Olympic National Park, Washington

Olympic National Park is in Washington state, USA and spreads across the Pacific northwest of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. The park’s beauty lies in its different landscapes from the roaring ocean and dramatic peaks of mountains, to lush green old-growth rainforest. The Olympic National Park is well known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the diverse widely spread ecosystems within its borders.

These photos are from a day trip to Olympic National Park in late August 2013.

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Quick Facts and Tips

• Best Time to Visit
  • Summer Months: July to August when wildflowers are blooming.
  • Spring and Fall Months: Pleasant, but most park roads will be closed.
• Fly into: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington USA
• Clothing
  • Comfortable pants, hiking shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, Capri, sweatshirts, comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and rain gears. Spring and fall months will be cool, so dress in layers
• How Many Days
  • Main Attractions: 1-2 days
  • Hiking/Camping: 3-5 Days
• What to expect
  • Ice-capped Mountain Ridges, Glaciers, Temperate Rainforests, Rugged Coastlines, Wildflowers, Waterfalls, Sand and Sea stacks Beaches, Clear Scenic Lakes, Wildlife
• Be sure to check the Park Website for alerts on road closure and current trail conditions.
• Entrance Fee: $30 per vehicle or from $15 to $25 per person/motorcycle, good for seven days.
• Start early in the morning for best lighting, more elbow room, and also to cover most of the park’s attractions.
• Take food and water so you can spend the day touring as there are only few restaurants throughout the park.
• Weak/no cell phone signals, highly recommend to have maps downloaded or printed.
• There is a lot to capture, so keep your camera ready. Make sure that the camera is fully charged and also keep backup battery and memory cards.
• Weather in the Olympic can be unpredictable. Be prepared for snow at any time of the year in Hurricane Ridge. Be prepared for rain and keep your fingers crossed for a sunny day.
• Places to Visit
  • Hurricane Mountain Ridge, Lake Crescent, Lake Ozette, Kalaloch and Ruby Beach, Hoh Rain Forest, Quinault Rain Forest, Staircase
• Best things to do
  • Drive to Hurricane Ridge, 17 miles south of Port Angeles. Hurricane Ridge is one of the most visited sites and is the most easily accessed mountain area within the Olympic National Park. Hurricane Ridge is named for its intense gales and winds. Hurricane Ridge has a number of hiking trails and offers stunning panoramic views of Olympic mountains and Blue Glacier.
  • Make a trip to Lake Crescent. It is about 18 miles west of Port Angeles and the area features beautiful glacially carved pristine water lake, waterfalls, and lowland forests.
  • Visit Hoh Rain Forest and enjoy hiking under the lush green umbrella forest of coniferous-deciduous species with the blanket of mosses-ferns.
  • Spend some time at Ruby beach and cherish yourself in this gorgeous sand beach with sea stacks, drift logs, and amazing surfs. There are 8 beaches within 8 miles on Highway 101 from South beach to Ruby beach. This makes it the perfect hub to walk on beaches like South Beach, Kalaloch Beach, and Ruby Beach. There are vault toilets at Ruby beach and Beach 4.
  • Visit Quinault Rain Forest. The Quinault Valley is about a three hour drive from Port Angeles and offers pleasant and beautiful views of alpine meadows, jeweled lakes, and ice-carved peaks. Enjoy driving the North and South Shore scenic loop road through temperate rainforest.
  • Explore the diverse landscape of Lake Ozette. The Lake Ozette features the magnificent old growth forests, tall sea stacks that dot the coastlines, and the crystal clear Lake Ozette. Lake Ozette is about a 2 hour drive from Port Angeles and is located on the northwestern coast of the Olympic Peninsula on Hoko-Ozette Road off Highway 112.
• Popular and easy hikes
  • Hurricane Ridge Meadow Trail
  • Hurricane Hill Trail
  • Hoh Rain Forest Hall of Moss Trail
  • Spruce Nature Trail
  • Ruby Beach Trail
  • Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail

• Nearby Attractions
  • North Cascade National Park
  • Mount Rainier National Park
  • Snoqualmie Falls
  • Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
  • The Museum of Flight
  • Seattle
  • Mt Baker Wilderness Area