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. 🙂