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How To Get to the Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
Getting to the best hikes in Olympic National Park can be very intimidating if you have never been to this area. We found that it is not like other National Parks in terms of location. So where is Olympic National Park and why is it different from the others?
Olympic National Park is located in the state of Washington on the Olympic Penisula in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). I admit I had to look up what PNW meant as I kept seeing it on Instagram, I had no idea what it was abbreviated lol! Anyway… Olympic NP is combined of three different types of ecosystems (rugged glacier-capped mountains, wild Pacific coast, and magnificent old-growth temperate rainforest) and in this post, we will take you to all three!
Olympic NP is a huge park with many access points. We choose to enter from Seattle, utilizing the ferry to cross over. Eeekk! I was so nervous about doing this, I admit, I didn’t do very good research before arriving so I had no clue how it was going to work.
The Ferry
We flew into Seattle and found the easiest and quickest way to get to the Olympic Peninsula is to take the Bainbridge Island Ferry across Puget Sound. The best thing about this ferry is you do not need a reservation to board which we found out later was not the case for all ferries. For this ferry, however, it is recommended to arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour before the scheduled departure to get your spot in line. We paid around $40 for our vehicle to cross one way. The ferry takes about 35 to cross over to Bainbridge Island.
Getting Around
Once you are on the Olympic Peninsula, Highway 101 is going to be the main road you will continue to follow to all of the best hikes in Olympic National Park. Once you find this road, you are golden!
Day 1: Best Hikes Olympic National Park
Lodging Pre-Day 1:
Hint: Stay in lodging near the entrance to Olympic National Park the night before your day one begins.
We suggest staying overnight in a town near the Olympic National Park entrance. Crossing the Puget Sound from Seattle and traveling to the Olympic National Park can eat up quite a bit of time this is why we encourage you to stay near the entrance the night before. Besides, by looking at a map one would think differently if you didn’t know any better. We opted to stay in a cute little town outside the area of the main entrance to Olympic National Park.
Hotels:
We stayed at all hotels listed below as our time visiting on our first trip was longer than 2 days.
Port Townsend:
- The Tides Inn & Suites: Recently remodeled directly on the water. Tight parking. Close to downtown shopping and dining.
Poulsbo:
- Poulsbo Inn & Suites: Very clean and friendly. Complementary breakfast and delicious cookies upon check-in! Close to cute downtown with shops and dining. Pool and hot tub.
- Guest House Inn & Suites Hotel: Clean, large rooms. No pool.
Olympic National Park
The most popular entrance is the Hurricane Ridge Entrance outside of Port Angeles, about 82 miles from Seattle. At this time there is no timed entry to the park. National Park fees do apply.
Hike #1: Hurricane Ridge: High Ridge Trail to Sunrise Point
- Length: 0.8 miles
- Elevation: ~213 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trail type: Out and back
- Starts: At the parking lot
- Bathrooms: At the visitor center
One of the most visited locations in Olympic National Park is located about 45 minutes from Port Angeles. In fact, from sea level in Port Angeles, it is an elevation gain of 5,242 feet to Hurricane Ridge.
Once reaching the top of Hurricane Ridge, be sure to stop at the Visitor Center and check out some amazing views from the observation patio. The Visitor Center has bathrooms, a gift shop, and food. The trailheads are easy to find as they can be found right off the edge of the parking lot.
So, after checking out the Visitor Center it’s time for your first hike…High Ridge Trail. Yay! This is a short trail, about 0.8 miles roundtrip with minimal elevation gains of 213 feet but the views are incredible!
Beginning as a paved trail, it becomes a gravel trail eventually turning into a dirt trail as it connects to a beautiful outlook at Sunrise Point. In fact, High Ridge Trail is the beginning of several trails.
Near the beginning, the trail forks. In fact, hikers can go left or right; either route will reach the top. We opted to go right on the way up and down the opposite side headed down. Be sure to check out the map at the beginning of the trail or see the one below which you will find on the trail.
Hint: Be sure to wear your hiking shoes as you will need good traction to keep you moving up some steep parts of the trail.
Hike #2: Devil’s Punchbowl at Lake Crescent
- Length: 2.4 miles
- Elevation: ~144 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail type: Out and back
- Starts: At the parking lot
- Bathrooms: At the trailhead
The next stop on day one is Devil’s Punchbowl, which is located on the north side of Lake Crescent. The trailhead for the Devil’s Punchbowl is called Spruce Railroad Trail and can be found at the end of East Beach Road, off Highway 101. Parking is plentiful at the trailhead and also offers vaulted bathrooms.
Hint: No bathrooms along the trail or at Devil’s Punchbowl so be sure to use the facilities before heading out.
The Spruce Railroad trailhead is completely paved and runs along the shores of Lake Cresent which makes it a very beautiful walk. The trail is shared by bikers and walkers so be sure to share the trail with fellow adventurers.
So, about a mile into the trail, the trail comes to a tunnel. Do not go through the tunnel unless you want to check it out, it’s pretty cool! Take the trail that veers off the left just before heading into the tunnel. Just so you know, this portion of the trail is more rugged and rocky.
When reaching the punchbowl, you’ll find a small, protected cove of still, deep, and startlingly blue water. In fact, Devil’s Punchbowl is an underwater gorge that plunges down over 100 feet and it’s COLD!
You will find that this is a pretty popular spot however take part in the fun and jump in! Be sure to also enjoy the beauty surrounding this quiet piece of paradise.
Devil’s Punchbowl: Are You a Daredevil?
Besides, are you looking for a more exciting adventure? Daredevils can climb the steep rocky walls that overlook Devil’s Punchbowl and plunge 15-50 feet into the turquoise depths below. For example, the only daredevil in our group was my 10-year son who decided to jump off the bridge.
