As a wilderness park, mechanized transport is limited. That is, forget the wheels.

However, 168 miles of roads (69 of which are gravel) provide vehicle access to various points around the park. All park roads are "spur roads" off U.S. Highway 101 -- no roads cross the Olympic wilderness. While not in the park itself, a spectacular nearby drive is to the end of Route 112, which takes you to the end of Cape Flattery. Between the months of March and May you may catch sight of whales off the coast. Any time of year you'll get pulse-racing blufftop views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Tatoosh Islands.

As for bikes, all roads, gravel and otherwise, are open to mountain biking. The most popular ride is the gravel road to the hot springs. Plus, you get a trail not open to internal combustion -- the Spruce Railroad Trail, a designated bike trail near Lake Crescent. The Spruce Railroad Trail connects the North Shore and Lyre River trailheads. Much of this relatively flat 4 miles (each way) trail runs on or adjacent to the World World I Spruce Railway bed and offers excellent Lake Crescent views.

All other trails are hikers only. Oh well. There's always more biking at Olympic National Forest, next door.

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