Top Things to do in Olympic National Park
Top Hotels in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
Countries
The 10 Best Hiking Trails in Olympic National Park, Olympic National Park
The Olympic Coast national park.
Restaurants in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
1. South Coast Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Offering many views of offshore land formations and beautiful stretches of beach, this coastal route is steep in places and difficult to hike due to slick rocks and sandy surfaces.
2. Hurricane Ridge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,790 reviews
A 17-mile stretch of winding road through dense forests and alpine ice-covered peaks.
Reviewed By Panda_Bear_Will
My wife and I visited Olympic National Park six years ago on a single day excursion from Seattle; we were able to see Lake Crescent and the Hoh Rain Forest briefly on that trip and I knew I needed to return one day to explore the park more fully. The Hurricane Ridge Road was closed on that previous visit, so returning to see it and hike the entire Hoh River Trail to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus became bucket-list items shortly thereafter. I was able to return to Olympic and spend six full days exploring it as fully as possible. This review will really cover the park as a whole rather than Hurricane Ridge, but the 17 mile road which is easily accessible from Port Angeles is definitely a must-see for any visitor. Olympic is really divided into 3 distinct ecosystems: the mountains, surrounding rain forests, and coastal beaches. In order to get the true Olympic experience, a person should make it a point to dedicate at least a full day to each region. The sheer size of the park requires a good deal of driving to hit each individual region; one will mostly traverse the perimeter the park on Highway 101 and several roads leading deeper into the interior will allow access to areas such as Hoh, Quinault, So Duc, etc. Port Angeles to the north of the park provides the most choices when it comes to food and lodging; the western part of the park is serviced by the small town of Forks and to the extreme southwest, Aberdeen. The eastern edge of the park doesn't have much in the way of points of interest within the park besides some lesser-used trails, but it is a pleasant drive with occasional small towns like Hoodsport worth exploring for a bit. Distances between these points of interest are considerable as you're looking at a several hour drive between them. There are enough gas stations and other services that you're never quite "off the grid" for that long, but having a good idea of the layout of the park will save unneeded driving (though the scenery is usually so lush and inviting that the miles kind of melt after awhile). With that said, the following provides the highlights of the park, IMO, while doing so in a logical counter-clockwise fashion for people driving in from Seattle: 1) Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, the views of the Olympic Mountain range are pretty amazing from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The key word is "clear". Olympic is famous for its considerable rainfall and chances are you will encounter rain at several points throughout the day even during the summer. I recommend following the weather forecast and allowing for a possible return trip to Hurricane Ridge, if necessary. The first day I visited, clouds and rainfall offered tantalizing glimpses of the mountains beyond but nothing more. I return the next day and was treated to glacier-covered mountains and a lush alpine scene that was delightful to hike just around the parking lot (managed to see a hare, deer, and marmot within 10 minutes of the short hikes adjacent to the parking lot). Unfortunately, the Hurricane Hill trail further beyond the visitor center was closed for restoration. This area is the highlight of Olympic for me. 2) Lake Crescent. Returning to Highway 101 and heading west, the highway will eventually hug the shores of this large lake with mountains surrounding it. A popular short but very steep hike up Mt. Storm King will challenge even the more fit hikers (to reach its true summit, one must use several ropes for assistance). The highest waterfall within the park, Marymere Falls is also a short walk from the lake parking lot. 3) Rialto Beach. With its mountain ranges and lush rain forests, its easy to overlook the third aspect of Olympic NP which is actually very unique within the National Park system: the extended coastline of undeveloped wilderness. There are actually three areas of such coast line which are part of the park: the far northwestern reaches of Washington state which will include Lake Ozette, Rialto Beach which is west of the town of Forks, and the beaches running along Highway 101 in the southwestern portion of the park. I visited Rialto Beach and was treated to a leisurely hike along a beach trail leading to a rock arch (called "Hole in the Wall"), various other rock formations, and tide pools. This is some of the last extended undeveloped wild coast line within