Trip planning tools for Olympic National Park

Here is a list of useful trip planning tools for Olympic National Park, Washington.

Olympic National Park Coronovirus Update

Many of the Olympic Park’s facilities opened on May 29, 2020. Please check for updates on COVID-19 before you go to avoid disappointment.

Olympic National Park closures

Olympic National Park is open all year, but many facilities are seasonal. Plan before you go to avoid disappointment or long delays. Always check for road closures and conditions in the park. Some of the visitor centres are closed in the winter months.

Trip Planning Tools for Olympic National Park

Park mileage charts

This handy chart will provide mileage and driving times around Olympic National park. Gas stations are scarce within the park, so plan wisely by watching the fuel gauge.

Travel to Olympic National Park to discover a wild, vast wilderness of nature at its best. The park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and is also an International Biosphere Reserve. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr © View more photos wendynordvikcarr.com

The Hoh Rain Forest gets up to 12 feet of rain each year. Useful trip planning tools for Olympic National Park. Always check road, trail and weather conditions. It is a wild, vast wilderness of nature at its best. Photo credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Wildlife safety tips

Who isn’t excited about spotting wildlife in their natural environment? Always keep a safe distance (at least half a football field) away from animals. It can be tempting to get closer or try to take a selfie with your great find, but DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS.

• Animals are unpredictable and can be dangerous if they feel threatened or cornered. This is their home.
• Do not feed or leave food out for animals. Human food is harmful to them.
• View these guidelines about wildlife safety tips.
• Report encounters with bear, cougars and mountain goats.
• Avoid bats. A small percentage carry rabies. If bitten, seek help immediately.
• There are no poisonous snakes in the park.
• In warmer weather, use insect repellent to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, black flies and other annoying insects.

Wilderness survival tips

Check the wilderness basics guide to make sure you are prepared with the minimum requirements, such as dressing appropriately for wilderness exploration and wearing sturdy, comfortable waterproof shoes. Also check this guide of essential wilderness safety tips to help prepare for your adventure to the park.

Check tides

Don’t get stranded on a beach, island or rocky shore when tides come in and make your route impassible. Oceans are beautiful, but can become dangerous if proper planning is not done in advance. Keep safe. Always check the tide chart.

Explore the rocky rugged coast when you travel to Olympic National Park to discover a wild, vast wilderness of nature at its best – Top 10 things to do in Olympic National Park. Photo credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Olympic National Park hiking trails

There are numerous hiking trails in Olympic National Park. Day hikes are offered in a variety of lengths and difficulty levels. There are pet restrictions on many of the Olympic National Park hiking trails and beaches. Do not drink water from streams. Water must be boiled or filtered. Iodine tablets do not kill the bacteria in these waters.

• Check trail conditions.
• List of day hikes and accessible Olympic Park hiking trails.
• How to prepare for your hike.

Where to see the largest trees

The Valley of the Rainforest Giants is found in the Quinault Rainforest. Download a map.

View more incredible photos.

Trip Planning Tools Olympic National Park Ferry schedules

If you plan to take a ferry, check to see if your route needs a reservation. We didn’t and it added extra travel time to the start and end of our journey. To make life easier, be sure to make an online account with each ferry provider before you start the process.

• Black Ball Ferry Service to and from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles, Washington. The Canada/US border remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• BC Ferries run from Vancouver to Vancouver Island.
• Washington State Ferry Service runs from Seattle and from Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula.

Olympic National Park Camping

• Olympic National Park camping reservations are required at Kalaloch and Sol Duc. Camping fees range from $15 – $47. Reserve. Search for campsite.
• Wilderness camping fees are $8 per person. Find out more.
• Permits are needed and reservations are needed for quota restricted area. Find a wilderness campsite.
• Find out more about wilderness trip planning.
• More than 50,000 people camp in the park each year.

Olympic National Park Lodging

There are wonderful historic hotels, motels and rustic cabins. Olympic National Park lodging books up quickly for the busy summer months.

• Lake Crescent Lodge, built in 1915, rests on the shore of the pristine, glacier carved Lake Crescent. It has a restaurant, cabins, cottages and historic lodge rooms. You can hike to Marymere Falls or take a day trip to Hurricane Ridge.

