We spent weeks exploring Olympic Nationwide Park and the realm round it. It’s crammed with a lot marvel and exquisite mountains, forests, waterfalls, seashores and a rain forest! Right here is our checklist of our favourite issues to do in Olympic Nationwide Park.
On the backside of the submit we additionally share our really useful Olympic Nationwide Park itinerary primarily based on our expertise exploring the realm.
Map
Here’s a map of the place we advocate visiting within the Olympic Nationwide Park. There may be lots of floor to cowl within the park however it’s all value it! Olympic Nationwide Park needs to be on each National Park Road Trip checklist.
Here’s a hyperlink to an interactive map: https://goo.gl/maps/t8j9ncwJjKnFM7UZ8
Hoh Rainforest
The Hoh Rain Forest has been on my checklist of locations I wished to go to since we hit the street virtually 6 years in the past! We lastly made it! We began on the Hoh Rain forest Customer Middle to verify in and see what hikes and nature trails we must always do.
Hikes
Spruce Nature Path – a 1.2 mile simple hike by means of the forest. I didn’t really feel like this one felt as very similar to a rainforest because the Corridor of Mosses, however it was nonetheless stunning and had plenty of magical forest views to absorb.
Corridor of Mosses Path – This was my favourite mountaineering path within the Hoh Rainforest. It’s a quick .8 mile hike by means of the attractive timber with inexperienced moss hanging in all places. Positively seems like you might be in a fairy world!
Be ready for it to be busy although. It’s a quick path and one in every of solely 2 which are quick and straightforward within the Hoh Rainforest so there are lots of people that test it out.
Time to discover: 1 day is loads of time to discover the Hoh Rainforest. When you have questions remember to speak to a Park Ranger.
Video of our time within the Hoh Rainforest:
The place to Keep
Tenting
- Hoh Campground – situated within the Nationwide Park with first come first serve websites with some as much as 35 toes. We opted not to do that as we weren’t certain we’d get a website (we aren’t early risers so figured they’d all be taken by the point we bought up and bought transferring).
- Hard Rain Cafe & RV Park – that is the place we stayed. It’s a retailer/cafe/RV park near the Hoh Rainforest entrance. We might make a reservation and had full hookups and web so it labored for us!
Try this superior submit on tenting within the Hoh Rainforest: Where To Camp In Washington’s Hoh Rainforest
Don’t have an RV? Lease one! Try these great RV rentals in the area.
Lodge
- Kalaloch Lodge – Situated in Olympic Nationwide Park however a few 1 hour drive to the Hoh Rainforest customer middle.
- Forks Motel – That is an alternative choice. However observe that Forks is a few 45 minute drive to the Hoh Rainforest Customer Middle.
VRBO
Olympic Nationwide Park Coast
The Olympic Nationwide Park coast situated on the Pacific Ocean is beautiful and nicely value spending time exploring up and down the coast. And should you can time it proper there are some superior tide pools to discover too.
We actually loved exploring the coast and the wild rugged fantastic thing about the seaside and the ocean. So completely different than the sunny Florida however no much less beautiful in their very own means. We fell in love with this shoreline after we explored Northern California and continued to benefit from the coast as we made our means by means of Oregon into Washington.
You could find these seashores on the checklist of the highest 25 favorite beaches in the US for a family vacation.
Video of our time on the coast:
Ruby Beach
A beautiful seaside with the well-known sea stacks protruding of the ocean and driftwood filling the seaside. Plus an awesome place to stroll alongside the seaside or to spend a number of hours taking part in among the many driftwood.
After we had been there somebody had constructed a swing set out of driftwood! We had a blast taking part in on it after which headed over to the driftwood teeter totter. Natures playground at its finest!
Kalaloch Seashore
We pulled as much as Kalaloch Seashore and it was precisely what you’d image a Washington Coast seaside trying like. Foggy and mysterious. As we walked down the seaside we got here to a maze that somebody had drawn within the sand. All of us labored our means by means of it after which continued down the seaside to get to the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life is a beautiful tree that sits up on the ledge above the seaside, however its roots are completely uncovered so you possibly can see all the intricate roots working their means down.
Proper as we bought right here the solar got here out and we had been in a position to take a enjoyable image underneath the Tree of Life. This place is listed as one of many best things to do in Washington State and I see why!
We had lunch on the Kalaloch Lodge and is certainly a spot we wish to keep!
Rialto Seashore
The third seaside we visited on our means up the Olympic Nationwide Park coast was Rialto Seashore. One other seaside crammed with driftwood to climb on! We additionally prepared concerning the Gap In The Rock hike that appeared like a brief 1-2 mile hike up the seaside to succeed in, however we forgot how laborious it’s to hike on sand!
We did make the hike to the Gap In The Rock and had been in a position to sneak our means by means of the opening earlier than the tide got here in to take a peek from the opposite facet.
The place To Keep
Tenting
Don’t have an RV? Lease one! Try these great RV rentals in the area.
