Olympic National Park Complete Guide — Rainforest, Mountains and Coast

Three Parks in One — Rainforest, Mountains, and Coast

Olympic National Park is biologically the most diverse park in the system. Within its boundaries you'll find temperate rainforest receiving 140 inches of annual rain, alpine meadows above 7,000 feet, and 73 miles of wild Pacific coastline — ecosystems that exist nowhere else in such proximity. UNESCO recognized it as both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.

Getting There

Nearest airports: Seattle-Tacoma (2.5 hours to Port Angeles), Victoria BC via ferry (1 hour plus ferry).

No road crosses the park. You must drive around it, accessing different areas from different directions. The main entry points:

• Hurricane Ridge — via Port Angeles (north)
• Hoh Rainforest — via Highway 101 (west)
• Coastal beaches — via Highway 101 (west)
• Staircase — via Highway 101 (south)

Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle. America the Beautiful pass accepted.

Book Port Angeles or Forks lodging — the two main gateway towns.

Three Distinct Ecosystems

The Hoh Rainforest

One of the largest temperate rainforests in the continental US. The Hoh receives 140+ inches of rain per year (Seattle gets 39). The result is an impossibly green canopy of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and big-leaf maple draped in club moss and licorice fern.

Hall of Mosses Trail (0.8 miles, easy): The park's most photographed trail. A loop through old-growth forest where every surface is carpeted in moss. Best in morning light.

Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles, easy): A quieter alternative to Hall of Mosses, following the Hoh River through second-growth and old-growth forest.

Hoh River Trail (18+ miles, moderate-strenuous): The primary backpacking route to Mount Olympus glaciers. Day hikers can go 5-6 miles round trip for prime rainforest.

Detailed Hoh Rainforest itinerary (half day):

• Arrive at the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center (open May–September) by 9am to secure parking. The parking lot fills by 11am in summer.
• Hike the Hall of Mosses Trail first — the morning light filtering through the canopy is at its best between 9–11am. The trail passes through a grove of Sitka spruce trees 300+ years old, some over 240 feet tall.
• Connect to the Spruce Nature Trail for a quieter loop along the Hoh River. Look for Roosevelt elk — they frequently graze in the meadows near the trail. Maintain 100+ yards of distance.
• For a longer hike, continue on the Hoh River Trail to Tom Creek (2.5 miles round trip from the visitor center). The trail follows the turquoise Hoh River through towering old-growth. At 5 miles round trip you reach the Mount Tom Creek junction — a good turnaround for day hikers.
• Pack rain gear even if the forecast is clear. The Hoh averages 20+ rainy days per month even in the "dry" season.

Hurricane Ridge

At 5,242 feet, Hurricane Ridge provides the most accessible alpine experience in the park — a paved road leads right to a visitor center with panoramic views of the OlympicRange, Vancouver Island, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Hurricane Ridge Trail (3.2 miles, moderate): From the visitor center to the 5,757-foot summit. Wildflower meadows in July, mountain goat sightings, and 360-degree views.

Cirque Rim Trail (1.6 miles, easy): A paved accessible trail with views south into the heart of the Olympics.

Sunrise Point: A 0.1-mile walk to an overlook of Port Angeles and the Strait. Best at actual sunrise.

Detailed Hurricane Ridge itinerary (half day):

• Drive the 17-mile Hurricane Ridge Road from Port Angeles. The road climbs from sea level to 5,242 feet — expect snow even in June. Tire chains are required from November–March.
• Stop at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center for trail maps and current conditions. The visitor center has a snack bar, restrooms, and an observation deck.
• Hike the Cirque Rim Trail first (30 minutes) for an easy introduction and panoramic views.
• Continue to the Hurricane Ridge Trail — the first mile is gentle, then climbs steeply through subalpine meadows. Wildflowers peak in mid-July: look for lupine, Indian paintbrush, avalanche lily, and bear grass.
• The summit of Hurricane Ridge (5,757 feet) provides views of Mount Olympus (7,965 feet), Mount Anderson, and the Blue Glacier. Mountain goats are frequently seen on the summit ridge — maintain 50+ yards of distance.
• The Hurricane Ridge Road is open Friday–Sunday only from October–April, weather permitting. Check NPS.gov for road status before driving.

The Pacific Coast

73 miles of wild coastline — no roads, no buildings, no development. Accessible only by trail (typically 0.5-3 miles from the nearest road). Tide pools, sea stacks, driftwood-lined beaches, and the most pristine coastline in the lower 48.

Shi Shi Beach (4+ miles, moderate): The most stunning beach in the park. Point of Arches extends the beach south with sea stacks and arches. Requires a short trail through Makah Reservation (buy a recreation pass in Neah Bay).

Rialto Beach (0.5+ miles, easy): The most accessible wild beach. Drive to the parking area and walk north toward Hole-in-the-Wall (check tide tables — it's passable at low tide only).

Ozette Triangle (9 miles, moderate): A loop trail connecting two coastal sections via forest boardwalks. Cape Alava is the westernmost point in the contiguous US.

