10 Things to Do In and Around Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is one of the most famous of the national parks. This is true for good reason. The Pacific Northwest has beauty unlike anywhere else in the states. So, while every national park in this area is beautiful and unique, Olympic National Park could be considered the most diverse.
Olympic National Park has everything from mountains to rainforests to beaches. There’s a little something for everyone. If you’re going, I would definitely recommend getting a car. You can take a tour from Seattle, but you won’t be able to see everything you might want to.
It’s pretty easy to do a circle around the park via Highway 101. You can circle the park and make as many stops along the way as you want. We only had about 2 days there on our road trip. To read more about our entire road trip in the PNW, click here: Adventurous Pacific Northwest Road Trip | Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
This was definitely doable, especially if you want to do other national parks in the Pacific Northwest. If you want to really take your time and stop at everything, you definitely could. This would be good if you want to do some camping or spend more time in the cities around the park.
Anyway, while there are tons of things to do in and around Olympic National Park, here is my list of some of the top things to do:
1. Mt. Ellinor Trail
I feel like a lesser-known side of Olympic National Park is on the east side of the park. There’s definitely a lot less to do on that side, so it makes since. But, it is the closest area when getting there from Seattle. In fact, the Mt. Ellinor Trail is not technically a part of Olympic National Park. It is, however, part of Olympic National Forest.
This was our first stop after arriving in Seattle and picking up our rental car. Because we were staying in Olympia for the night, we weren’t ready to head all the way to the coast-side yet. Mt. Ellinor seemed like a great first hike after flying and driving. The Mt. Ellinor Lower Trailhead is about a 2-hour drive from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
If you’re going to be on the east side definitely add this area of the mountains to your list. The hike can get steep at points, and depending on the weather, can be covered in snow. We went in May, so we were unable to see the views, but the hike eventually leads to a view of the lake far, far below. While there, we met snow probably about halfway up. We even had gear to go in the snow, but far more experienced hikers appeared from ahead, and even they were struggling. That was our sign to turn back around.
The last part of the trail does get a little more treacherous and requires quite a good bit of climbing. This area can get crowded at peak times of the year, but it’s far less crowded than the other more well-known hikes at the Olympic mountains.
2. Lake Cushman & Hoodsport, Washington
This area was definitely not on our radar when visiting the Olympic peninsula. Again, located on the east side of the park, it’s located near Olympic National Forest rather than the national park. But, like mentioned above, this doesn’t mean it is lacking in scenery and beauty.
Lake Cushman is a popular spot in the area for water activities, and it does get really crowded. The lake has plenty of beautiful lake houses all along it that have their own docks. This being said, you can also take a boat out if you live in the area via the boat ramps. They also have a place open for public swimming, if you’re visiting in the warmer months.
When approaching Lake Cushman from Seattle, you will pass through Hoodsport, Washington. This little town was a great place to spot. They have plenty of little souvenir shops right on the Hood Canal. We were able to browse lots of local gift and art shops, as well as buy some delicious homemade wine. They also have a brewery, Potlatch Brewing Company, where you can grab a beer after doing some hiking or hanging out at the lake.
It is a very small little town, but we just happened to pass through it, and it was perfect to get out of the car and hang out for a couple of hours. The restaurants here looked delicious, and you can even get ice cream from the coffee shop. This is a great place to support local businesses and find some gifts to take with you.
3. Visit Olympia (the capital of Washington!)
If you didn’t know, Olympia is the capital of Washington state. To be honest, we didn’t remember that when visiting. We a tough time finding a place to stay that wasn’t a crazy price, and Olympia had the most options. Trust me, this doesn’t get you closer to the park, so just be aware! Olympia is located southeast of the park. It is only a 40-minute drive from the Olympic National Forest area, but you are looking at about a 3-hour drive to main areas of Olympic National Park.
If you are spending a while around the Olympic peninsula, this would make for a great pit stop or day trip while doing a full circle around the park. Olympia is located at the bottom of Puget Sound and is home to Capitol Lake. There are places to walk all along the water, as well as restaurants and seafood. Also, the Capitol building is actually pretty stunning.
