So now that you’ve decided to visit Olympic National Park what are the adventures waiting for you here in this enormous and varied landscape? Four unique ecosystems — from alpine to foothills, glaciers to sharp shores and rainforests ranging rivers and lakes. The multiple things to do and see can keep you entertained for days.
Since I am a national park junky, Olympic National Park has been on my list for years and it is one of the few parks in which i have now visited several times. Below are my ideal pursuits for any visit to this jaw dropping park.
Top Activities in Olympic National Park: Something for Everyone
If you’re still deciding how to make the most of your time at Olympic National Park, you’re in the right place. Whether you enjoy hiking, scenic views, or winter adventures, this park has something to offer.
Best Winter Experiences in Olympic National Park
If you are considering a wintertime trip to Breckenridge, it may seem like some tough choices need to be made when deciding which winter activities should go on the agenda. Though the park can be hard to reach during much of its rainy season (November through March), there’s not a better time and place for some wintertime fun than Hurricane Ridge. An ideal spot to ski, snowshoe and more, this area bears a true winter beauty.
1. Skiing at Olympic National Park: Hurricane Ridge
Skiing at Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area is a small, family-friendly facility that is operated by the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club. They have 2 tow ropes, a poma lift and tubing plus this is an excellent location to spend the entire day with your kids having snow much FUN!!!
Located in the northeast, this cute little Alps-inspired ski area is open on weekends from early December to late March and runs longer hours MLK Day (Mon) & Presidents’ Day week. Skiing, snowboarding and skating: Beginner-friendly activities are open from 10 am to 4 pm so you can enjoy the wintry scenery while hitting different slopes or even different levels of skill.
2. Snowshoeing in Olympic National Park: Hurricane Ridge
Aside from skiing, snowshoeing to Hurricane Ridge is the most popular winter activity in Olympic National Park. With almost 20 trails, this property is ideal for beginner and intermediate level cross-country ski and snowshoeing enthusiasts. The open, flat meadows directly above the Visitor Center are perfect for beginners, while more experienced skiers can test their skills (and legs) on challenging slopes and bowls in the surrounding area.
None of the snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails are groomed at Hurricane Ridge, but two follow unplowed roads that go away from crowds (and road traffic) for an easier way through nature.
Top Summer Activities in Olympic National Park
Summer is the most popular time to visit Olympic National Park, as it brings drier weather and warmer temperatures. Even the rainforests tend to stay relatively dry, although rain can still be expected on occasion. The favorable conditions make summer ideal for exploring the park’s wide range of activities.
3. Biking at Olympic National Park: The Spruce Railroad Trail
Cycling along the northern side of Lake Crescent you’ll find The Spruce Railroad Trail Originally a rail route used to carry spruce lumber, this trail has since been established as an outstanding biking path.
The trail a is long 11.2 miles round trip, which may be hard to do as a hike but very easy for mountain biking. The route utilizes an abandoned railroad, constructed during World War I but finished after the war and later used for logging until 1950s.
The most memorable part of the trail for some is McFee Tunnel, an opening cut out during World War II where many cyclists stopped and turned back. Cyclists still in need of more climbing can simply pedal out to Daley-Rankins Tunnel (2.8 miles) for shorter ride, or you could be ambitious and keep truckin after your first ascent. Devil’s Punchbowl is perhaps the trail’s signature stop, a tranquil turquoise bay partly walled by a footbridge – and one of those bracing (not to mention cold) swim stops on hot summer days.
The proximity of the trailheads at both ends is cyclist friendly.
4. Embarking on a Twilight Tour
You can easily visit the town of La Push when you head to both Second and Third Beaches (within Olympic National Park) as well because it’s right there on your way in.
Why is La Push so captivating? Sup, fans of the Twilight movies and books? Much of the second novel in her series takes place near La Push, where werewolf Jacob teaches Bella to ride a motorcycle.
This was definitely where the Twilight fandom is still very much alive and well, even now having signs and memorabilia all over town. You can even pick up a free Twilight-themed packet at the Visitor Information Center in nearby Forks. LAHS fans the Package, available here which includes a map to get you from location to location for your very own self guided Twilight tours of some key locations from the movies as well -the high school (of course!), Dr. Cullen’s hospital and even The Swan house.
And if you’re a fan looking for some movie-inspired nostalgia, Bella s favorite meal of mushroom ravioli can even be found on the menu at right here in Port Angeles so you enjoy it just like your favourite Twilight heroine.
5. Kayaking in Olympic National Park
Want water related activities in the Olympic National Park? Would kayaking be an ideal choice for you?!
