Plan Your Visit to Olympic National Park
This Olympic National Park travel guide helps you plan a first trip without spending hours figuring out how to fit such a huge, spread-out park into your vacation. Olympic feels like several trips rolled into one, with glacier-capped mountains, moss-covered temperate rain forests, clear mountain lakes, waterfalls, wild beaches, sea stacks, and tide pools along the Pacific coast.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and how to group your stops so you aren’t spending your entire day in the car. I’ve also included the experiences that make Olympic memorable, from walking beneath moss-draped trees in the Hoh Rain Forest and watching the waves at Ruby Beach to hiking at Hurricane Ridge, exploring Lake Crescent, and looking for waterfalls around Sol Duc.
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Olympic National Park at a Glance
Location: Olympic Peninsula, Washington
How much time: 3 days for the major areas; longer if you want to hike
Best time to visit: July through September for the greatest access
Don’t miss: Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Hoh Rain Forest, Ruby Beach, and Sol Duc Falls
Best mountain views: Hurricane Ridge
Best rain forest walk: Hoh Rain Forest
Best waterfall: Sol Duc Falls
Best lake: Lake Crescent
Best beach: Ruby Beach for an easy first visit
Best tide pools: Beach 4 or Hole-in-the-Wall near Rialto Beach
Best scenic drive: US 101 around the Olympic Peninsula
Where to stay: Port Angeles, Forks, Lake Crescent, Kalaloch, or inside the park
Good to know: There is no road through the center of Olympic National Park
Before you go: Check road, trail, weather, wildfire, and tide conditions
Olympic National Park Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do in Olympic National Park
1. Walk through the Hoh Rain Forest
2. Explore Hurricane Ridge
3. Spend time at Lake Crescent
4. Hike to Sol Duc Falls
5. Explore Ruby Beach
6. Hike to Marymere Falls
7. Walk Rialto Beach to Hole-in-the-Wall at the right tide
8. Explore the Quinault Rain Forest
9. Look for wildlife, including Roosevelt elk and Olympic marmots
10. Explore the tide pools during a safe low tide
Where is Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. The easiest way to reach this park is to fly into Seattle, rent a car, and drive 2.5 hours from the airport. The 330-mile Olympic Peninsula Scenic Drive is also US 101.
Where to Stay on the Olympic Peninsula
Reservations are required for Kalaloch, Mora, and Sol Duc campgrounds. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served. Permit and reservations are required to backpack into the wilderness for an overnight stay. Lodging is available at Lake Cresent Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Kalaloch Lodge, and Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. There are many hotels in the surrounding communities.
Facts About Olympic National Park
- The Olympic Coast is part of the whale trail and known for sightings of migrating whales.
- Olympic National Park became a National Monument in 1909, a National Park in 1938, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It is also a Biosphere Reserve.
- Over 95% of the park is a designated wilderness area.
- The Hoh and Quinault Rainforests are the only remaining temperate rainforests.
- The Hoh Rainforest gets 12 feet of rain annually.
- Lake Cresent is so clear it is possible to see 60 feet deep.
- There are 24 major waterfalls in Olympic National Park.
- There are 60 named glaciers, Blue Glacier on Mt Olympic is 2.6 miles long.
- Olympic National Park has 64 trailheads making up 611 hiking trails.
- The Point of Arches on ShiShi Beach is a National Landmark
- Olympic National Park is the only place in the world to see the Olympic Marmot.
- The Forks is the filming location of the Twilight series.
- Hoh Rainforest was used for scenes in Star Wars: Episode IV Return of the Jedi
Best Time of Year to Visit the Olympic Peninsula
Summer is the warmest time of year. The park is busiest from June through September when the snow has melted and all attractions are open. Fall is a popular time to visit to see the salmon swim upstream and watch the migrating whales. Some campgrounds and roads are closed from October to May. Winter brings dark clouds and snow. Many roads and attractions close. Hurricane Ridge is a popular place for snowboarding, tubing, and snowshoeing. Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls and wild rhododendrons in bloom. Weather is unpredictable in the spring, be prepared for snow and fog.
