
Olympic National Park is an incredibly diverse park! It protects the Olympic Mountains that rise dramatically from the peninsula, lush rainforests that cover the lower slopes with trails winding through dense, moss-covered trees, and stretches of ocean coastline rich with birdlife and tide pools that reveal fascinating marine creatures, all in one park. What makes Olympic truly special is that you can experience all three ecosystems in a single trip – maybe even a single day!!

Places
- Hurricane Ridge. This spot offers a lovely scenic drive from Port Angeles and incredible panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains.
- Lake Crescent. This glacially carved lake is known for its crystal-clear, blue waters surrounded by steep mountains
- Sol Duc Falls. This short, family-friendly hike leads to one of the park’s most picturesque waterfalls.
- La Push Beaches. These gorgeous beaches have sea stacks, tide pooling, hiking, camping, great sunsets, and more.
- Cape Flattery. This is the northwesternmost point in the contiguous U.S. and offers views of the Pacific Ocean, steep cliffs, and sea caves.
- Ruby Beach. This beach is famous for its ruby-colored sand and awesome sea stacks.
- Sequim. Known for its lavender farms, year-round festivals, and sunny weather.
- Hoh Rainforest. This dense, emerald-green forest with towering trees draped in moss and lichen is magical, especially when the sun lights up the leaves.
- Lake Quinault Lodge. This historic lodge offers a cozy setting with views of Lake Quinault.
- Port Angeles. A town near the park with many activities and also the location of the main visitor center for the park.
- Port Townsend. A historic and cute town with Victorian-style buildings.
- Forks. Known as the “Rainiest Town in the Continuous US,” but is now more famous for its association with the Twilight books/movies.
- Kalaloch Beaches. Nice sandy beaches within the national park with tidepooling and swimming. Ruby Beach is located here.

Planning a Trip to Olympic? Copy Our 5-Day Itinerary
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Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best mountains, beaches, rainforests, and lakes
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
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*Visiting more in the PNW? Save big $ and get guides for Olympic, Mount Rainier, the Oregon Coast and the Columbia River Gorge with our PNW Bundle.
Plan Your Trip
Start Here
- The Best (and Worst) Times of Year to Visit Olympic National Park
- A Perfect 6 Day Itinerary for Olympic (For First Timers)
- How to Get to Olympic National Park (Road Trip Ideas + Airports)
- Which Entrance Should I Use For Olympic National Park? Olympic’s 5 Entrances Explained
Where to Stay and Eat
- Best Places to Camp In and Around Olympic National Park
- Where to Eat In and Around Olympic National Park
Best Hikes and Sites
- 7 Can’t-Miss Hikes in Olympic National Park: A Quick and Easy Guide
- How to Visit Quinault Lake in Olympic National Park
- How to Visit La Push Near Olympic National Park (Best Beaches + Hole in the Wall Hike)
- How to Visit Kalaloch and Ruby Beach
- How to Visit the Sol Duc Valley

Nearby
- One Day in Forks, WA: 9 Best Things To Do
- One Day in Port Angeles: 8 Best Things To Do
- One Day in Port Townsend: 10 Best Things To Do
- How to Visit Sequim (Lavender Festival + Things to Do)
- How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Mount Rainier? 2 Day Itinerary
- How to Visit Mount St. Helens: 9 Things To Do
More About Olympic
- Driving in Olympic: 10 Things You Need to Know
- Sol Duc Hot Springs: An Honest Review (Resort, Restaurant, and Springs)
- Perfect Olympic Peninsula Road Trip (Map + Where to Stay)
Prefer to Watch?
Watch More
- 10 Best Things to Do in Olympic! (11 min)
- Olympic 101 for First-Time Visitors! (11 min)
- Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting Olympic (13 min)

Planning a Trip to the Pacific Northwest? Copy Our 7‑Day Road Trip
Get our done‑for‑you, 7‑17 day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views
Inside the guide:
*Day‑by‑day plan for Olympic, Mount Rainier, the Oregon Coast, & the Columbia River Gorge
*Details You Need: Time frames, driving routes, and where to sleep each night to reduce back-tracking
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back