Lake Crescent and Lake Quinault offer equally prime paddling experiences up on the Olympic Peninsula. Lake Crescent Lodge has single and tandem kayak, canoe and paddle board rentals. Half-day (4 hours) and full-day (8-hours) rentals can be had on a first-come, first served basis.
Lake Quinault also has half-day rentals at the Lake Quinault Lodge. Check the lodges’ websites for pricing and operating hours.
You could pack an inflatable kayak if you want something a bit cheaper and more versatile. Whether you want to paddle at a moment’s notice on either lake, or are just looking for space-saving travel convenience these smaller models will fit the bill.
6. Fly Fishing in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park Hiking, fishing With more than 75 miles of Pacific coastline, over 800 lakes and 4,000 miles of rivers and streams — not to mention untold stretches hidden under the area’s dense tapestry of foliage blanket — Olympic is a pole-bender’s paradise. Well, the park sits on some of the region’s most important wild salmon, trout and char runs (yes you can fish!)
But before you lower your line, it is important to know what rules are in effect. Fishing in Olympic National Park is regulated by the park’s rules, which include seasons open only to specific areas or size limits on different fish varieties.
You don’t normally need a Washington State Recreational Fishing License in the park (see exceptions below). For example, if you fish on land from the Pacific Ocean (16 or older), then you need a license. However, if you are fishing for salmon or steelhead in Washington State, a state-wide catch record card is needed. A Washington State Shellfish/Seaweed license is required of shellfish harvesters targeting the coastal areas.
7. Rafting in Olympic National Park
This national park is home to many rivers that are ideal for whitewater rafting. What are The ways to experience the beauty near Park from a peaceful float or adrenaline pumping ride through rapids; it can all be done by going on water rafting.
For a mellower approach, Hoh River Rafters offers half-day trips down the Hoh River. This is an easy, low-water trip for beginners and families with the occasional Class I or II rapid. Your time here primarily involves a drive through the jaw-dropping Hoh Rain Forest.
Olympic Peninsula Raft Co has float trips on the Hoh River year-round for anyone looking to add more excitement. They also are the heads of white-water rafting trips down two rivers –the longer but gentler Sol Duc River, which runs from mid October to May and a shorter stretch with more acceleration in rapids peaks called Calawah River October through April. Availability is dependent on the water level at each camp so plan your trip accordingly.
8. Enjoying Dungeness Crab
Dungeness Crab (named after the town of Dungeness along the Strait of Juan de Fuca) is iconic and you must give them a try or three while exploring around Olympic Peninsula. Where better to enjoy this regional speciality than close the Olympic National Park?
Supporting restaurants in and outside the park that have fresh cooked Dungeness Crab are: Lake Crescent Lodge Restaurant, Roosevelt Dining Room at Lake Quinault Lodge and Downriggers on the Water (Port Angeles).
If you are in the area around early October, head to The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival where not only can you feast on this seafood specialty but also soak up some local color.
9. Wildlife Watching in Olympic National Park
frequently seen along the Hoh Rainforest trails, is one of the park’s most iconic residents. Black bears reside in the park as well, and if you wake up at night or after a storm + hike keep an eye out for those bright yellow banana slugs – they love it damp.
The rivers in the park are full of salmon and trout. Salmon Cascades: Home to where tens of thousands of salmon leap over waterfalls on their way up river, heading toward spawning grounds.
You will spot seals along the coast and lots of marine birds. Kalaloch / Ruby Beach: The jagged sea stacks and islands off Kalaloch provide nesting sites for tufted puffins. Look into the trees there to see bald eagles in roost.
Olympic National Park is a popular whale watching destination. Whale migration: June – mid-September; best viewing times are around April, May and October through November. Close to popular sites like Kalaloch, Rialto and Shi Shi Beaches you might be able even spot whales from shore. If you feel like getting out on a boat, Puget Sound Express runs half-day whale-watching tours from mid-May through to mid-October.
A nice pair of binoculars or a spotting scope can improve your wildlife watching opportunity, especially for bird and marine animal.
10. Capturing the Beauty of Olympic National Park
If you are a photographer, Olympic National Park is the place to be!
Alpine meadows with wildflowers and snow-capped mountain peaks all around in Hurricane Ridge. This also boasts the best spot to see a secluded sunrise with the least amount of people around that you will find over it.
Giant Sea Stacks & Driftwood: Along the shore, you have a dramatic background for photography with giant sea stacks and huge pieces of driftwood. In the rainforests, the ancient moss-covered trees with flowing ferns and tumbling waterfalls are something you cannot help but be inspired by — so much that you can easily get gun-finger-happy while capturing photos of any wildlife (as probably seen in this image).
In a word, Olympic National Park is Stunning in every way and a dream location for jaw-dropping images that could belong to any magazine cover.