Detailed coastal itinerary (1 full day):

• Morning: Rialto Beach. Arrive at 8am for low tide. Walk north 1.5 miles to Hole-in-the-Wall — a sea arch you can walk through at tide below 2 feet. Check tide tables at the visitor center or online. The round basalt sea stacks (called "sea stacks") are best photographed in morning light. Ellen Creek crosses the beach — bring water shoes.
• Afternoon: Second Beach or Third Beach. Drive 15 minutes south to the Second Beach Trailhead (La Push). Hike 0.7 miles through coastal forest to a stunning beach with towering sea stacks. The Quillayute Needles are offshore rocks that frame the sunset.
• Evening: Ruby Beach. Drive 40 minutes south on Highway 101 to Ruby Beach. It's the most photographed beach in Olympic — bald eagles nest in the sea stacks, and the driftwood-lined shoreline faces directly west for sunset.
• Multi-day option: Backpack the Ozette Triangle (9 miles, 2 nights). Hike the Cape Alava Trail (3 miles) from the Ozette Ranger Station to the coast, camp at Cape Alava (the westernmost point in the lower 48), then hike the Sand Point Trail (3 miles) the next day, and complete the loop on the 3-mile forest boardwalk. Requires backcountry permits ($8/person/night).

Coastal safety essentials:

• Carry a tide table — available at all visitor centers and online. Several coastal trails are impassable at high tide.
• Never turn your back on the ocean — sneaker waves are common on the Olympic coast and have swept hikers off rocks.
• Check the weather — storms can make coastal trails impassable. The Pacific can generate 30+ foot waves in winter.

When to Visit

Best: July-September for the best weather, full road access, and wildflowers at Hurricane Ridge. June for rhododendron bloom in the rainforest.

Shoulder: April-May and October for fewer people but more rain. The rainforest is always wet — there's no "dry season."

Winter: Hurricane Ridge offers snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on weekends. The rainforest receives its heaviest rainfall (15-20 inches per month).

Seasonal breakdown by ecosystem:

• Hurricane Ridge: July–September for full access and wildflowers. October–March for snowshoeing (road open weekends only). April–June is transition season — check road status.
• Hoh Rainforest: Beautiful year-round, but the moss is most vivid in the "rainy" season (October–April). June is peak rhododendron bloom. July–September has the least rain.
• Pacific Coast: August–September is best for tide pooling (lowest tides of the year). March–April for gray whale migration. October–April for storm watching.

Essential Gear

• Rain jacket — non-negotiable. Olympic receives 140+ inches of rain in the Hoh.
• Waterproof hiking boots — trails are streams in the rainforest
• Tide table — essential for any coastal hike
• Bear canister — required for all backcountry camping
• Bug spray — mosquitoes and black flies are fierce in the rainforest from June–September
• Extra socks — you will get wet feet on the Hoh River Trail and coastal hikes
• Gaiters — keep mud and water out of your boots on rainforest trails

Planning Your Time

• Minimum: 2 days (Hurricane Ridge + Hoh Rainforest + Rialto Beach)
• Recommended: 3-4 days (add Shi Shi Beach + Lake Crescent + Sol Duc Falls)
• Thorough: 5-7 days (all of the above + backpacking + Staircase area + Ozette)

Recommended 3-day itinerary:

• Day 1: Hurricane Ridge (morning) → Lake Crescent (afternoon swim or canoe rental) → overnight in Port Angeles
• Day 2: Hoh Rainforest (morning — Hall of Mosses + Spruce Nature Trail) → Ruby Beach at sunset → overnight in Forks
• Day 3: Rialto Beach at low tide (morning) → Second Beach Trail (afternoon) → drive back to Port Angeles via Highway 101

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Olympic's three-ecosystem diversity is unmatched. See where it ranks in the complete national park rankings.

Combining Olympic with Other Pacific Northwest Destinations

Olympic + Mount Rainier (4-5 days): Two distinct mountain experiences — rainforest/glacier vs. volcanic peak. Mount Rainier is 3 hours from Port Angeles.

Olympic + North Cascades (5-7 days): The complete Washington mountain experience. North Cascades is 4 hours from Port Angeles via the Whidbey Island ferry. Book Pacific Northwest lodging — Port Angeles is the best base camp with easy access to Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh, and coastal areas.

Olympic + Seattle (3-4 days): Seattle → Bainbridge Ferry → Olympic (1 hour to the park entrance). The most accessible combination from a major city. Seattle's food and culture scene makes a perfect bookend to your park trip.

Where to Stay

In-park lodging:

• Lake Crescent Lodge (open May–January): Historic lodge on the shore of Lake Crescent. Rooms $200–400/night. Canoe and rowboat rentals. The lodge restaurant has a deck with lake views.
• Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort (open March–October): Cabins and RV sites near natural hot springs pools. Rooms $200–350/night. The hot springs are a unique amenity — soak after a day of hiking.

Campgrounds:

• Fairholme Campground (88 sites, year-round): On the west end of Lake Crescent. First-come, first-served. Lakeside sites are most popular.
• Hoh Campground (78 sites, year-round): In the Hoh Rainforest. First-come, first-served. No hookups, no showers. Sites fill by noon in summer.
• Kalaloch Campground (170 sites, year-round): On the coast, 5 miles from Ruby Beach. Reservable on recreation.gov. The only coastal campground with ocean views.

Gateway towns:

• Port Angeles: Best for Hurricane Ridge access. Full range of lodging ($80–250/night), restaurants, and grocery stores.
• Forks: Best for Hoh Rainforest and coastal access. Budget options ($60–120/night). The town is famous as the setting for the Twilight novels — expect some vampire-themed tourism.
• Neah Bay: Nearest town to Shi Shi Beach. Makah Reservation — buy a recreation pass at the Makah Museum ($10). Limited lodging.