Olympic National Park Trail & Visitor Guide
Olympic National Park · United States · About 922,650 acres (roughly 1,442 square miles) on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington State. About 95% is designated wilderness (the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness).
Why Visit Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park encompasses nearly a million acres of the Olympic Peninsula, containing one of the largest temperate rainforests in the US, glacier-topped peaks reaching 7,980 feet at Mount Olympus, and 73 miles of wild Pacific coastline. The Hoh Rain Forest receives 12 to 14 feet of rain annually, nurturing cathedral-like groves draped in mosses and ferns.
Free Olympic National Park Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Olympic National Park audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane Ridge, Rialto Beach, plus quieter spots like Marymere Falls and Shi Shi Beach. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Hurricane Hill3.2 miles round trip · Moderate
Paved trail climbing about 700 feet from the end of Hurricane Ridge Road to a 5,757-foot summit, with views of the Olympic interior peaks, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Vancouver Island on clear days.
- Hall of Mosses (Hoh Rain Forest)0.8 mile loop · Easy
Flat loop through old-growth temperate rainforest with bigleaf maples draped in club moss; starts at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center.
- Sol Duc Falls1.6 miles round trip · Easy
Mostly flat forest walk to a multi-channel waterfall dropping into Canyon Creek; trailhead at the end of Sol Duc Road.
- Cape Alava / Sand Point Triangle (Ozette Loop)9.4 mile loop · Moderate
Cedar boardwalks lead to the coast at Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, with tide pools and the Ozette (Wedding Rocks) petroglyphs; check tide tables before walking the coastal leg.
- Mount Storm King4.2 miles round trip · Strenuous
Climb of about 2,000 feet above Lake Crescent; the final scramble uses fixed ropes and overlooks the lake. The roped section is not maintained by the park and involves real fall exposure.
Must-See in Olympic National Park
- •Hoh Rain Forest — a temperate rainforest receiving 14 feet of rain annually with moss-draped old-growth trees
- •Hurricane Ridge — a 5,242-foot alpine viewpoint with trails through wildflower meadows and mountain views
- •Rialto Beach — a wild Pacific beach with sea stacks, tidepools, and driftwood-strewn shoreline
- •Sol Duc Falls — a 1.6-mile round trip to a cascading waterfall in old-growth forest
Best Viewpoints
- •Hurricane Ridge (drive-up overlook at about 5,200 feet, open year-round weather permitting)
- •Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center area
- •Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall sea stacks
- •Lake Crescent (Storm King ranger station / Lake Crescent Lodge shoreline)
- •Ruby Beach (driftwood and sea stacks off US 101)
Quieter Corners of Olympic National Park
- •Marymere Falls — a 1.8-mile round trip through old-growth forest to a 90-foot waterfall near Lake Crescent
- •Shi Shi Beach — a remote 4-mile hike to one of the most beautiful wilderness beaches on the Pacific coast
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycle $25, individual on foot or bicycle $15. The Olympic annual pass is $55. The $80 America the Beautiful Interagency Annual Pass is also accepted.
Getting There
No road crosses the park interior; US Highway 101 loops around the peninsula and provides all access. From Seattle, take the Bainbridge Island or Edmonds-Kingston ferry, then drive to Port Angeles (about 2.5 to 3 hours total). Port Angeles holds the main Olympic National Park Visitor Center and is the gateway to Hurricane Ridge. The Hoh Rain Forest is roughly a 2-hour drive from Port Angeles via US 101. The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma (SEA).
Where to Stay
In-park lodges: Lake Crescent Lodge, Log Cabin Resort, Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, and Kalaloch Lodge (reservations required; most are seasonal, while Kalaloch operates year-round). The park runs more than a dozen campgrounds, including Hoh, Kalaloch, Sol Duc, Mora, and Heart O' the Hills; some take reservations on Recreation.gov, others are first-come, first-served. Gateway towns Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks, and Port Townsend offer hotels and motels. Wilderness camping requires a permit from Recreation.gov plus an approved bear canister in many areas.
Best Time
July through September is the driest, warmest window, with most roads and high trails typically open and the backcountry most accessible. The Hoh Rain Forest receives roughly 12 to 14 feet of rain annually, mostly October through April. Hurricane Ridge Road can close in winter due to snow and is sometimes restricted to certain days; check current road status before driving up.
Safety
The top hazards are coastal: incoming tides can trap hikers against headlands and cliffs. Carry a current tide table and a topographic map, and round headlands only during outgoing or low tides. Sneaker waves and large drift logs on beaches can knock people down and pull them out; never turn your back on the surf or sit on the seaward side of logs. Inland, rivers run cold and fast, weather changes rapidly at elevation, and Mount Storm King's roped scramble has serious fall exposure.
Scenic Drives
- •Hurricane Ridge Road (about 17 miles from Port Angeles to the ridge, gaining roughly 5,000 feet)
- •US 101 along Lake Crescent
- •Sol Duc Valley Road to the hot springs and falls trailhead
- •Hoh Rain Forest Road (about 18 miles off US 101)
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