11. Exploring the History of Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park has some fascinating history. Biking or walking the Spruce Railroad Trail, used in the 1920s and ’30s to move timber. It also passes through two historic tunnels, helping you to get the feel for what it was like years ago.
Kestner Homestead For a more in-depth look at pioneer life. Some of the original structures continue to exist and nearby visitors can catch a glimpse in order to visualize how the initial settlers carved out their lives against this rugged backdrop.
Native American tribes lived in this region long before settlers arrived. Olympic National Park is of deep cultural significance to eight different tribes, making it the perfect place to delve into tribal history and way of life.
12. Discovering the Temperate Rainforest
We recommend you consider visiting Olympic National Park and exploring these different environments in person but also attending the ranger programs to learn about temperate rainforests for this one. You can also participate in one of the many ranger led programs like talks and hikes offered throughout the park.
Moreover, numerous interpretative signs that explain details about the ecosystem accompany many of these trails. One example of a trail like this is the Moments in Time Trail right by Lake Crescent Lodge. This quick loop is full of educational signs that enquire about forest ecology, from the help nurse logs give tree population; to recognizing trees by the bark and regarding wood volumes interpretation realistic timbering. You will find information too on the enigma filled tidal pools that form in some of this park’s beaches.
13. Witnessing Salmon Leaping
Coho and chinook salmon move to the Pacific Ocean for most of their lives just after birth near the base of Sol Duc Falls along Washington’s Sol Duc River. Go out to sea for the years and finally swim back where they were born, to breed. before finishing off with death.
The Salmon Cascades The 11-foot tall construction that the salmon fish must bypass on their way from ocean home to spawning grounds.
Salmon gather in slow pools below the falls before summoning up enough power to spring through the tumbling water, making watching a salmon leap an activity not to be missed while visiting Olympic National Park. The determination of these fish traveling up the waterfall is truly inspiring.
Shades of Love by Annette Koch 5 Things Not to Miss in Bulgaria The best time for this spectacle is from March and May, or on September till October you will get the ultimate experience. En-route to Sol Duc Falls sits the Salmon Cascades.
14. Gazing at the Giants of Olympic National Park
Giants storm Olympic National Park, not the night mythical kind of jack and the beanstalk lore but real natural expanses that are peripatetic jaw-dropping wonders.
One of the most spectacular views in the park is from this beach looking south with sea stacks and small islands jutting out into ocean. The Giants Graveyard, is scree which attracts killer views and also a home of seals plus coastal birds.
Its teetering trees give the actual giants of the park a run for their money. Well-known with all kinds of large record-breaking trees, the Quinault Valley or as it is often referred to “The Valley of The Giants.”
They include a “World Champion” Sitka spruce, Douglas fir and yellow cedar as well as the largest western hemlock (pictured in this photo link), Pacific silver fire, bigleaf maple & mountain hemlock. Some of these giants need to be reached by forays into the backcountry, but the big Sitka spruce is right off Lake Quinault Loop Drive and a well-frequented stop.
The park is also home to some of the oldest trees in North America, and while none are quite as large as these record holders, they can certainly hold their own when it comes to awe inspiring. In particular the Sol Duc Valley holds a grove of giants where an Ancient Grove trail takes visitors past towering trees that have seen over 1,000 years.
15. Enjoying a Scenic Drive in Olympic National Park
If you are not a hiker or have difficulty with mobility, this is yet another great way to explore Olympic National Park. U.S. Highway 101 wraps around the Olympic Peninsula, and serves as a lure to take in many of the park sites.
For a more in-depth experience, take the 31-mile-long loop around Quinault Valley. This leads you on a path around the scenic Lake Quinault and part of the river it’s named after. Note that certain segments of the road are not paved which adds to a bit of an adventurous turn.
Highlights along the trail include the quiet Maple Glade and Kestner Homestead Loop Trails, 2 beautiful waterfalls, and largest Sitka spruce tree in North America. Be sure not to pass up the historic Lake Quinault Lodge with its inviting grand fireplace sitting room. If you are hungry for some food then a meal at the Salmon House Restaurant is an excellent way to try out your tastebuds on some of the best salmon yours truly has ever tasted.
16. Soaking in Hot Springs at Olympic National Park
Camping in natural mineral hot springs is impossible to beat, and Olympic National Park provides a solid location for such a trip.
The hot springs are essentially rainwater and melted snow that filters through the layers of sedimentary rocks (the main source). It then gradually rises to the surface through cracks, where it bubbles up from wells as rejuvenating springs by infusing seawater with gases emitted during cooling of volcanic rocks.
If you merely want to take a relaxing soak in some thermal waters, the easiest hot springs for visitors of any kind are those at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. The park has other natural springs but those are the only accessible ones. The resort has three mineral hot spring pools of varying temperatures, and a cooler freshwater pool for those needing a cool off.