There is no shortage of art and history in this area. Also, the downtown historic district is so fun to walk around and grab drinks at the different breweries or bars around the area. The Olympia Farmer’s Market is also a hot spot. We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Olympia, and it was close to everything. This is a great place to stay for location, being on the water, and distance to plenty of good eats.
4. U.S. Highway 101
I’ve mentioned U.S. Highway 101 already, but it is the road that circles Olympic National Park. It’s not a perfect circle, because it turns into a couple of different roads on the southern side. But, it does form a loop around the west, north, and east sides of the park.
In my book, this makes for the perfect road trip. Simply plan to drive this highway and make it a circle. You can save all the spots you want to hit, and just stop as you go.
There are tons of little viewpoints or turn-offs that you can stop at while on your drive. Especially as you get to the coast, you can admire the ocean or turn inward and see the massive trees. We stopped at one called “Big Cedar Tree” and it was supposed to be one of, if not the largest, cedar tree ever. They even had a little picnic table there to sit!
All in all, a road trip is made better through the journey (cheesy, I know). But when you’ve got good views the entire drive, good company, and good music – that’s a perfect road trip.
5. Rialto Beach/”Hole-in-the-Wall”
You can’t go to Olympic National Park and not hit Rialto Beach. And because of this, yes, it is super crowded. We did a 3-hour drive to get there, and still arrived pretty early. Thankfully, we were able to get a spot at the parking lot, but by the time we left, people were parking all along the street to get there! You take a turn off the main highway and head down through the Quillayute region (yes, like from Twilight).
What they say in Twilight is true, and you can’t currently go to La Push Beach. When you look it up, it is currently closed to the public. It is home to the Qulieute Nation. When you pull up, La Push is on the left, while Rialto Beach is to the right. They are divided by the Quillayute River.
As you arrive, you will see public bathrooms, and you just continue toward the beach to start your hike. You don’t have to hike if that’s not for you! You can jump in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, or you can just hang out on the beach.
If you choose to hike, head on down to “Hole-in-the-Wall”. It is about a 3.3-mile hike, but it is no joke because of the sand! Also, in some spots, you may have to walk through water or find a way across some pretty strong current. Just make sure you are prepared, and don’t do anything to put yourself in danger.
At the end of the hike, you’ll see a tall rock with a little archway in the middle. Take pictures, enjoy the gorgeous coastline and the massive rocks in the water.
6. Forks, Washington
Ah, yes. My middle-school dreams come true. Visiting Forks, Washington was really fun. We didn’t spend a ton of time there, but we did make sure to stop and take some pictures. Forks is located on Highway 101, so if you go to Rialto Beach, you’ll definitely pass through it.
Because there aren’t a ton of towns on this route, this is a great place to stay if you’re looking for somewhere close to everything. Just book well in advance because it does fill up and can get expensive!
One of our first stops here was the Forks Timber Museum. We didn’t actually go inside (it was closed), but they have a sign saying “Forks, Washington” and I had to get a picture. They also had a picture of the Twilight cast in the window. This is a good local museum highlighting the history of the area, so if you have time definitely check it out!
If you’re looking for more of the werewolf side of things, head to La Push and stop at Three River Resort Restaurant and Convenience Store. They have an iconic sign showing you the vampire threat in the area that day. Forks overall is a pretty quiet town. It has a ton of local, smaller restaurants – definitely stop here for a bite to eat!
7. Hoh Rain Forest
Like I mentioned above, Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse of the parks. This includes having a literal rainforest. I mean, how cool?! Unfortunately, our road trip did not give us enough time to visit here. The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is located quite a ways off of Highway 101. If you’re going, definitely make sure you add enough time! It is essentially in the middle of the circle of the park.
The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is the best to start your experience there. You can learn more about the area and get a guide for where to go. It is also the start to 3 shorter hikes: Hall of Mosses, Spruce Nature Trail, and Hoh River Trail. Heck, do all 3 if you want! You already made it all the way in there.
