Olympic National Park is a place of incredibly diverse landscapes, plant life and animals, all conveniently located within a few hours of each other on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Here, you can stand on a glacially carved mountaintop, splash your toes in the Pacific Ocean, and wander under some of the largest trees on the planet – all in the same day.
The park’s living things are just as exciting as the terrain. Sitka spruce, hemlock and western red cedar trees stretch hundreds of feet high, while huge ferns, mosses and lichens transform the understory into an emerald paradise. Animals as varied as black bears, sea otters, marmots, bald eagles, harbor seals, gray whales and salamanders make their homes here. And hundreds of miles of hiking trails criss-cross the park, letting visitors experience this one-of-a-kind place up close.
People come to Olympic from all over the world to walk in alpine meadows, climb glaciers, watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean, paddle crystal-clear lakes, see burbling waterfalls, peer into tidepools, and stroll under the canopy of giant trees. It’s an unforgettable destination, whether you have a day or a lifetime to explore it.
The main route of the tour is Highway 101, which acts like a ring-road of the northern and western part of the park. There are several roads that side trip deeper into the park and you absolutely should take those spur roads. Hurricane Ridge takes us into the alpine; Hoh takes us into the rainforest; and Sol Duc takes us to hot springs. A circuit of Lake Quinault is highly recommended too. One of the most unique aspects to Olympic is that it also protects sometimes wild Pacific Beaches. Many are accessed directly from Highway 101, while Rialto Beach, Second Beach and Third Beach require a small detour.
Aberdeen, Port Angeles or Port Townsend
Recommend at least 2 days.
Approximately 160 miles between Discovery Bay and Lake Quinault, plus suggested side trips including Hurricane Ridge (18 miles each way), Hoh Rainforest (18 miles each way) and the Lake Quinault Loop Drive (25 miles).
Access to Hurricane Ridge area is currently closed beyond the Heart of the Hills entrance station due to a recent fire during renovations, check the nps.gov website for updates.
