Olympic National Park offers something for everybody, from mossy rainforests in every shade of green, to beaches with jutting sea stacks and tidepools filled with green anemones and starfish, to rugged, craggy snowcapped mountains. There’s plenty to see and do at this national park and this Traveler’s Checklist will give you a running start.
If you only have a single day in the park, you won’t be able to see everything. Plan on spending at least two days – three would be ideal so you could spend a day each exploring beach, rainforest, and mountains.
A Ruby Beach tidal pool, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
A summer sunset over Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
* Enjoy a colorful sunset at any of the beaches during any time of year. Even on days with clouds, any sun peeking through will emblazon those clouds with brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.
The shaded view along the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
* Hike the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh rainforest. This short, 0.8-mile (1.3 km) loop trail is, as the National Park Service puts it, “the definitive rainforest experience.” As you wander the trail among a fern-carpeted forest floor populated with Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, hemlock, and big leaf maples gracefully draped or fully carpeted with moss, you’ll hear the dripping of water from the moisture-laden leaves, view nurse logs over which have sprouted and grown tall trees with twisted roots, spy one or more of the 1,400 species of fungi that call this national park home, and marvel at how green and lush the landscape appears.
The many green shades of the Quinault Rainforest, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
* The Hoh rainforest is not the only temperate rainforest within Olympic National Park. There are four rainforests: Hoh, Queets, Quinault, and Bogchiel. Travel to the Quinault Rainforest Ranger Station located at the end of the paved portion of North Shore Road bordering Lake Quinault to hike the easy 0.49 mile (0.79 km) Maple Glade Trail. You’ll see many of the same things you would along the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh rainforest, with the addition of serene, clear green ponds reflecting moss-draped trees and feathery fern fronds.
*Hike to a waterfall. The two most popular waterfalls are the Sol Duc and Marymere.
The Sol Duc falls, Sol Duc Valley, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
Located within the Sol Duc Valley in the northwestern part of the park, the Sol Duc Falls Trail may be accessed either via parking lot at the end of the Sol Duc Road, for a 0.8-mile (1.3 km) hike one way, or from the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which adds an extra mile (1.6 km) to the one-way hike.
Marymere Falls, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
Marymere Falls a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) hike one way from the Storm King ranger station near Lake Crescent. The trail can also be accessed from Lake Crescent Lodge. You’ll hike through old-growth forest, across a couple of wooden bridges, and up a steep series of stairs to view the 90 ft (27 m) waterfall.
Paddling over Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
*Rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard at Lake Crescent Lodge, or bring your own boat (which may not exceed 5 mph / 8 kph or create a wake within 300 feet of all shorelines) and glide across the crystal-clear water of Lake Crescent, a glacially-carved lake formed after the massive landslide isolated Lake Sutherland from Lake Crescent some 7,000 years ago.
* Drive 17 miles (27 km) up Hurricane Ridge Road south from Anacortes for an elevation gain of 5,242 feet (1,598 m) from sea level. Although the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge was completely destroyed by fire in 2023, you can still park your car and hike the area trails. If you visit during the winter, you’ll need to carry tire chains. Always check the road status before driving up there by calling 360-565-3131 or going online.
Looking back toward the start of Obstruction Point Road at Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson
* If you are feeling adventurous, turn off onto the dirt and gravel Obstruction Point Road just prior to reaching the Hurricane Ridge parking lot for a 7.8-mile (12.6 km) drive along a narrow road with steep drop-offs and stunning scenery of the Olympic Mountains. The road ends at a small parking area serving as trailhead to several paths. Generally open mid-July to October, Obstruction Point Road is subject to closure depending upon weather and road conditions. Check the road status online or by calling 360-565-3131.