Because it is located in the middle of the park, the wildlife and unique trees make this spot unique. They also have a small campground! Obviously, Seattle and the surrounding areas are known for the rain. If you’re looking to get a taste of that life, just head here.
8. Lake Crescent
If you’re a national parks lover and a true crime lover, you should definitely check out the podcast “National Park After Dark”. My sister and I discovered this podcast a while back. I don’t listen anymore (personally, I would rather just not know), but she did make me listen to the episode “Bodies in Water. Olympic National Park”.
This episode is all about Lake Crescent and people who have died there and the bodies that have been found. I am not trying to scare you!! But this would be the perfect place to go if you love a good ghost story or a haunted place to stay. You can stay right on the water at Lake Crescent Lodge.
Lake Crescent is a glacial water lake. The water is so blue and so clear, especially from close up. You can pretty much drive all around Lake Crescent, and Highway 101 goes along the entire southern edge of it. Stop off at Lake Crescent Road, and you will find the Storm King Rangers Station, Lake Crescent Lodge, and the start to some amazing hikes.
We ended up parking at the “Moments in Time” parking lot, and it was much less crowded. From this parking lot, you can walk through some trees to an opening that takes you right up to the water. Again, we went there in May, and the green of the area combined with the blue of the water was breathtaking. You also have the Spruce Railroad Trail that goes along the norther side, as well as other cabins and “beaches” along the lake. This is a great spot to stay, hike, or relax while visiting Olympic National Park.
9. Mt. Storm King Trail (or Marymere Falls)
This hike is NO joke. As a person who isn’t completely out of shape, but also not really in shape – I definitely had to take my time. This trail is 1.7 miles up, so 3.4 miles round trip. The elevation gain is about 2,100 feet. If you decide to do this, bring plenty of water and be prepared!
Typically, it will tell you to park near the Storm King Rangers Station. This was way too crowded, and we couldn’t even find a spot there. We parked near the “Moments in Time” that I mentioned above, and we were able to easily find a spot and walk straight to the trailhead.
Mt. Storm King starts in the middle of the Marymere Falls Trail. So, when you find the Marymere Falls trailhead, start there and follow the path. Once you get to a fork in the trail, you will see a path going straight up. This is the start of the Mt. Storm King Trail.
Once you get to the top of the trail, you’ll come up on a rope. Yes, a rope. This one rope takes you up to the top where you will get incredible views of Lake Crescent. I must admit, I did not do the rope, but my friend did! That one rope was taking people both up and down.
People had to wait and shout to the others to coordinate it so that everyone could go. This part was basically on a dirt/rock path, and it was entertaining to watch. But PLEASE, do not do this if you don’t feel prepared.
10. Port Angeles
Last, we have Port Angeles. This is one of the other bigger towns on the circle around Olympic National Park. Actually, this is where the Olympic National Park Visitor Center is located! Port Angeles is, as you think, a port town. It is located right on the water, on the north side of the park.
It is also the closest town to Lake Crescent and Mt. Storm King. This is a great option for finding a place to stay – but again, book well in advance especially in peak season!
Because it’s a port town, the things to do revolve more around taking a ferry, visiting an aquarium, and of course, seafood. There aren’t a ton of events, but you definitely can eat and drink your way around the little town. As you get closer to the water, you’ll definitely have more options.
Other than that, you can spend your evenings here after exploring the park. There are water activities and a few events throughout the year, but I wouldn’t say you should spend all your time here! Just a good place to stop on your road trip. For more ideas, you can click here: Visit Port Angeles
For More:
As mentioned above, to read more about our entire road trip, click here: Adventurous Pacific Northwest Road Trip: Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
To read more about national parks, click here: Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons | 5 Day Road Trip.
To read more about one of the best hikes I’ve ever done with some of my favorite pictures, click here: Things to Know Before Hiking the Highline Trail | Glacier National Park.
