Top Things to do in Olympic National Park
Top Hotels in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
Countries
Top 8 Hidden Gems Things to do in Olympic National Park, Olympic National Park
The Olympic Coast national park.
Restaurants in Olympic National Park Campgrounds
1. Ruby Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,233 reviews
Dramatic Pacific coast beach with a rugged shoreline.
Reviewed By Brian0ntheGo - Bradenton, United States
If you are visiting the Olympic Peninsula, make sure you include a stop at Ruby Beach. After visiting the rainforests and the mountains of the region, you'll appreciate the seaside beauty of this picturesque spot. It is just a short walk down to the beach area from the parking lot, and once on the beach, you'll be busy taking pictures of the amazing rocks that stand out of the ocean, the piles of driftwood, the tidal pools, and the crashing waves. While we were there in the afternoon, sunsets must be amazing on clear days. If you want to picnic, make sure you bring your supplies with you as there are no stores anywhere close by. You'll be glad you visited Ruby Beach!
2. Olympic National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 603 reviews
Pristine forest surrounding the Olympic Mountain range.
Reviewed By PatriciaK815 - Haymarket, United States
This is a beautiful forest that is definitely a place to visit. If you like to hike, this is perfect and has a number of trails through the forest, over creeks, with mushrooms, soft underbrush and ferns, and sun shining through the trees.
3. Hoh Rain Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,443 reviews
The Olympic Coast national park.
Reviewed By traveladdict3500 - Hasselt, Belgium
Hoh Rain Forest is one of the nicest places I have ever seen in the world. You have to be here very early to beat the crowds but it is worth losing some sleep for it. After 11AM this place is so crowded with people, it is hard to enjoy the atmosphere. We were here at 8AM and had all the time in the world to do the "Hall of Mosses" trail with very few other people around. This place is magical ! You feel as if you are walking in a fairy tale forest with old trees and lots of mosses growing on those trees and sometimes dangling from the branches. We left at 11.30AM and the parking lot was completely full, there was a cue of cars trying to find a place to park and a cue of cars waiting at the ranger check point.
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. Rialto Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 692 reviews
Pacific coast beach.
Reviewed By miklospat - Sequim, United States
This is a beautiful beach and even wheelchair accessible close enough to enjoy the view and the sound of the surf. Picnic tables near the parking lots. For easy access go the north end of the parking lot past the restrooms and follow the path. They usually clear most of the driftwood logs for easy access here. Access elsewhere usually involves climbing over a lot of logs. Nice walk to hole in the wall at the end of the beach, but be advised that you may need to cross a creek that may be ankle deep to go that far except in the middle of summer when it dries up. Just a great beach with sea stacks, tide pools, huge driftwood logs, colorful beach rocks, close forest cover, and a huge expanse of beach to explore. Does require an Olympic park pass and dogs are not permitted past the creek.sunrises ok sunsets are better.
6. Quinault Rain Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 315 reviews
The Olympic Coast national park.
Reviewed By dunadan - Lynnwood, United States
We've walked the trails around Lake Quinault a few times over the past several years, and they never fail to awaken our sense of wonder and awe at the majesty and immensity of nature. A great place to start is with the short half-mile nature trail on the South Shore, which takes you through several impressive stands of fir, spruce, cedar, and hemlock trees, across tranquil streams, and through silent forests. If you have time (and you should really reserve at least a half day in Quinault to experience it best), then you can link up the nature trail with several other loop trails of varying lengths and difficulty and explore much more of the forest. Many of the trails start or end at the lodge, so you can fit in a visit during your walks. But mostly a visit to the Quinault area should be spent outside among the trees taking in the clean air and marveling at their lifetimes, their impact on the environment, and how lucky you are to be visiting one of the world's only temperate rainforests, where annual rainfall is measured in feet, not inches. Feel your body rejuvenated and your spirit renewed as you walk among these giants.
7. 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.
