Top Things to Do in Olympic National Park
I visited Olympic National Park in August this past year, and even though we were only there for a few days, there are a lot more places to explore! Below are some of the places we visited, and some I wish we had hit! After reading about Mt. Ellinor, Rialto Beach, La Push, the Hoh Rainforest, Lake Crescent, and Hurricane Ridge, scroll to the bottom for food and recommendations and places to stay during your trip!
Places to explore in Olympic National Park
Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach is such a cool stop in Olympic, and it’s where you can access the Hole-In-The-Wall hike! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do this hike when I went because the tides and our schedule didn’t line up, but I’m looking forward to coming back so I can do it. The hike itself is about 3 miles round-trip, and I highly recommend planning your hike around the tides! You can only access this hike and the hole in the wall at low tide, and I recommend checking NOAA’s tide charts on their website before you go.
This beach is difficult to walk on because it really isn’t a beach. It’s black rock pebbles that make walking a challenge, so I recommend wearing sturdy hiking boots! It was cloudy and rainy when we hiked this beach, but honestly, we loved it. It really gives you the full Pacific Northwest feeling!
Bonus tip: while hiking here, keep your eyes peeled for banana slugs! We saw so many, it was fun to name them all as we saw them!
Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is such a cool spot! The lake sparkles a beautiful turquoise no matter the time of day, and there are so many great hikes here. You can park in the main parking lot and have access to bathrooms, as well as several trails around the lake. We recommend Marymere Falls, or driving to Devil’s Punchbowl and hiking around there as well!
Hoh Rainforest
Hoh Rainforest is the most unique place in all of the US – at least I believe so! It has 4 distinct ecosystems and is considered the quietest place in the US! There is no noise pollution in the forest while you’re hiking, making it absolutely incredible. All you hear are the animals, the sounds of nature, and, of course, most likely you’ll hear rain! This is a super busy part of the park (you have to go through a service station, so make sure you have your National Park Pass!). Get here early to get parking. The lot fills up quickly, and you’ll have to wait in line to access it.
Make sure to fill up your gas tank before you come, as it’s pretty remote from any residential area, and take your time to do a few of the hiking trails here. Spruce and Hoh Trail and the Hall of Mosses were our favorite trails to hike here!
Hurricane Ridge
You cannot miss this stop on the way to Olympic National Park! It is iconic, with incredible views of the park. This is a really nice spot because you can drive to the top, and there are 8 different hikes you can choose to do along the ridge. There are shorter, easier trails near the visitor center that are perfect for families with kids or for those who just want an easy hike.
Pack a dinner and enjoy it at the picnic area a mile past the visitor center, and stick around to watch the sunset! Admire the wildflowers that are blooming, and as always, leave no trace! Pack out what you packed in. If you’re up for it, stick around for the Night Sky Program the park puts on! This is an amazing program they put on where you can learn about the stars and even see them on a clear night.
Kaloloch & Ruby Beach
There are so many great beaches in the Olympic Peninsula that you really can’t go wrong in picking one to visit. We also visited the La Push Beaches, and really enjoyed spending sunsets there each night! However, if you’re interested in seeing the Tree of Life like we were, we recommend walking down Kaloloch Beach to see it. It probably won’t be around for much longer, as the soil is eroding very quickly away from the edges of the tree, making it sink closer and closer to the ground. Kaloloch is also a great place to hunt for sand dollars; if you keep your eyes peeled, you will find plenty! Always though, if they are whole, don’t take them home! They are living creatures, so just chuck them back into the ocean.
Ruby Beach was one of my favorite beaches, with lots of driftwood to climb over and walk along! Make sure you wear shoes that can get wet, or be prepared to take them off and wade in the water, because parts of the beach are not accessible unless you do.
Mount Ellinor
Mount Ellinor isn’t technically inside Olympic National Park, but it is on the border and overlooks the park. Mount Ellinor offers two hikes. The Upper Trail and the Lower Trail. The lower trailhead is a 6.2-mile loop that starts in old-growth forest, climbs gently through switchbacks, and wanders along the ridge. The round-trip from the upper trailhead is 3.2 miles. This route gains 2,444 feet over 1.6 miles to the summit, making it a steep trail with a series of stacked switchbacks.
Note that a Northwest Forest Pass is required at the upper trailhead, but you do not need one for the lower trailhead.
Places to Eat
Breakfast Options
Lunch Options
- Granny’s Cafe – We heard SO many good things about this place! Especially about their Ice Cream!
- Lake Crescent Lodge
Dinner Options
Places To Stay
If you’re looking for a good place to stay near the Olympic Peninsula, we recommend either camping in the park or staying in Forks or Port Angeles. Forks is a little better located for the beaches, and if you want to explore more southern parks of the National Park, whereas Port Angeles is a little busier with more stores and things to do within the city limits. We stayed in Forks and found it the perfect spot to find an Airbnb!
Looking for more blogs on Olympic National Park? Check out this 3-day Itinerary in the park! Or our blog for more national park trips!
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