Olympic National Park

National Park · Washington, 🇺🇸 United States

Area 3,670 km²

Time zone America/Los_Angeles

Official website www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm

Olympic National Park – Planning a Trip?

Build your day-by-day itinerary in the Tripomatic app.

Start Planning

Featured Lists

Niagara66 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Olympic National Park Essentials

Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres of diverse ecosystems on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. This selection covers the park's primary geographical regions, including the old-growth temperate rainforests of the Hoh and Quinault valleys, the rugged Pacific coastline at Ruby and Rialto beaches, and the subalpine terrain of Hurricane Ridge. Key features include the 48-foot Sol Duc Falls, the mineral-rich Sol Duc Hot Springs, and the seasonal salmon migrations at Salmon Cascades, providing access to unique geological formations like sea stacks and glacial lakes.

12 places

rnjacobs / CC BY 2.0

Olympic Mountain Peaks

This collection features eight prominent summits within the rugged wilderness of Washington's Olympic National Park. These peaks range from the 7,156-foot Mount Mathias to the 5,910-foot Muncaster Mountain. Many of these summits, such as Mount Fairchild and Mount Carrie, exhibit significant glacial features and are located deep within the park's interior across Clallam and Jefferson counties. The list includes unique geological formations like the double summit of Mount Appleton and the remote, glaciated terrain surrounding Mount Queets and Mount Meany.

8 places

Olympic National Park Camping

Olympic National Park features a diverse range of camping environments, from the rugged Pacific coastline to temperate rainforests and subalpine meadows. This selection includes established drive-in campgrounds like Kalaloch and Fairholme, which offer amenities such as potable water and toilets, alongside remote backcountry sites like Enchanted Valley and the Seven Lakes Basin. These locations provide direct access to over 600 miles of hiking trails, the Sol Duc River, and unique geological features like the Ozette boardwalks and coastal tide pools.

20 places

Jefftaylor@xwb.com / CC BY-SA 3.0

Lakes and Waterfalls

The Olympic Peninsula contains diverse aquatic ecosystems ranging from the 600-foot-deep glacial waters of Lake Crescent to the multi-channeled Sol Duc Falls. This selection includes Lake Ozette, Washington's largest natural lake, and the thermal mineral pools of Sol Duc and Olympic Hot Springs. High-elevation destinations like Lake of the Angels and Flapjack Lakes offer alpine scenery, while lowland features like Lake Quinault are surrounded by temperate rainforest.

12 places

Amritha A. Joseph / CC-BY-SA

Best Beaches & Coasts

Olympic National Park’s coastline features rugged terrain shaped by the Pacific Ocean. This collection covers the wilderness stretch from the Makah Reservation to the Kalaloch area. Key geological features include basalt sea stacks, natural rock arches like Hole-in-the-Wall, and extensive tide pools. These beaches are characterized by massive driftwood logs, temperate rainforest borders, and unique sandy compositions containing garnet minerals. Access varies from roadside viewpoints to multi-mile forested hikes.

7 places

Rustic Shelters & Cabins

These historic three-sided log shelters and backcountry cabins provide essential protection from the Olympic Peninsula’s heavy rainfall. Located along major wilderness corridors like the Hoh River and Duckabush trails, many of these structures date back to the early 20th century. They offer primitive overnight options or emergency refuge for long-distance hikers navigating the park’s rugged subalpine terrain and deep temperate rainforests.

6 places