Top Things to do in Olympic National Park
Top Hotels in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
8 Things to do for Honeymoon in Olympic National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
The Olympic Coast national park.
Restaurants in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
1. Hurricane Ridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,790 reviews
A 17-mile stretch of winding road through dense forests and alpine ice-covered peaks.
Reviewed By Panda_Bear_Will
My wife and I visited Olympic National Park six years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle; we were able to see Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest briefly on that trip and I knew I needed to return one day to explore the park more fully. The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on that previous visit, so returning to see it and hike the entire Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus became bucket-list items shortly thereafter. I was able to return to Olympic and spend six full days exploring it as fully as possible. This review will really cover the park as a whole rather than Hurricane Ridge, but the 17 mile road which is easily accessible from Port Angeles is definitely a must-see for any visitor. Olympic is really divided into 3 distinct ecosystems: the mountains, surrounding rain forests, and coastal beaches. In order to get the true Olympic experience, a person should make it a point to dedicate at least a full day to each region. The sheer size of the park requires a good deal of driving to hit each individual region; one will mostly traverse the perimeter the park on Highway 101 and several roads leading deeper into the interior will allow access to areas such as Hoh, Quinault, So Duc, etc. Port Angeles to the north of the park provides the most choices when it comes to food and lodging; the western part of the park is serviced by the small town of Forks and to the extreme southwest, Aberdeen. The eastern edge of the park doesn't have much in the way of points of interest within the park besides some lesser-used trails, but it is a pleasant drive with occasional small towns like Hoodsport worth exploring for a bit. Distances between these points of interest are considerable as you're looking at a several hour drive between them. There are enough gas stations and other services that you're never quite "off the grid" for that long, but having a good idea of the layout of the park will save unneeded driving (though the scenery is usually so lush and inviting that the miles kind of melt after awhile). With that said, the following provides the highlights of the park, IMO, while doing so in a logical counter-clockwise fashion for people driving in from Seattle: 1) Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the views of the Olympic Mountain range are pretty amazing from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The key word is "clear". Olympic is famous for its considerable rainfall and chances are you will encounter rain at several points throughout the day even during the summer. I recommend following the weather forecast and allowing for a possible return trip to Hurricane Ridge, if necessary. The first day I visited, clouds and rainfall offered tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond but nothing more. I return the next day and was treated to glacier-covered mountains and a lush alpine scene that was delightful to hike just around the parking lot (managed to see a hare, deer, and marmot within 10 minutes of the short hikes adjacent to the parking lot). Unfortunately, the Hurricane Hill trail further beyond the visitor center was closed for restoration. This area is the highlight of Olympic for me. 2) Lake Crescent. Returning to Highway 101 and heading west, the highway will eventually hug the shores of this large lake with mountains surrounding it. A popular short but very steep hike up Mt. Storm King will challenge even the more fit hikers (to reach its true summit, one must use several ropes for assistance). The highest waterfall within the park, Marymere Falls is also a short walk from the lake parking lot. 3) Rialto Beach. With its mountain ranges and lush rain forests, its easy to overlook the third aspect of Olympic NP which is actually very unique within the National Park system: the extended coastline of undeveloped wilderness. There are actually three areas of such coast line which are part of the park: the far northwestern reaches of Washington state which will include Lake Ozette, Rialto Beach which is west of the town of Forks, and the beaches running along Highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. I visited Rialto Beach and was treated to a leisurely hike along a beach trail leading to a rock arch (called "Hole in the Wall"), various other rock formations, and tide pools. This is some of the last extended undeveloped wild coast line within the US and is definitely worth a visit for anybody with several days to visit the park. 4) Hoh River Rain Forest: Upon my visit several years ago, I was most bummed to only spend about 30 minutes in this legendary forest which is often described as "enchanted" and "fairy-tale like". The Hoh River Trail extends for 17 miles (actually closer to 20 per several apps and devices I used to judge the distance) to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus. For years, I dreamed of not only returning to the forest, but backpacking the trail all the way to the end. I was able to do so and while it was a very rewarding experience, I can say that the rain forest scenery and vibe does become a bit redundant after several miles. Most visitors will likely go no more than to 5 Mile Island for a day hike (the trail is very flat, so covering such distance is not much of a chore) and I believe that's sufficient. For those looking to backpack beyond, the trail remains flat to the 12.4 mile marker before climbing in elevation to Elk Lake. Beyond that, Glacier Meadows campsite beckons, but not before climbing down an unnerving ladder required to navigate a rock slide which wiped out the old trail. The climb to the Glacier itself is considerable and the distance (especially with a full backpack) makes this quite the workout. However, it was a lifetime experience that I'll cherish forever. For non-backpackers, the Hoh Forest is one of the more easily accessible rain forests within the park, but the scenery is pretty similar for most of them: lots of lush vegetation. 5) Lake Quinault. A scenic lake with some of the few actual lodgings within the park boundaries. This area also provides access to several more trails, both short and long distance, that seemed very enticing. In conclusion, Olympic may not get the headlines of more noted parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, but its lush surroundings and highly varied landscapes makes this one of the best parks in America.