Hint: If you plan to swim here, I recommend wearing hiking sandals or a type of shoe that you do not have to remove when swimming. Don’t forget to pack a towel.
Hike #3: Marymere Falls
- Length: 1.5 miles
- Elevation: ~298 feet
- Difficulty: Easy/moderate
- Trail type: Out and back
- Starts: At the Strom King Ranger Station or Lake Crescent Lodge
- Bathrooms: At the parking lot
So after drying off from your swim at the Devil’s Punchbowl head to Marymere Falls by making your way to the other side of Lake Crescent. In fact, Marymere Falls is a popular family-friendly trail within Olympic National Park.
In addition to this being a popular trail and so easy to find, the only downside to this trail is the parking, parking is sparse. I never know the best way to navigate parking in situations like this besides, is there ever a good way to find parking at popular hiking spots? I like to think it’s just luck when we find one, ha!
Once you struck gold and found a parking spot, this 1.5-mile hike will immerse you into the old-growth, moss-laden forest that surrounds Lake Crescent as well as the stunning 90-foot waterfall. In fact, this trail is very well maintained and pretty easy to hike including two bridges and a set of stairs that lead directly to Marymere Falls. Don’t forget to grab pictures throughout the hike as there are many picture-worthy spots to stop along the way.
Day One Lodging:
After a full day of hiking, we recommend staying in the town of Forks to be ready for day 2 hikes. Yes, Forks, the town known for vampires!
Take the 36-mile drive towards Forks following and passing the shoreline of Lake Crescent.
The town of Forks lies between the Olympic mountains and the Pacific Ocean beaches. While not much to do within the town of Forks it is a great location.
The Forks Motel: Located in the center of town and near a grocery store. Clean rooms and outdoor pool.
Day 2: Best Hikes Olympic National Park
Day two will take you through the last two ecosystems of your trip. The rainforest and the Pacific ocean. Totally mind-blowing that these two types of ecosystems exist within the same National Park let alone only an hour apart from each other.
Hoh Rainforest
The Hoh Rainforest receives an impressive amount of rain yearly, 140 inches actually. In fact, the best time of year to visit is July and August due to it being less rainy. In comparison, the rainy city of Seatle receives 37 inches of rain a year. Dang! Also, with that said no wonder the giant growth trees (mostly 300 years old) are masked in moss, the ground is engulfed with ferns, and the tree canopy is green all year long. It is such an impressive sight to see!
Due to the fact that there is only one entrance and limited parking to the Hoh Rainforest, we highly encourage an early wake-up call this morning. It will take about 45 minutes from Forks to actually get to where you’re going, so plan accordingly.
To get to the Hall of Mosses Trail you’ll need to route to plug ‘Hoh Rainforest Visitors Center’ into your GPS. Also, keep in mind that waiting to enter the Hoh Rainforest is likely even with an early arrival.
Hike #1: Hall of Mosses
- Length: 0.8 miles
- Elevation: ~100 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trail type: Loop
- Starts: At the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center
- Bathrooms: At the trailhead at the Visitor Center
Before hitting the trail be sure to check out the Visitor Center, packed with great information, or listen to a Ranger-led educational opportunity held outside the Visitor Center at certain times of the day.
The Hall of Mosses trail is a short little trail that packs a big punch with its tall Sitka spruces and western hemlocks to moss-weighted trees and ferns that go on forever!
Hike #2: Spruce Nature Trail
Craving more of the rainforest? Try the Spruce Nature Trail. This loop trail leads to the Hoh River which is in fact also along the road that leads to the Hoh rainforest, so you may have already enjoyed its beauty. This trail is also a beautiful continuation of the Hall of Mosses.
Length: 1.4 miles
Elevation: ~16 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail type: Loop
Starts: At the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center
Bathrooms: At the trailhead at the Visitor Center
Hike #3: Hole-in-the-Wall: Rialto Beach
By far my favorite hike in Olympic National Park! If you love the beach AND the forest this hike is for you!
Length: 3.3 miles
Elevation: ~108 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail type: Out and back
Starts: Rialto Beach
Bathrooms: At the parking lot
On the Pacific Ocean lies this gem of a hike called the Hole in the Wall at Rialto Beach. The Hole in the Wall is a narrow arch that can be accessed during low tide. However, you can still get pretty close to it when the tide is high, you just can’t go through it.
As I said, this hike is a gem and Rialto beach is like no other beach we have ever visited. With large driftwood-strewn sands, shores lined with massive Sitka spruce, towering sea stacks, and rugged coastlines, Rialto Beach is undoubtedly one of the most stunning areas in Olympic National Park.
Besides the fact that the hike takes place on the Rialto beach itself, don’t let this fool you that it will be an easy hike. First, to even access the beach, you will need to scramble over large littered driftwood. Once you find your way over the driftwood you can see the Hole in the Wall on the right from the minute you step onto the beach, however, it’s over a mile and a half away, so you may have to squint to see it, ha!
Hint: Even though it’s a beach, hiking shoes are best over sandals.
Also, along your hike, you will see stunning ocean views, beautiful rock formations, and don’t forget to keep an eye on the water for sea creatures. In fact, we spied 2 sea lions playing and floating in the water. Also, look inside those tide pools. Check out the sea creatures we discovered that can also be found within those pools.
So there you have it, the best hikes in Olympic National park, planned and ready for you on your next adventure to Washington!
So what are you most excited to visit? Or maybe you have been before, what is your favorite spot?
Hey, don’t forget to check out our other incredible National Park itineraries below!
- The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Glacier National Park (3 Days At It’s Best )
- Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary (An Awesome 4 Day Guide)
- The Best Jackson Hole Family Vacation (+ 3 Day Itinerary)
Safe adventures,
Brooke
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