The reflective beauty of pristine Crescent Lake can be found in Olympic National Park, at the foothills of the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. The historic Crescent Lake Lodge sits on the shore of the lake and Port Angeles is 17 miles away. Photo credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr ©

Olympic National Park lodging – Lake Crescent Lodge on the shore of the stunning reflective lake by the same name. Useful trip planning tools for Olympic National Park. Always check road, trail and weather conditions. It is a wild, vast wilderness of nature at its best. Photo credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Kalaloch Lodge is one of our favourites for Olympic National Park lodging and on our top 10 most romantic places to stay. It overlooks the bluff at Kalaloch Beach and is simply stunning. It is an incredible place to watch the sunrise and sunset. It is a good place to use as a base to explore the surrounding area: Ruby Beach, Hoy Rainforest and Quinlaut Lake and Rainforest  It has a restaurant, lodge, cabins, campsites and gift shop.

Explore lush green Hoh Rain Forest filled with ferns and moss. This is one of the many top 10 things to do in Olympic National Park Photo credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has rustic cabins, RV spots and campsites. There are mineral hot spring pools and one fresh water pool. The pools closes twice daily for testing. Check the schedule.
• Log Cabin Resort offers log cabins, lodge rooms, RV spots and campsites by the lake.  It also has a cafe and boat rentals.

Olympic National Park Lodging nearby

• Lake Quinault Lodge is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It is located just outside the park and offers panoramic views of the lake. It also has easy access to the Quinault Rainforest, waterfalls and some of the largest trees in the world found in the Valley of the Rainforest Giants. See all accommodation for Quinault here.
• Port Angeles sits on the Strait of Juan de Fuca with sweeping views across the waters all the way to Vancouver Island. It is a good base to use for access to Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent.
  

  Pristine wilderness along the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island features rainforest, rolling hills, outer islands and snow-capped mountains. Views from the Olympic National Park. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

• Port Townsend is a delightful Victorian seaport filled with charm. Use it as a base to explore Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent and other areas of the Olympic Peninsula. The town offers a variety of bed & breakfasts, hotels, motels and vacation rentals. You can also catch the ferry from here to Whidbey Island.
• Neah Bay is on the rim of the Pacific Ocean and Strait of Juan de Fuca on the most northwest corner of the Peninsula and home to the Makah Tribe. Visit nearby Cape Flattery to view the lighthouse and for a chance to see migrating whales. The Makah Museum should not be missed. It features over 500 artifacts from the Ozette archaeological site.
• Forks and La Push were used as sets for the town in the popular Twilight vampires series.
• La Push is a stunning oceanfront location. It offers the Quileute Oceanside Resort & RV Park It is also home to the Quileute Nation, who have lived on the land for more than 1,000 years.

Travelling with a pet

Pets are not allowed in all park areas. Areas that do allow pets require them to be on a leash of no more than six feet in length. Check for restrictions before you go. Pets and humans can spread invasive species from one area to the next. Note: Service dogs are allowed in all areas with their owner.

National Park Fees

There are many different fee levels for national parks. A 7-day pass for a private vehicle is $25. The annual Olympic National Park Pass is $50. The annual America the Beautiful Pass is $80 and offers unlimited visits to all US national parks. Passes can be purchased online if you are a US resident or can be bought in person at the national park gate or visitors centre.

Before you go:

• Take time to plan your visit to avoid disappointment.
• Make reservations for all accommodations including campsites. The popular summer season sells out fast for available spots. Many facilities are seasonal.
• Check road closures within the park.
• Make ferry reservations.
• Always check the tide charts.
• Wear good sturdy shoes or hiking boots and bring weatherproof clothing or rain gear. Plan to dress in layers.
• Bring a camera and a pair of binoculars.
• Make sure you are prepared for exploring the wilderness.
• Read wildlife safety tips.
• Check out our trip planning tools for Olympic National Park

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Top 10 things to do in Olympic National Park

Top things to do at Kalaloch and Ruby Beach

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