Best Day Hikes In Olympic National Park – More than ever, Bertie and I longed for exciting adventures. A chance to get out and marvel at the magic of the Pacific Northwest.
Do you feel the same way? The perfect combination of tranquility and the trip of a lifetime really isn’t that far away! You can find it on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.
Best Day Hikes In Olympic National Park
With 70 miles of wild coastline, endless rainforest trails and snow-capped mountains, this 1 million acre area will take your breath away. Try it on a long weekend or take an epic road trip – there’s no wrong way to visit this Washington gem!
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In this post, we break down all the things to do in Olympic National Park into individual areas and share our favorite activities, hikes, photos, and more. We share our favorite campsites, accommodation options and other juicy tips for the best trip!
Officially speaking, it is located in the western part of the state on the edge of the Olympic Peninsula. Olympic National Park covers an area of about one million hectares, and the surrounding area mainly consists of the Olympic National Forest.
Both institutions work together to preserve the area’s unique biodiversity for the enjoyment of all visitors!
If you live far away (ie, not in the Pacific Northwest), the easiest way to get to the park is to fly into Seattle, WA (SEA) and rent a car. From the airport, you can drive approximately 2.5-3 hours to Port Angeles to start your itinerary.
Hiking In Olympic National Park: A Guide For First Timers
The best way to get around the park is by car. There is no trail system in Olympic National Park, and most of the popular spots are a pretty decent distance from each other.
If you want to combine lodging and camping, our recommendation is to rent a motorhome from Outdoors. It’s like Airbnb, but for cars, so you can bring an old VW van, a trailer, or even an entire van to the Olympic Peninsula!
To easily plan all the logistics of your trip to Olympic National Park, we love using The Dyrt app. Dyrt is the largest campsite database with over 44,000 public and private sites to browse and discover!
Pro members can use their trip planner to help them find the best campsites and fuel stops along our route. Unlock more pro features like BLM Maps + Offline Browsing and get a free 30-day trial with our code MANDAGIES!
Best Easy Day Hikes Olympic National Park (best Easy Day Hikes Series): Molvar, Erik: 9781493063550: Amazon.com: Books
Olympic National Park has many seasonal activities! But summer is undeniably the most popular time to visit. Crowds are inevitable, but the advantage of the summer season is that almost everything is open and accessible!
In the winter, Hurricane Ridge is open for snowshoeing on the weekends, and most of the Washington coast is shrouded in cloud, creating a moody and dramatic atmosphere and some great photo opportunities in Olympic National Park.
Olympic winter, like all other seasons, has its advantages and disadvantages. You’ll experience much smaller crowds, but only a limited number of attractions are open!
There are some great places to stay in Olympic National Park both inside and outside. If you’re taking a weekend getaway from Seattle, this is a fun way to explore the many unique vacation spots on the Olympic Peninsula—the perfect getaway!
Day Hikes Of Olympic National Park Map Guide
Based on personal experience or recommendations from people we trust, here are some of our favorite Olympic cottages and resorts:
Kalaloch Lodge (near the Tree of Life!) – Kalaloch (right on the water, but no wifi) Woodland Inn – Forks, WA (small cabins in the middle of town, close to everything in Forks, sleeps 4) Olympic Lodge – Port Angeles , Washington – (Really cool downtown lodging and dining)
Olympic National Park has some great campsites that can be reserved if you want to spend a little more time in nature. Sol Duc, Kalaloch, and Mora Campgrounds are reservation only, and all other Olympic National Park campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some of our favorite things to do in Olympic National Park include camping near…
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Once you get to your spot, it’s up to you how you set up your campsite! Make a comfy bed and sleep in your car, maybe even try these car camping tricks. We’ve also written a post about some super quick and easy camping meals so you can spend as much time as possible exploring Olympic National Park.
You can use our camping checklist to plan the most epic setup, including a portable stove, comfortable chairs, and some of our favorite camping gear recommendations.
It is important to note that the weather in Olympic National Park can be rainy, so make sure you are prepared to camp in the rain!
Beach camping at La Push, backpacking High David, or overnight trips to Ozette Lop require a permit from the Wilderness Information Center. Be sure to reserve your spot online or stop by WIC to get the passports you need before you go.
Visiting The Hoh Rain Forest In Olympic National Park
Raincoat: This may be the most important piece of equipment you can pack for your trip to Olympic National Park. We have this raincoat and it’s lightweight – perfect for keeping in a day bag.
Rain Boots: Rain boots are a great choice of footwear not only for rainy days, but also for exploring the tide pools and parts of the Olympic National Park coastline! We love these bogs for their easy grip.
Day Bag: We trade in our WANDRD camera bags and this lightweight Cotopaxi for day trips.
Water Bottle: Rain or shine, water is essential for packing! Choose a hydroflask to keep your drinks cool with many colors to choose from!
Hiking Hurricane Ridge In Beautiful Olympic National Park
Hat: You can still get sunlight through the clouds, so it’s always a good idea to protect your head. Choose an epic felt adventure hat or a waterproof one like this one for style!
Camera: Capture your Olympic National Park activities for epic memories later! Here are 8 tips on how to take the best travel photos.
Layers: Mornings in Olympic National Park can start out cold, then warm up quickly in the afternoon. Wear lots of layers so you can take them off when the day gets hot!
Bear Spray: If you are going on a backcountry or multi-day hike, we highly recommend packing bear spray for protection!
Falcon Guides Best Easy Day Hikes: Olympic National Park
Bug Repellent: With several lakes, waterfalls, rivers and rainforests around the park, bug spray is essential for summer trips to Olympic National Park. You can also wear a bug hat like this one from Outside Research to keep them off your face!
Good socks: For the long walks in the Olympics, make sure you wear the right socks. We recommend this wool from Smartwool for less blisters and better sweat absorption!
In this post, we’ll talk about things to do in Olympic National Park. We share our favorite activities in each part of the park. This way you can get a better idea of what areas to explore and what to expect from each location!
The Pacific Coast region of Olympic National Park is consistently filled with beautiful rocky beaches, hidden caves, and plenty of adventure. We’re sharing our favorite places to explore in Olympic National Park by the ocean!
Reasons To Explore Olympic National Park
From sun-bleached driftwood to endless boardwalks, this is a beach for the adventurous. Rialto Beach is a popular beach camping spot in Washington.
Pass by Ellen Creek and pick up a pass at the WIC in Port Angeles and you’ll have your pick of beautiful campsites dotted along the coast!
We especially love walking the Hole in the Wall Trail at Rialto Beach, a 1.5 mile hike to see one of Washington’s most Instagrammed spots. Make your way through the hole in the rock and climb to the top for the best view of the beach!
Adjacent to Rialto Beach (we’re talking 10 minutes away) is the La Push Beach Ridge, which you can explore while visiting Olympic National Park.
Top Things To Do In Olympic National Park
The first beach is the most accessible of these beaches in Washington. Here you can explore the nearby tide pools and enjoy the view of the famous sea currents off the coast.
The second beach is the most popular of La Push’s three beaches, especially for its beautiful sunsets and beach camping opportunities. This beach requires a 15-minute walk to the beach, so be careful not to leave valuables in the car!
The third beach is the least visited of La Push’s three beaches, requiring a 3.5 mile hike to Washington Beach. Most of the time, these beaches are completely shrouded in fog for a classic Pacific Northwest experience.
Ruby Beach is the perfect family beach in Washington! Parking is conveniently located off Highway 101. Also with ease
