The gem of the Pacific Northwest, Olympic National Park is a sprawling park, home to mountains, rainforests, beaches, waterfalls and more. There are so many things to do in Olympic National Park that you could easily spend weeks here. Explore our list of fun things to do in Olympic National Park to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula vacation. Or check out our three day Olympic Peninsula itinerary here!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is on the top of many peoples bucket lists for a reason. Olympic National Park sprawls across the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. Mount Olympus sits atop the beautiful landscape surrounded by gorgeous lakes, waterfalls and forests. Tucked within the park, you’ll find a unique temperate rainforest, miles of hiking and hot springs. The Olympic Peninsula is then surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean allowing visitors to witness beautiful sandy beaches and hike along rocky shoreline. This amazing diversity of landscape makes Olympic National Park an amazing place to visit.
So with so many different things to see and do, we’ve created this list of the best things to do in Olympic National Park. Get planning!
Take in the Views from Hurricane Ridge
The drive to Hurricane Ridge will take you to high elevations with beautiful views of the mountains. Check out the Visitor’s Center here to ask all of your questions about the area and learn some history of the park. You may also choose to do one of several hikes that start at the visitors center and take you to viewpoints of the different peaks that surround you. We only had clouds when we were here and couldn’t see the mountains but that’s the Pacific Northwest for you.
Hike a Pristine Trail
There are miles of hiking trails available to you in Olympic National Park. Hikes range from easy, paved, 1-mile loops to more challenging hikes that take multiple days and have thousands of feet in elevation change. Whatever your skill level, you can find a hiking trail for you in Olympic National Park.
See Mount Olympus
Seeing and even hiking Mount Olympus is one of the most iconic things to do in Olympic National Park. While we are not mountain climbers, we did enjoy the many sights we had of the mountain as we drove around the peninsula. So make sure to look up at every stop to see if you have another vista of the famous mountain.
Visit the Hoh Rain Forest
Did you know that there was a rainforest in Washington? We didn’t. But the Hoh Rainforest is one of the most unique landscapes we’ve ever experienced. This temperate rainforest receives over 120 inches of rain each year, which makes it a rainforest. This is one of our favorite places to go in Olympic National Park because it is so unique. The rainforest is green, green, green. Green trees, green ferns, and green mosses grow everywhere you look. The two easy hiking loops (2 mi total) from the Visitor’s Center take you on a stroll through the dense forest and are well marked with interesting facts about the plants and wildlife you will find there.
Enjoy the Views of Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is the largest lake in Olympic National Park. This beautiful lake lies nestled at the base of the Olympic Mountains is surrounded on all sides by peaks and hills. You can spend time hiking, kayaking or fishing in this area of the park. Stop to take in the beautiful views of the lake and possibly enjoy the short hike to Marymere falls near the Lake Crescent Lodge. If you are a hiking enthusiast, you could also attempt the challenging hike up Mt. Storm King for beautiful views of Lake Crescent. We did not do this hike as we were traveling with our family, but it’s on our list for next time.
Swim in the Sol Duc Hot Springs
While this area used to be a popular hot spring bathing destination, this activity has waned over the years. Natural hot springs in the park are not recommended as bacteria levels in them are not maintained – meaning eww gross. However, the Sol Duc Hot Springs resort has four soaking pools that you can pay a small fee to enjoy. So if you are staying several days in the park and need a relaxing break from all that hiking, this is the activity for you.
Look Through the Hole in the Wall at Rialto Beach
Visit Rialto Beach and hike along the coastline to visit the famous hole-in-the-wall rock. You can hike the trail to visit the rock or you can be silly like us and hike along the sandy beach. Hiking along the sandy beach is much more tiring in case you were wondering. However, don’t let our silly mistake take away from the fun that can be had along the beach. This rough beach will give you views of beautiful sea stacks offshore. We also spotted some pretty neat seabirds playing in the waves here.
