Park Overview: Three Parks in One

Olympic National Park is a land of beauty and variety. Created in 1938 to protect the Roosevelt elk, primeval forest and wild coast, the park encompasses nearly a million acres. A few days of exploration take you from breathtaking mountain vistas with meadows of wildflowers to colorful ocean tidepools or early homestead cabins. Nestled in the valleys are some of the largest remnants of ancient forests left in the country. Trees here can tower 300 feet tall, and the forests range from the westside's lush temperate rain forest to dry, fire-shaped eastside forests. Olympic is like three magical parks in one. Take some time to explore all of its faces.

Wilderness Coast

Olympic National Park includes 65 miles of wild coastline. These beaches offer a glimpse into an environment that local tribes have called home for generations. Short trails or overnight backpacking trips offer ways to explore the rugged coast and its teeming tidepools.

Ancient Forests

Towering trees and rushing water greet visitors to Olympic's old growth forests. Lake Crescent, Heart O' the Hills, Sol Duc and Elwha offer old growth forests on the northern peninsula. Staircase is a popular eastern destination. The west side Quinault, Queets, Hoh and Bogachiel valleys are superb examples of temperate rain forests.

Snowy Mountains

Head to Hurricane Ridge for vistas of the rugged Olympic Mountains. A winding 17-mile paved road climbs from Port Angeles to the nearly mile-high Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. On a clear day the park's mountainous interior and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and islands to the north are visible. The steep, dirt Deer Park Road (east of Port Angeles) also leads to the mountains and a small campground. This winding road is not suitable for trailers and RVs.

 

 

Information

The Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles at 3002 Mount Angeles Road (en route to Hurricane Ridge) is open daily in summer with reduced hours fall to spring. It offers information, an orientation movie, nature trails, a children’s Discovery Room, and exhibits. Call [phone] for general information or [phone] for road and weather information. TTY users should use a relay service at [phone] or 711. The Olympic National Park and Forest Recreation Information Center (360-374-7566) on Highway 101 in Forks also has park information. For details on park resources and visiting the park, continue exploring our park website.

 

Getting Around

Most visitors to Olympic arrive in Seattle then drive to the park either via Tacoma or by taking one of the frequent Washington State car ferries (800-843-3779 or www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) across Puget Sound. Ferries also connect Port Angeles to Victoria, British Columbia. There are daily flights into Port Angeles and private bus lines provide shuttle service to Seattle. There is limited or no public transportation into many areas of the park. Olympic is a wilderness park. No roads cross the rugged interior. Highway 101, which is suitable for all types of vehicles, provides access to all the spur roads leading into the park. Some spur roads are gravel (see park map for details) and are not recommended for RVs and trailers.

 

Entrance Fees

Olympic National Park is open year round. Entrance fees are collected at Staircase, Hurricane Ridge, Elwha, Sol Duc, Ozette and the Hoh. A 7-day pass is $25 per vehicle or $10 per visitor on foot or bicycle. Contact the Visitor Center or entrance stations about various park passes and rates for commercial tours.

 

Camping

There are campgrounds in all of Olympic's environments. Many are open year-round, weather permitting. Campsites are first come, first served except during summer at Kalaloch and Sol Duc (call 877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov). No park campgrounds have electrical hookups or showers. Most have flush toilets in accessible restrooms, potable water, picnic tables and fire grates. Fees range from $15 to $24. Group campsites (more than 8 people) are available at Kalaloch (360-962-2271) and Sol Duc (360-327-3534 or 360-928-3380) only. See our camping page for more details.

 

Wilderness Exploration

Olympic is 95 percent designated Wilderness. You can explore this rare resource on over 600 miles of trails, whether on a day hike or an overnight adventure. To get the required wilderness camping permit and information on wilderness fees, trip planning and food storage requirements, backpackers should visit the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) located at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, or call [phone]. Most wilderness campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. To minimize human impact on resources and to ensure a quality wilderness experience, several areas have limits on the number of campers allowed. Some quota areas require reservations. Call the WIC up to 30 days in advance to reserve a site.

 

Lodging

There are four concession-operated lodges in the park offering a variety of motel and lodge rooms or cabins. Call far ahead for reservations.
Kalaloch Lodge: open year-round, along coast on Highway 101 south of Forks. Cabins, motel, lodge rooms, restaurant, lounge, gift shop, camp store, gas. [phone], www.olympicnationalparks.com.
Lake Crescent Lodge: open early May to mid October (exact dates vary) on the south shore. Cottages, motel, lodge rooms, restaurant, lounge, boat rental. [phone] or www.olympicnationalparks.com.
Log Cabin Resort: open late May to September (exact dates vary) on Lake Crescent's north shore. Cabins, motel, RV park, restaurant, store, boat rental. [phone], www.logcabinresort.net.
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort: open spring into October (exact dates vary). Cabins, RV park, swimming pool, hot mineral pools, massage, store, restaurant. [phone], www.olympicnationalparks.com.

 

Chambers of Commerce

(for lodging and transportation outside the park)
Port Angeles: [phone]
Sequim: [phone]
Forks: [phone]
Aberdeen: [phone]
Shelton: [phone]
North Olympic Peninsula Convention Bureau P.O. Box 670
Port Angeles, WA 98362 [phone]
www.olympicpeninsula.org

 

Learn More

Join a ranger-led program in summer or a winter snowshoe walk at Hurricane Ridge, or become a junior ranger. Olympic Park Institute also partners with the park to provide outdoor science education, adult and family education programs, www.naturebridge.org/olympic or [phone].