Located on the Olympic Peninsula, 160 km from Seattle, Olympic National Park is one of the 10 most visited national parks in the United States and offers the traveler the chance to discover 3 different ecosystems in a single park – mountains, temperate rain forests and beaches. There are several spectacular weekend getaways in Washington State, in which Olympic national park stands out for its beauty and attractions. With a great diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and marine life, Olympic National Park has been an International Biosphere Reserve since 1976. In 1981, the park officially became a World Heritage Site, declared by UNESCO, and has since taken several measures to minimize the impact of man’s activities on nature.

How many days does it take to visit Olympic National Park?

Due to its proximity to Seattle, many people visit Olympic National Park on a 1-day round-trip tour, which we do not recommend.As the park offers three different and distant ecosystems, we believe that visiting the entire park in 1 day is a very busy and painful task.For this reason, we suggest at least 2 days from Port Angeles or in 3 days for the most trekkers.The best way to get to know the park is by car.Generally speaking, the Olympic Peninsula is surrounded by the US Highway 101, from which other smaller roads depart to the main attractions of the park, such as Hurricane Ridge, Forks, Rialto Beach and Hoh Rain Forest.Before visiting the park, it is worth checking road conditions on the National Park Service’s official website and checking the distances between regions.If you go in the summer, it worth booking the ferry in advance to avoid has to wait hours to be able to board.

Hurricane Ridge

From Port Angeles, you head to the mountainous area of ​​the park, the famous Hurricane Ridge. To get there, exit US Highway 101 and take Hurricane Ridge Road, a super scenic road with picnic areas. Located at an altitude of more than 1500 meters, the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center offers a snack bar, tourist information center, restrooms and souvenir shop.

Lake Crescent

From there, go back to US Highway 101 and go by the Lake Crescent, a beautiful and calm lake with crystal clear waters.

Sol DUC Falls

If you have time, leave US Highway 101 (after Lake Crescent) and head to Sol DUC Falls, a waterfall in the middle of the forest. In this region, you will find a resort with hot pools of mineral water, camping area, lakes and several options of trails. 

Forks

The city of Forks, with less than 4,000 inhabitants, gained international notoriety during Twilight Saga shooting location. If you like the saga, it’s worth taking a stroll in the city and getting to know some of the highlights of the film, like the school where Bella and Edward went, the hospital where Dr Cullen worked, the police station where Bella’s father worked, the Cullen’s’ house, etc.

Rialto Beach

A region of beaches probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen. The beaches here are not fine sand. Instead, you will find a huge field of gravel, covered with pine trunks that have fallen to the ground. These trees are brought by the river during storms and remain there for years.

Ruby Beach

This is the best place in the park to watch the sunset. The Olympic Peninsula is known for being one of the rainiest places in the United States. So, if you are lucky and catch the sunny day, be sure to be on this beach at sunset time. If that happens, feel lucky and privileged. Along all these beaches it is possible to camp.