Things to Do in and Around Olympic National Park
- Photograph the dead tree stumps in Lake Cushman.
- Photograph the North Fork Skokomish River from the viewpoint.
- Check out Puget Sound from the Mount Walker Viewpoint.
- Visit Sequim’s lavender farms and U-pick berry farms.
- See the Dungeness Spit and walk out to the lighthouse.
- Stop in the Strait of Juan de Fuca to watch the whales migrate in Apr, May, Oct, or Nov.
- Attend a Ranger-led program at Hurricane Ridge and check out the view from Hurricane Hill.
- Participate in a night sky program and gaze at the Milky Way.
- Jump a ferry to Victoria British Columbia, Canada.
- Eat Dungeness Crab in Port Angeles.
- Check out Madison Falls and Marymere Falls.
- Photograph the Mount Storm King Ranger Station at Lake Crescent.
- Kayak or canoe Lake Crescent or Ozette Lake.
- Watch the salmon swim upstream at Salmon Cascades (September and October).
- Hike to the Sol Duc Waterfall or relax in Sol Duc Hot Springs.
- Visit Forks, the setting of the Twilight Series.
- Stand on the Northwestern point of the contiguous US in Cape Flattery.
- Say hello to the beavers at James Pond.
- Check out the sea stacks and garnet-colored sand at Ruby Beach.
- Visit the Hoh Rainforest.
- Explore the tidepools at Kalaloch Beach during low tide.
- Photograph the Tree of Life at Kalaoch Day Use Area.
- Visit the Quinault Rainforest and Merriman Falls.
- Fish for salmon, bull trout, steelhead, and char, or dig for clams.
- Cycle the Olympic Discovery Trail.
Most Popular Olympic National Park Hikes
- Hike the Staircase Rapids 2-mile trail to the suspension bridge
- Take the 1.4 miles RT trail to Murhut Falls and stop by Rocky Brook Falls.
- Walk up the .5-mile grade on Rain Shadow Loop for amazing views.
- Check out the .4-mile Living Forest Trail Loop.
- Hike the 1.6-mile path with 3 switchbacks on Hurricane Hill for panoramic views.
- Hike the Ozette Loop, a 10-mile loop combining Cape Alava and the Sand Point Trail.
- Explore the tidepools and hike 1.5 miles to Hole in the Rock on Rialto Beach.
- Hike 1.8 miles to see the Strawberry Bay Waterfall dump into the ocean on Third Beach.
- Take the .8-mile Hall of Moses loop trail through the rainforest.
- Take the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail to the Kestner Homestead (1-mile loop).
Waterfalls to Visit in Olympic National Park
Sol Duc Falls (1.6-mile hike), Marymere Falls (1.7-mile hike), Madison Falls (.2 mile), Beaver Falls (roadside), Spoon Creek Falls (.3 mile), Murhurt Falls (1.4-mile hike), Rocky Brooks Falls (.25 mile hike), Falls Creek Falls (1.9-mile lightly trafficked loop), Strawberry Bay Falls (1.3-mile hike), Hamma Hamma Falls (roadside), Merriman Falls (roadside), Willaby Creek (.5 mile hike).
Tips for Visiting the Olympic Peninsula
- Olympic National Park is 1 million acres. There is no road through the park. Hwy 101 circles the area with spur roads leading to points of interest. Be sure to plan your time carefully and pay attention to mileage.
- Most islands, rocks, and reefs are designated wilderness and closed to visitors to protect the wildlife.
- The weather is unpredictable, bring a raincoat, jacket, and dress in layers.
- Bring rain boots for tide pooling.
- Learn bear safety, bear spray is essential for back-country hikes.
- Bug spray is a good idea for rainforest hikes.
- Free entrance days are Jan 21, Apr 20, Aug 25, Sep 28, and Nov 11.
- Cell phone service is inconsistent, download the NPS App and offline maps.
- Print a calendar of low tides and a mileage chart before you leave.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
- Check the Olympic Peninsula Office of Tourism for current events.
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