the US and is definitely worth a visit for anybody with several days to visit the park. 4) Hoh River Rain Forest: Upon my visit several years ago, I was most bummed to only spend about 30 minutes in this legendary forest which is often described as "enchanted" and "fairy-tale like". The Hoh River Trail extends for 17 miles (actually closer to 20 per several apps and devices I used to judge the distance) to the Blue Glacier on Mt. Olympus. For years, I dreamed of not only returning to the forest, but backpacking the trail all the way to the end. I was able to do so and while it was a very rewarding experience, I can say that the rain forest scenery and vibe does become a bit redundant after several miles. Most visitors will likely go no more than to 5 Mile Island for a day hike (the trail is very flat, so covering such distance is not much of a chore) and I believe that's sufficient. For those looking to backpack beyond, the trail remains flat to the 12.4 mile marker before climbing in elevation to Elk Lake. Beyond that, Glacier Meadows campsite beckons, but not before climbing down an unnerving ladder required to navigate a rock slide which wiped out the old trail. The climb to the Glacier itself is considerable and the distance (especially with a full backpack) makes this quite the workout. However, it was a lifetime experience that I'll cherish forever. For non-backpackers, the Hoh Forest is one of the more easily accessible rain forests within the park, but the scenery is pretty similar for most of them: lots of lush vegetation. 5) Lake Quinault. A scenic lake with some of the few actual lodgings within the park boundaries. This area also provides access to several more trails, both short and long distance, that seemed very enticing. In conclusion, Olympic may not get the headlines of more noted parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon, but its lush surroundings and highly varied landscapes makes this one of the best parks in America.
3. Hoh River Trail
4. Second Beach Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 374 reviews
Dense and marshy forest trail on the Olympic Coast.
Reviewed By RalphieBoy2020
Very nice beach near Salt Creek campground. Tide pools and really worthwhile at low tides. Lots of parking available.
5. Little River Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
A hiking trail overlooking the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
6. High Divide
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Scenic hiking route in Washington's Olympic National Park.
Reviewed By HappyCamper240 - Kingston, United States
Backpacking the High Divide loop we took four days was amazing and so beautiful. 22 miles and threes nights. We went to Deer Lake, Heart Lake, Seven Lakes Basin and Sol Duc campsite. Also ran into a few mountain goats on the ridge top.
7. Lower Big Quilcene Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Trail that extends 6.2 miles through typical northwest forest along the Big Quilcene River, recommended for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
8. Ozette Loop Hike
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By toddd585 - Kent, United States
One of my favorite hikes. The Scenery is incredible and changes every mile. Summer is very busy, and when wet, the boardwalks are slippery. If you are doing the full loop, watch your tide charts and know where you are at. We do this with my Scout Troop every year and the Scouts (age 10 to 17 love it). Long drive from almost everywhere!
9. Sol Duc Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 559 reviews
Reviewed By JasontheGreat
We got an early start in the morning and ran the road from the Sol Duc Resort to the trailhead (about 2 miles). Then we hiked the trail to the falls. A fairly easy hike without much incline and about 1.6 miles round trip. The falls were beautiful and well worth the effort. Running back to the resort along the road was great because it was mostly a slight downhill decline. A nice 10K exercise effort in a beautiful forest. The road was quiet and the trailhead empty as we visited during phase 2 opening of the overall area.
10. Second Beach Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By snipe49445 - Truth or Consequences, United States
The brochure says .7 miles to the beach which could be misleading to those unfit. The trail begins with a climb through mossy rainforest and then a descent via dirt stairs, which may be tough on those with knee or hip issues, although we saw many "mature" folks making the hike. The beach opens up to large dead trees and drift wood which you climb over to access the beach *Pro Tip: At the sign that says "toilet" and veers to the right, follow it to bypass a lot of the log hopping to get to the beach easier. The beach was heavily fogged in while we were there, but undeterred, I was able to capture some photos anyways and my grand daughters had a blast, it felt as though we were the only ones there! Will be back. Dress appropriately, it's cooler on the cost. Park in the overflow parking for easy entry and exit, it's not much further and more convenient.
