Olympic National Park is one of the most ecologically diverse parks in the country — a place where you can walk through a temperate rainforest dripping with moss, hike along a wild Pacific coastline, and stand on a glaciated alpine ridge all in the same day. Tucked into Washington's Olympic Peninsula, it's a park defined by contrast, and that variety is exactly what makes it extraordinary.
Top Things to Do in Olympic
The Hoh Rainforest, one of the few temperate rainforests in the continental US, receives over 12 feet of rain a year and feels genuinely primeval — moss hangs from every branch along the Hall of Mosses Trail, one of the most otherworldly short walks in the National Park System. Hurricane Ridge offers a completely different experience: a scenic drive up to alpine meadows with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and, on clear days, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Canada.
The park's coastal stretches, particularly Rialto Beach and Ruby Beach, are studded with sea stacks and driftwood-strewn sand that make for some of the most striking coastal scenery on the West Coast. Lake Crescent, a deep glacially carved lake of startlingly clear blue water, is perfect for a paddle or a short hike to nearby Marymere Falls.
What to Pack for Olympic
Between rainforest, coast, and alpine terrain, Olympic demands serious layering and waterproof gear no matter the season. The VacationGrabs Big Outdoor Leather Backpack is well suited to a day that moves from misty rainforest trails to a windswept beach. For the drive around the peninsula, the VacationGrabs Leather Backpack Briefcase is a versatile option for a trip that mixes outdoor adventure with nearby Seattle.
Book Olympic Tours and Experiences
Hoh Rainforest guided hikes, Hurricane Ridge tours, and coastal tide pool excursions are among the best ways to experience Olympic's range of landscapes. Browse Olympic National Park tours and experiences below to plan your trip.
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