2. Ruby Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,233 reviews
Dramatic Pacific coast beach with a rugged shoreline.
Reviewed By Brian0ntheGo - Bradenton, United States
If you are visiting the Olympic Peninsula, make sure you include a stop at Ruby Beach. After visiting the rainforests and the mountains of the region, you'll appreciate the seaside beauty of this picturesque spot. It is just a short walk down to the beach area from the parking lot, and once on the beach, you'll be busy taking pictures of the amazing rocks that stand out of the ocean, the piles of driftwood, the tidal pools, and the crashing waves. While we were there in the afternoon, sunsets must be amazing on clear days. If you want to picnic, make sure you bring your supplies with you as there are no stores anywhere close by. You'll be glad you visited Ruby Beach!
3. Olympic National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 603 reviews
Pristine forest surrounding the Olympic Mountain range.
Reviewed By PatriciaK815 - Haymarket, United States
This is a beautiful forest that is definitely a place to visit. If you like to hike, this is perfect and has a number of trails through the forest, over creeks, with mushrooms, soft underbrush and ferns, and sun shining through the trees.
4. Hoh Rain Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,443 reviews
The Olympic Coast national park.
Reviewed By traveladdict3500 - Hasselt, Belgium
Hoh Rain Forest is one of the nicest places I have ever seen in the world. You have to be here very early to beat the crowds but it is worth losing some sleep for it. After 11AM this place is so crowded with people, it is hard to enjoy the atmosphere. We were here at 8AM and had all the time in the world to do the "Hall of Mosses" trail with very few other people around. This place is magical ! You feel as if you are walking in a fairy tale forest with old trees and lots of mosses growing on those trees and sometimes dangling from the branches. We left at 11.30AM and the parking lot was completely full, there was a cue of cars trying to find a place to park and a cue of cars waiting at the ranger check point.
5. Rialto Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 692 reviews
Pacific coast beach.
Reviewed By miklospat - Sequim, United States
This is a beautiful beach and even wheelchair accessible close enough to enjoy the view and the sound of the surf. Picnic tables near the parking lots. For easy access go the north end of the parking lot past the restrooms and follow the path. They usually clear most of the driftwood logs for easy access here. Access elsewhere usually involves climbing over a lot of logs. Nice walk to hole in the wall at the end of the beach, but be advised that you may need to cross a creek that may be ankle deep to go that far except in the middle of summer when it dries up. Just a great beach with sea stacks, tide pools, huge driftwood logs, colorful beach rocks, close forest cover, and a huge expanse of beach to explore. Does require an Olympic park pass and dogs are not permitted past the creek.sunrises ok sunsets are better.
6. Crescent Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 772 reviews
A scenic lake.
Reviewed By marktS5189DV - Hillsboro, United States
Driving from to/from Port Angeles on the101 to the Olympic National Forest you will be treated to one of the most breathtaking lakeside drives you will ever take. we saw a pair of bald eagles fishing . absolutely gorgeous
7. Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 371 reviews
Offers great views of Mount Olympus, Bailey Range and Mount Carrie.
Reviewed By cbrummy125 - Tacoma, United States
It is a bit pricey, but if you plan to go see more National parks in the next year, the annual pass for $80 is worth it. ($30/day pass) Driving the switch backs is beautiful and you see a lot of green and fog. When you approach the top-on a clear day you can see for miles and it is gorgeous. You can see several mountain peaks in the Olympic National Forest, beautiful flowers & fields this time of year. The deer are everywhere ! They are not afraid and come very close to you. Many of the trail hikes are long/strenuous for younger children or older people. There are some easy paths to follow for that group. There is something for everyone there. A gift shop, restaurant (not open currently bc of Covid) and restrooms. They are doing construction near the tourist area but even with all of that we got amazing pictures without the machines/dirt piles/cones. Highly recommend bringing a lunch and having a picnic there, it’s breathtaking and worth every penny and windy road!
8. Sol Duc Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 559 reviews
Reviewed By JasontheGreat
We got an early start in the morning and ran the road from the Sol Duc Resort to the trailhead (about 2 miles). Then we hiked the trail to the falls. A fairly easy hike without much incline and about 1.6 miles round trip. The falls were beautiful and well worth the effort. Running back to the resort along the road was great because it was mostly a slight downhill decline. A nice 10K exercise effort in a beautiful forest. The road was quiet and the trailhead empty as we visited during phase 2 opening of the overall area.
TAGS
