for that boat. I bet it was a great boat in its day. It looked way past cleaning up, just a dump run. 🙁
Glad you got commenting on my blog sorted out. And glad I’ve discovered your blog, it’s very enjoyable. I appreciate that you include the campground map. We must have been close on our trip to the Skagit Valley. Eight or nine years ago we took the ferry south from Victoria to Port Angeles and thence east via Whidbey Island.
Me too, FG. It was odd thing about that log in, but I’m happy now. 🙂 If any of you readers here on my blog want to see some truly gorgeous photos of flowers, head over to Furry Gnome’s blog … his name on his comments is a link to his blog.
Wow, I like that you and your wife were here, more than once it sounds like. Had you kept heading south from Port Angeles, and not turned east to take the ferry to Whidbey, heading south from Port Angeles would have taken you right past Dosewallips. I haven’t been up to Victoria, BC, for decades, guess I better start planning a camping trip! Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Wow, can’t wait to read about the places you show in the photos, including the elk rear ends. 🙂 Makes us wish we were still camping.
Thanks Marge. You’ve been reading along here for almost the whole time I’ve had this blog. I really like that. If you’re ever in the great Olympia, WA, area, please me know. I bet you and your husband have some wonderful stories to tell! 🙂
Love your maps. Love the beautiful photos of beautiful country. You take the time to look and appreciate, and then share it with us. Thanks!
Thank you, Walt, that was a really nice comment. And, you are welcome. 🙂
WOW. Elk IN the campground!! I am kind of waiting impatiently for September, though I don’t want to wish the summer away. But in September I have a better chance of getting a great site and the campground in generally being quieter. It’s still great camping weather, but most people have moved on to their regular jobs and school and lives by then.
Oh I’m with you, Dawn. I go camping usually Sunday late afternoon to early Friday morning, in order to avoid the weekend crowds and noise. And I always look forward to September and October camping, like you. You sleep in your tent, and your hear Loons and Owls at night … and wolves, do you ever hear wolves or coyotes? I’m inside my trailer and don’t hear the birds or much of anything. I have the amenities of the trailer, but I’m not truly out with the wildlife like you are.
Readers …. if you want to see absolutely gorgeous photos of birds, check out Dawn’s blog (the link is her name in her comment). Maybe I talk to elk (and eagles), but Dawn talks with all birds.
When I was reading this blog post, I smiled at the words from “Sound of Music” … the do, re, mi song … doe, a deer, a female deer. I read your blog this morning but was heading out the door so didn’t take the time to comment. But this evening I find that song has been in my head ALL DAY! And it has brightened my day. Thank you. 🙂
Oh good! I’m glad you picked up on that, Eileen. And I’m glad it brightened your day. When I typed it, it made me smile too. 🙂
Do re mi fa so la ti do! “Do, a deer, a female deer … re, a drop of golden sun … mi, a name I call myself … fa, a long long way to run ……………..etc.”