Sustainable Recreation

Overview map of the Olympic Peninsula with National Forest, Park, & Tribal lands, waterways & cities

Based on the ways people recreate, the Olympic Peninsula is known as “one” no matter which trail or campground visitors recreate on. To replicate the cross-boundary style of recreationalists in 2021 the Olympic National Forest (ONF) embarked on Sustainable Recreation efforts with tribes, land managers, communities and other stakeholders who live, work, and play on the Olympic Peninsula. Sustainable recreation is teaming with communities across boundaries to create outdoor recreation places and opportunities that are socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.

The ONF is part of a larger Olympic Peninsula landscape that includes other public lands at the local, state, and federal level; tribal lands; working farms, and towns and cities. Respecting and cultivating relationships across lands and communities is necessary to strengthen the health and vitality of each. Together, we will develop a common vision and define potential roles to sustain the economic and quality of life benefits of recreation across the Olympic Peninsula.

For the Olympic National Forest, this is a big shift in thinking and approach. This work will be enhanced as people engage and evolve as we learn together and understand how to manage from an integrated perspective. We know that every day, we more clearly see the connections necessary to manage the landscape across boundaries and the need to create a space for people to fully show up and engage authentically. The ONF is committed to being a learning organization; we are constantly thinking about how we can strategically accomplish work and how we can engage with broader, diverse audiences. As we approach this work all our efforts will be centered in diversity, equity, and inclusion.