Lodge
VRBO
Subsequent we depart the coast and head to the northern a part of Olympic Nationwide Park to discover extra of the mountains and waterfalls.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is a customer middle in Olympic Nationwide Park. Even should you simply drive right here to absorb the views it’s value it! The drive is gorgeous and views of the Olympics are superb and should you can keep and take a look at the mountaineering trails too.
You will notice forests of Douglas Firs and Sitka Spruce together with the ocean and mountains. We bought fortunate and bought a stupendous and clear day so we might see for miles. Then as we had been leaving we stumbled on a marmot simply sitting on the curb watching all the vacationer depart.
Video of our time exploring this a part of Olympic Nationwide Park:
Klahane Ridge Path
From the Hurricane Ridge customer middle you are able to do the Klahane Ridge Path an superior Hurricane Ridge hike. The ranger advised us it was comparatively flat . . . not a lot! It was a 1700 foot acquire after which it’s important to flip round and hike again down!
We hiked about 5 miles roundtrip and we might have continued on, however determined to show round as soon as we had made it about 2.5 miles. This can be a difficult path, however offers you superb views – and on a transparent day you possibly can see throughout to Canada.
Right here is extra data on the hike: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/klahhane-ridge
Sol Duc Falls
Subsequent up we visited the Sol Duc Falls space that’s crammed with stunning waterfalls and enjoyable hikes. We beloved how lush the forest was right here and the way a lot magnificence there was to discover. There are some nice Olympic National Park hikes right here!
Sol Duc Falls Path
For the Sol Duc falls you hike on a beautiful path that takes you throughout bridges the place you look down right into a canyon the place the waterfall is flowing. I like the way it was so inexperienced and foresty. If fairies exist the Olympic Nationwide Park is the place they reside!
Historic Grove Path
Up the street was the Historic Grove Path. Our pal Rob from 2 Travel Dads launched us to this neglected path. You simply park on the facet of the street after which take a brief hike by means of this historic grove of all timber and wonder. Positively definitely worth the cease.
Marymere Falls
One other enjoyable waterfall hike that takes you up shut and private to this stunning waterfall. It’s a tall thinner waterfall and should you hike as much as the platform you will get a tremendous view of it.
Lake Crescent
On our means again to our campground we stopped at Lake Crescent to seize a drink and sit out to absorb a view of the lake. It was the right stopping level for Comfortable Hour!
Mount Storm King Path
A path we need to return and take a look at is Mount Storm King the place you hike as much as a stupendous view over Lake Crescent! Study extra concerning the hike right here: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/mount-storm-king
The place To Keep
Campground
- Heart Of The Hills Campground – situated in Olympic Nationwide Park it is a a primary come first serve campground and might accommodate bigger rigs. We got here in in the course of the week so we didn’t have an issue getting a website.
- Salt Creek Recreation Area – that is the campground we had been trying to keep at however by the point we knew our dates it was already stuffed up.
Don’t have an RV? Lease one! Try these great RV rentals in the area.
Lodge
VRBO
Olympic Nationwide Park Street Journey Itinerary
Day 1
- Arrive: Hoh Rainforest Space (make sure that to reach very first thing within the morning so you could have the day to discover the Hoh Rainforest)
- Keep: Hoh Rainforest
2nd Day:
- Discover: The Olympic Coast (Ruby, Kalaloch and Rialto Seashore)
- The place to Keep: Forks space
third Day:
- What To Do: Discover Sol Duc Falls space, do hikes, hang around at Lake Crescent and benefit from the space
- Keep: Sol Duc Hot Springs space
4th Day:
- Discover: Persevering with exploring the Sol Duc Falls and Lake Crescent space
- The place to Keep: Hurricane Ridge space
fifth Day:
- What To Do: Discover Hurricane Ridge
- Keep: Hurricane Ridge space
Day 6: Make a cease in Port Townsend to discover this superior city!
Extra choices: Try Bass Lake!
The Olympic Peninsula is a beautiful place to journey and is a spot everybody ought to go to! Add it to your street journeys bucket checklist immediately and when you end exploring right here plan a weekend in Seattle to see all the pieces this epic metropolis has to supply! Should you’re staying in Seattle, you possibly can guide a guided tour of Olympic National Park and discover the websites and trails that means!
In case you are in Washington in winter be fore to take a look at the city of Leavenworth. It’s cool anytime of yr however Leavenworth in winter is magical!
Listed below are different superb locations to take a look at within the space:
17 Amazing Things To Do In North Cascades National Park
Things To Do In San Juan Islands
26 Oregon Coast Road Trip Stops You Don’t Want To Miss
How To Spend 3 Amazing Days At Mckenzie River National Recreation Area
The 10 Best Stops On The Hood River Fruit Loop
32 Epic Things To Do In Portland With Kids
12 Epic Things To Do In Northern California
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She loves being exterior and exploring new locations which is all made higher when doing it with household and mates!
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