Olympic National Park Travel Tips

  • The park is located in the northwestern corner of Washington state and contains almost 900,000 acres of wilderness. The terrain includes ocean shores, Pacific temperate rainforest, alpine glaciers, and 600 miles of trail providing access to the park.
  • Hike through wildflower-dotted meadows, through dense rainforest, and along wilderness beaches.
  • The National Park Service operates 16 campgrounds with a total of 910 sites. All are first come, first served, and some are open year-round. Backcountry camping permits are available at all ranger stations for wilderness or beach camping.
  • Anglers fishing for trout within park boundaries do not need a license to catch and release. You'll need a Washington State fishing license to fish outside of park boundaries and a state punch card to fish for salmon or steelhead.
  • Many of the trails within the glorious Olympic National Park are suitable for horseback riding, but Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight trips, and some areas require reservations.

Expert Travel Advice to Olympic National Park

Top Answers To Olympic National Park Travel Questions

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    Anonymous user asked:
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    My husband and I are planning a 9 to 11 day stay in Olympic National park, I am having a...
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    Anonymous user answered:
    Two years ago, my husband and I planned a "scenic drive" through Olympic National Park - giving it a half-day in our plans. Upon arriving at the ranger station at Port Arthur, I was asked how long were we planning on staying with them! We were shocked! When I looked at my watch, saying, oh 3 hours or so as we're on our way to Portland ... we were in for an incredible surprise!!!!!!!! The ranger gave us the phone numbers of several lodges in the park; we ended up staying one night at the Quinault Lodge which we absolutely loved!! The history, the ambience ... the delicious food, and accommodations made it a "must do this again place"! It's a definite place we want to tell people about as well as bring our 14 yr. old grandson. The grounds of the Quinault lodge, the setting on a gorgeous lake, are ment for enjoyment, relaxation as well as exploring as families like to do.
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    Anonymous user asked:
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    we'd like to take our kids, ages 7 and 9, to the olympic peninsula next summer. We'd love...
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    Anonymous user answered:
    I'd definitely suggest the Lake Quinault Lodge: it's history, ambience, and location is really convenient for seeing much of what Olympic Park has to offer. It is on the southern end of the park; the Hoh Rain Forest is nearby as is the coast. We stayed there two years ago and are returning this fall for an extended stay. We liked the accommodations; delicious food; history of the lodge; and the general ambience. It's located on a beautiful lake; hiking trails right there and if I remember correctly, canoes for use on the lake. The grounds are spacious, perfect for kids playing while parents relax.
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    Martina asked:
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    familytrip through Washington
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    carrie answered:
    I would suggest taking one of the Argosy cruises. There are several different tours, but they all give you a view of the city from the water which provides an entirely different perspective on the city. Pike Place market is a fun stop for lunch but can be very crowded during peak times of year. You can take the water taxi from downtown to West Seattle which has a small beach with restaurants and shops along the main drag. You can rent bikes to cruise around and this locale offers another great view of the city.

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