You can relax and soak at your own pace, as they have several 1.5 hours sessions throughout the day.
17. Beach Camping at Olympic National Park
Camping out on the beaches of Olympic National Park is one of the most invigorating ways to fully absorb both power and beauty emanated by this enchanting Pacific Northwest coast. Sure, you can go to the beach for a day trip and bask in the sun but being allowed to sleep under driftwood with constant sound of ocean waves crashing on shore feels like magic.
You can also go driftwood hunting, to use in a beach bonfire and roast marshmallows under the stars. You will be lulled to sleep by the sound of how waves, and you awake in cozy rhythm with its soothing pace.
Camp well above the high-water mark, usually right around where those piles of driftwood stack up at the edge of a forest; you don’t want any surprises during hightide.
Overnight stays are only possible on the park’s beaches by obtaining a Wilderness Camping Permit so plan ahead to score your space.
18. Chasing Waterfalls in Olympic National Park
Rainforest waterfalls are a popular activity on the Olympic Peninsula, with over 20 waterfall hikes located in and around the park.
A truly iconic waterfall at the park is Sol Duc Falls. While it is only 40 feet high, what makes this waterfall unique is that before plummeting over the edge into a gorge at right angles to Sunshine Creek. Surrounded by deep woods, then it is picturesque as depicted.
The 90-foot horsetail waterfall near Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls is another that you have to see: There are two viewing areas, so visitors can take in the sights from one or both during a 1.7 mile scenic loop trail that takes you past the gorgeous waterfall at south end of in Cuyahoga Valley National Park called Brandywine Falls.
These are just a few of the dozens of captivating waterfalls that one can explore in and around Olympic National Park.
19. Exploring Tide Pools in Olympic National Park
Once the tide recedes, rocky crevices can become traps for seawater and result in the creation of tidal pools — a world filled with sea creatures! Visitors to Olympic National Park love scouring these tiny ecosystems—families in particular.
On the rocks below, look for the vivid green anemones waving their fronds in tide pool waters. Ochre and purple sea stars will form a cluster among the barnacled rocks where fringed worm-clock inundations sway gently back and forth with incoming waves as if tick tick tocking in time to some ancient earth rhythm. Tiny hermit crabs dot the pool floors, each moving with a tiny crab sized shell on their back. This episode each tide pool is another world of it’s own full with life.
The prime time to check out these oceanic wonders is 30 minutes before low tide, and you’ll have some time after the pools fill up! Best places to go for tide pools are Kalaloch Beach 4, Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach.
20. Hiking in Olympic National Park
Hiking The one thing not to miss in Olympic National Park is hiking. With numerous different trails throughout the park, you are sure to find a hike that will suit your ability. You still cant see the parks most spectacular views by car, you have to walk.
For the more relaxed, there are botanical walks through rainforest, beaches whose signposted trails amount to casual strolls past cedars and ferns before flattening out at Hurricane Ridge with views of the mountains you won’t forget.
Casual trails such as the scenic walk to Sol Duc Falls, longer hikes through coastal forests out to Second Beach or Hurricane Hill with its rolling elevations appeal for anyone wanting a bit more of an adventure.
Those seeking more of a challenge can stretch their legs on multi-day treks up the Hoh River Trail or with tougher scrambles down the coast south of Third Beach.
21. Taking a Dip in Olympic National Park
In the summer, nothing seems better than swimming on a hot day in Olympic National Park. Swimming in the ocean might not be a great idea as those waters are freezing, filled with rip tides and hidden rocks.
Cool off with a swim at Lake Crescent They are cold in summer, and the water is also diverted from urbanized areas so it can be a nice reprieve. Lake Crescent Lodge is a popular get for swimming; freestyle it at Devil’s Punchbowl and access by hiking the Spruce Railroad Trail.
Lake Quinault is high tide of brave souls willing to venture into their icy waters. A number of campgrounds along South Shore Road offer day-use access to the lake, while another good spot for wading-in is July Creek Picnic Area on the north shore.
For a dip in something heated, go to Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort — it includes a pool you can actually chill out or heat up with.
Travel Insurance for Your Trip to Olympic National Park
And now that you have just picked out half a dozen activities to make Dirty Czech style, keep in mind that adventure should not be without a hint an level of danger.
That is why taking out a travel insurance policy it makes perfect sense. This can be cover for any medical emergencies as well and evacuation or even trip cancellations, lost luggage or theft.
You might want to go with them, like Travelex who can insure everything for you so worry not. You can compare the best travel insurance for your trip here or get an instant quote.
Have fun exploring all that Olympic National Park has to offer, with confidence!