Visit Lake Quinault
The easiest way to see Lake Quinault is to take the 30 mile loop around it. This loop will take you along the shores of the lake through the Quinault Rainforest. Stop at viewpoints and turnoffs for your chance to spot some amazing wildlife in the quiet section of the park. We were able to spot a beautiful otter playing in the water as well as several bald eagles. There are a few short hikes along this drive as well which make great places to stretch your legs and take in the scenery.
Walk along Ruby Beach
Ruby Beach is arguably one of the most scenic beaches on the Pacific Coast. The towering sea stacks just offshore make this a great place to enjoy the scenery. This rocky beach is also home to some fun and interesting wildlife and children of all ages will enjoy spotting urchins and anemones in the tide pools.
Hike to Sol Duc Falls
The short and easy hiking loop to Sol Duc Falls starts at the Sol Duc Resort and takes you to Sol Duc Falls. This beautiful waterfall cuts its way through rocks into the canyon below.
Catch the Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean
Olympic National Park is littered with beaches. Some of them they didn’t even bother to name but numbered. All of them are facing west which means that you’ll catch the sunset at any one of them. Pack a picnic dinner and stop at any beach in the park to catch beautiful sunset views of the sun going down over the Pacific Ocean!
Escaping the Crowds at Staircase
One of the least traveled area of Olympic National Park is the Staircase area. This southeast section of the park will allow you the opportunity of seeing the temperate rainforest while staying closer to the large metropolitan areas and enjoying more privacy in the forest. This would be a great option day trip for folks wishing to escape the city. This area of the park has a few short hikes that will take you through the forest.
When to Visit
Olympic Peninsula is best viewed in the summer months when the weather is warm and the roads are open. There are several seasonal roads in Olympic that are only open in the summer months so be aware of this if you are traveling to Olympic National Park in the offseason. Spring and fall can also be nice but keep in mind that most activities in the park are outdoor activities and pack accordingly. You’ll also experience more fog if you travel outside of the summer months. This can be really cool and add to the mysterious aura of your travel pictures or it can completely block your view, it just depends on the day.
Getting There and Around
Olympic National Park is HUGE. Therefore, you’ll need a car to see it to its fullest. You can easily rent a car in Seattle or Tacoma if you are flying into the Seattle airport. While there are some unpaved roads, a majority of the areas you’ll want to visit are accessible to all types of cars.
Planning your gas usage in the park is important. Stations are spaced in such a way that you shouldn’t have issues finding a pump but be aware that the smaller gas stations will charge a premium. Plan to fill up in Port Angeles, Forks and Sequim as they tend to be cheaper than in-park stations.
What to Budget
As with any other National Park, we recommend getting the $80 America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass. This pass will get you into the any US National Park for a full calendar year and hopefully encourage you to explore more. However, if you only want entrance into Olympic, the park charges $30/vehicle for a one week pass.
The activities listed above are mostly free with the exception of the Sol Duc Hot springs and any gear rental you may need to do. So feel free to pack in the activities without breaking the budget.
For food, prices around the park are pretty average for a US destination. You’ll pay more for groceries and restaurants in more remote areas, including at the in-park lodges. Expect to pay between $12-$30/person for a meal out.
Your accommodations can vary widely in this area. We found several really inexpensive AirBnB rentals in the Port Angeles area that allowed us to have relatively easy access to the north section of the park. AriBnBs in this area average around $120/night. Hotels and in-park lodges tend to be more expensive and, in our opinion, less charming. Since this area has such a natural charm, we recommend staying in a more secluded AirBnB and hopefully spotting some wildlife like we did. To get a coupon for your first AirBnB stay, use this link.
Another great option for this area is camping. There are several campgrounds within the park that have partial or full amenities. These sites will cost around $30/night for non-electric sites. If you’d like to do some hike-in camping, you can often find these sites for free on beaches and along hiking trails. However, before backcountry camping within the park, you must buy a wilderness pass which is $8/night for adults. However, be aware that this area receives high amounts of rainfall. So if you do choose to tent camp, be prepared for rain and even snow.
