Olympic National Park is located on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula. It holds several different ecosystems, from the glacier-capped Mt. Olympus to old-growth temperate rainforests to the rocky Pacific coastline. Most visitors to the park are here to hike, backpack, climb, or go tidepooling.
And some are here to find Bigfoot or Edward Cullen. But more on that later.

Best Time To Go

If you’re hoping to avoid the rain, the best time to go would be around mid-July to September. For wildlife viewing, April or May and September or October are best. But my own recommendation for the best time to visit is June. The popular Hoh Rainforest is usually an incredible green color this time of year. June is still a bit wet and cool, but it means you’ll get the best rainforest and waterfall photos. Some lilies and wildflowers will also be out on the mountaintops in late June.

Best Hikes For Day-trippers

If you’ve ever seen a photo of Olympic, it was probably one of the Hoh Rainforest. Despite it typically being crowded, the Hall of Mosses trail is a must-see! Also hike the Spruce Nature Trail while you’re there. Hurricane Hill at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road gives you panoramic views. Sol Duc Falls is a pretty hike to a waterfall and Lake Crescent is a pretty lake to hike around. Rialto, Ruby, Second, and Third Beaches are all popular coastal destinations.

My boyfriend is a seasonal park ranger and worked a summer season in Olympic National Park. When visiting him for our 5 year anniversary in July 2016, I explored even more of the area, especially around Ozette. This part of the park is less frequented by people, so avoiding the crowds is easy! I highly recommend hiking Sand Point Trail here. It’s filled with narrow wooden boardwalks and lots of greenery, and brings you to a quiet beach where you can go tidepooling and see some sea stacks.

Best Lodging Options

I’ve personally only ever done day trips to Olympic or I’ve stayed with my boyfriend in his park ranger housing. But if I were to visit again, I’d probably choose to stay in an Airbnb. There are some really cute cabins listed here! And their nightly rate is way cheaper than most other lodging options in the park (unless you’re camping or RVing of course). If you don’t have an account with this site yet, get $40 OFF your first stay here! If you’re already signed up, you need to check out this listing in particular. It’s a trendy 2-story PIRATE villa near Beach!

Another great option is the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. Opt for a cabin (pet friendly) or the Riverside Suite and soak in the mineral hot spring pools after a long hike.

Other Tips

One thing to note is how difficult it is to get around Olympic National Park without a car. There isn’t a shuttle system in place like many other parks. It’s best to bring your own car or rent one. There is a limited bus service, which you can find more about here.

Being mainly a temperate rainforest, Olympic can be a very wet, sometimes muddy, park to visit. Pack your rain gear and hiking shoes with traction. If you’re visiting one of its many beaches, make sure you know the tide schedule. Find out more about Olympic’s tides and safety here.

Pack your passport if you’d like to do a day trip by taking the ferry in Port Angeles to Victoria, BC!

Ok. So about Bigfoot and Edward Cullen. Whether you believe in Bigfoot or not, there have been multiple reported sightings and “evidence” of his existence within the Olympic Peninsula. There was even a tour group that took people on overnight trips to search for him! And as for Edward Cullen, if you’re a diehard Twilight fan we can’t be friends, you’d know all about the town of Forks. The Twilight book series was based off of this town in Olympic National Park. It also happens to be the rainiest town in the US. Nothing was actually filmed in Forks for this series, but its fans will appreciate the guided tours or this Twilight map of the area.

Plan the rest of your visit here!

Or check out my post on 21 Epic Experiences To Have in In Washington State!

Have you been to Olympic National Park?

If so, tell me in the comments about your favorite spots there!