There's a wet season, and a snowy season in Olympic National Park, and plenty of variations throughout the year. You can enjoy dazzling sunshine and warm temperatures along the coast in July, or head up to the high country and have a snowball fight.

Park officials, with a nod to the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, and Puget Sound to the east, say simply that "the weather is extremely variable, from season to season and place to place."

Variable indeed.

Winter snow up in the mountains, Olympic National Park / NPS file

Winter in the Quinault rainforest, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

During the winter, "storm watching" is a popular activity for those hearty enough to walk the beaches and watch as towering waves rake the shores and the sea stacks. Head up to Hurricane Ridge the same day and you might find yourself in a blizzard...or with great snow conditions for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing. Winters may be mild (and wet) at lower elevations, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s (Fahrenheit), according to park officials. However, "snowfall can be heavy in the mountains, with accumulations of up to 10 feet [~3 m] common."

Springs can be (and usually are) wet, as can fall and winter. That helps explain the incredible growth in the park's rain forests as you wander among lush vegetation and trees brilliantly-saturated with shades of green. So be sure to pack good, reliable rain gear from head to toe.

Summers -- July, August and into September -- usually are the driest and warmest, with temperatures reaching into the mid-70s (Fahrenheit). This is the perfect time for beachcombing and tide pooling along the park’s beaches.

Rialto Beach in the summer, Olympic National Park / Rebecca Latson

To learn more about Olympic’s weather, and to access weather-related links, click here.