Olympic National Park is a diverse and scenic destination on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, renowned for its varied ecosystems, including temperate rainforests, alpine peaks, and rugged coastlines. The park offers a wide range of outdoor activities and stunning landscapes. This park is huge and it takes hours to get from one side to the other, so a few days at a minimum. We went to the following:
Key Attractions
- Hoh Rain Forest:
- Features: One of the best examples of temperate rainforest in the world, with lush greenery, moss-covered trees, and a serene atmosphere.
- Hiking: Popular trails include the Hall of Mosses Trail (0.8 miles, easy) and the Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles, easy), both offering beautiful views of the rainforest. There is generally a 1-2 hour wait to get a spot in here, so you go and be prepared to wait in line.
- Hurricane Ridge:
- Scenic Views: Offers panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Accessible by car, with stunning vistas available right from the parking lot.
- Hiking: Trails include the Hurricane Hill Trail (3.2 miles round trip, moderate) The parking fills up quickly. This was an incredible hike, highly recommended.
- Sol Duc Hot Springs:
- Hiking: The Sol Duc Falls Trail (1.6 miles round trip, easy) leads to a picturesque waterfall.
- Lake Crescent:
- Scenic Beauty: A deep, blue lake surrounded by mountains, ideal for boating, fishing, and hiking. We hiked to the Devils Punchbowl where a lot of people jump off the bridge or the cliff. The water here is very cold.
- Rialto Beach:
- Coastal Scenery: Dramatic, rugged beaches with tide pools, sea stacks, and driftwood. We hiked at a good time while the tide was going out, but we still could not hike to the hole in the rock. It rained and was windy, but this was fun.
