Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula protects three major ecosystems: Pacific coastline, temperate rainforest, and alpine mountain areas including Mount Olympus. The park is noted for its ecological diversity and large tracts of relatively undisturbed habitat.

Visitors commonly explore the moss-draped Hoh Rain Forest, walk beach strands and sea stacks on the park’s Pacific shore, and drive to Hurricane Ridge for alpine trails and views. Lake Crescent and other freshwater areas provide hiking and boating in forested settings.

The park was designated to protect the Olympic Peninsula’s unique coastal, forest and mountain environments and was established as a national park in the 20th century to conserve those ecosystems and provide public access. Over time, additions and wilderness designations expanded protections for remote valleys and shoreline.

Olympic National Park occupies much of the Olympic Peninsula west of Puget Sound, with park entrances near Port Angeles, Forks and other gateway communities. The terrain ranges from sea level beaches to alpine peaks and glaciers.

• Weather variability: Weather can vary dramatically across the park - the coast and rainforests are wet year-round while the alpine zones can hold snow into summer.
• Accessibility: Hurricane Ridge is a short drive from Port Angeles and is the most accessible high-elevation viewpoint for panoramas of the Olympic Mountains.

What to See #

• Hoh Rain Forest: Temperate rainforest stands such as the Hoh Rain Forest with very high annual rainfall and old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock.
• Hurricane Ridge: An accessible alpine area on the northeast side of the park with visitor facilities, short walks and panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains.
• Coastal beaches: The park's rugged Pacific coastline with sea stacks, tidepooling and driftwood-strewn beaches, including Rialto and Ruby Beach areas.
• Lake Crescent and freshwater areas: Glacially deepened Lake Crescent and surrounding old-growth forests offering hiking and lake recreation.