Olympic National Park in Washington State contains nearly a million acres of incredible forest, beautiful shorelines, and rocky peaks.
The park is home to beautiful trails, 70 miles of coastline, waterfalls, and prestigious mountaineering objectives. It's an ideal destination for winter and summer adventures in the Pacific Northwest. It is one of the largest wilderness areas in the Lower 48, with something for everyone.
From scenic campsites to mountaineering, fishing, and waterfall hunting in Olympic National Park, this guide has you covered.
Olympic National Park Maps
Good to Know
Park Hours: All entrances are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Entrance Fee: $30 for the year per vehicle (some areas of the park do not charge an entrance fee)
Olympic National Park Weather
Olympic National Park is a particularly rainy part of the state, especially during the winter. Spring and summer are the best times to visit! But, on sunny days, it can get hot and humid, and during the spring, you're likely to see more wildflowers and wildlife generally. The winter can bring up to thirty feet of snow per year!
In summer, you can expect highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-40s.
In the winter, you can expect highs in the low-30s and lows in the mid-20s.
Distance to Olympic National Park
Seattle to Olympic National Park: 2 hours 30 mins
Portland to Olympic National Park: 3 hours
Eugene to Olympic National Park: 4 hours 40 mins
Olympia to Olympic National Park: 1 hour 10 mins
Things to Do in Olympic National Park
At Olympic National Park, you can go:
Boating
Fishing
Camping
Go on day and overnight hikes
View wildlife
Backpacking
Tidepooling
Biking
Spend time on the beach
Best Hikes in Olympic National Park Map
Take a look at our map of the 10 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park below! And keep reading to find out more about our top 5 picks!
5 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park
Take a look at what we think are the top 5 best hikes in Olympic National Park! From the Mount Angeles Trail to Mount Storm King, Hurricane Ridge, and more!
Navigate to each one of these hikes (and more!) on our map of the 10 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park.
#1 Mount Angeles Via High Ridge Nature Trail
Our #1 recommended trail if you only have one day to hike in Olympic National Park!
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
5.5 miles | 2,020 feet | 3.5 hours | 6/10 |
This beautiful, hard trail ascends Mount Angeles via the High Ridge Nature Trail. It's an out-and-back trail meaning that you're going to have to turn around when you reach the endpoint. But until you've climbed over 2,000 feet in elevation.
Trailhead Coordinates: 47.978226598028634, -123.4957968960044
#2 Mount Storm King
Another absolutely gorgeous hike that leads to the top of a coastal mountain-- Storm King! It is rated as very difficult and, despite the similar elevation gain to Mount Angeles, is more than a mile shorter.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
4.1 miles | 2,100 feet | 3.5 hours | 6.5/10 |
The trail is usually pretty busy, so make sure you get there early enough to get a parking spot and beat the crowds to the top! We highly recommend going on a clear day so you can see the view.
Trailhead Coordinates: 48.21738170048185, -123.77817282432075
#3 Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge
The Hurrican Ridge trail up Hurricane Hill is a spectacular moderate hike in Olympic National Park.
It's only 3.4 miles long and ascends a reasonable 800 feet. It is also one of the most popular trails in the park. On clear days, expect to find multiple groups there early. Follow the below coordinates to the Hurricane Ridge trailhead, or check out the map above!
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
3.4 miles | 800 feet | 2 hours | 4/10 |
Trailhead Coordinates: 48.09278602252172, -123.5317349840646
#4 Lake Angeles Trail
This popular 8-mile trail is a hard introduction to hiking at Olympic National Park.
It's near Port Angeles and should take you around 5 hours to complete. The best time to visit this area of
the park is in the spring. But you should be aware that it's always possible to find snow on the trail in the early season.
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
8 miles | 2,500 feet | 5 hours | 7/10 |
Trailhead Coordinates: 48.173441299772776, -123.39152139062551
#5 High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin
The hardest trail on our list of the top 5 hikes in Olympic National Park. It's an incredible 19 miles long with some serious elevation gain along the way. It's also a loop trail which may be a plus!
Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Required | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
19 miles | 5,300 | 11 hours | 8/10 |
You should expect to see snow on this trail, and others, when hiking in Olympic National Park in the winter and spring.
Trailhead Coordinates: 48.10746004500454, -123.82659394423132
Camping at Olympic National Park
Check out a few of the most popular campsites in this Pacific Northwest park below. They include Fairholme Campground and the Hoh Rainforest Campground.
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Reservations: Yes. From May to late September
Sites: 84
Cost: $24 a night
Facilities: picnic table, campfire ring, lockers, boat ramp, trails, fishing dock, drinking water, pets allowed
What You Need to Know
Reservations run from May to late September and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the spring.
Located next to Lake Crescent on the north side of the peninsula.
A large campground in a forest.
No RV hookups
Reservations can be made 6 months in advance.
Hoh Rainforest Campground
Location: Forks, Washington
Reservations: Yes, from May to late September
Sites: 72
Cost:
Facilities: campfire rings, flush toilets, parking area, paved roads, pets allowed, pit toilets, RV parking
What You Need to Know
Reservations run from May to late September and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the spring.
Named for the Hoh River flowing nearby
One of the most popular campgrounds in the park
The campground is situated within an old-growth forest
Reservations can be made 6 months in advance
Kalaloch Campground
Location: Forks, Washington
Reservations: Yes. From May to late September
Sites: 72
Facilities: campfire ring, picnic tables, parking area,
What You Need to Know
Southwest coast of the park
Reservations can be made 6 months in advance
Reservations run from May to late September and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the spring.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort Campground
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Reservations: Yes. From May to late September
Sites: 72
Facilities: campfire ring, picnic tables, parking area
What You Need to Know
Reservations can be made 6 months in advance
Reservations run from May to late September and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the spring.
You might also be interested in staying at either:
Lena Creek Campground on Hamma Hamma Rd
Salt Creek Campground in Port Angeles
Olympic National Park History
The park was established in 1909 as a national monument and then turned into a national park in 1938 by President Roosevelt. In 1981 it was also designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The park extends over nearly 1,000,000 acres (specifically 922,650), 95% of which is wilderness. This is only one of many incredible facts about Olympic National Park you may not know! Throughout the history of mountaineering in the United States, this area of the country has been incredibly popular.
The Enchanted Valley Chalet
The Enchanted Valley Chalet was built in 1931 and is accessible via the East Fork Quinault River Trail. It is thirteen miles from any driveable road and cannot be accessed by car.
During World War II, the chalet famously served as an Aircraft Warning Station. Today, it's registered on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular tourist destination.
To get to the Enchanted Valley Chalet: start at the Graves Creek Trailhead and continue on a wide road to the left. In the valley, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife (like beaver, river otter, coyote, and more!). After two miles, you'll reach the East Fork Quinault and the Pony Bridge.
Nearly 7 miles in, you'll pass O'Neil Creek and reach O'Neil Creek Camp. Further on, you can find other campsites near Pyrites Creek. You'll eventually pass through gates to the chalet, cross the Quinault River Bridge, and enter the Enchanted Valley (just over 13 miles from the trailhead).
Read Traverse the Pacific Northwest's Guide to Camping in the Enchanted Valley if you're interested in visiting.
FAQs
Where is Olympic National Park located?
Olympic National Park is located in Washington State. It is a large national park on the Olympic Peninsula. Popular cities to stay near the park include Olympia, Seattle, and Port Angeles.
How big is Olympic National Park?
Olympic Park is nearly 1,000,000 acres. It is one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 states.
When was Olympic National Park established?
Olympic National Park was established as a national monument in 1909. Then, President Roosevelt turned the area into a national park in 1931.
How many glaciers are in Olympic National Park?
There are around 200 glaciers in Olympic National Park. This includes the glacier on Mount Olympus, known as the Blue Glacier.
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