Olympic National Park Parks and Outdoors Vacations

Olympic National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

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Hiking in Olympic National Park, Washington
Olympic National Park, Washington (courtesy, National Park Service)

Olympic National Park Parks and Outdoors Highlights

By Travel Expert: Jeremy Pataky

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Olympic National Park Overview

The east side of Olympic National Park is the least visited side of the park. There are no wild beaches, no roads up into alpine meadows, and no rainforests. There are also no crowds of tourists. However, there are many miles of rugged hiking trails that lead intrepid hikers to some of the best mountaintop viewpoints on the peninsula. There are also rushing rivers, state parks, and the wide salt waters of Hood Canal, which isn't a canal at all, but rather a natural body of water off Puget Sound. Long, narrow, and hook-shaped, Hood Canal has miles of pristine waterfront and has long been a popular spot for summer homes. Fishing and clamming are among the most popular activities along Hood Canal. Read More

Hotels

expert favorite hotel
Lake Quinault Lodge
345 South Shore Road
Quinault, WA 98575
Hotel Class: 2 class stars
Distance: 0.1 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
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expert favorite hotel
Kalaloch Lodge
157151 Highway 101
Forks, WA 98331
Hotel Class: 2 class stars
Distance: 42.8 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
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from: $84 compare hotel rates
GuestHouse Aberdeen
701 East Herron Street
Aberdeen, WA 98520
Hotel Class: 3 class stars
Distance: 34.0 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
5.0 out of 5 8 reviews
5.0 out of 5
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Attractions

expert favorite attraction
Colonel Bob Trail
Small trailhead on South Shore Rd.
Quinalt , Washington
Distance: 0.1 Miles (from destination center)
Description: The Colonel Bob Trail gains over 4,200 feet in... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
5.0 out of 5 1 reviews
5.0 out of 5
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
expert favorite attraction
Lake Quinault
Southwest end of Olympic National Park
Amanda Park, Washington Map
Distance: 0.6 Miles (from destination center)
Description: Majestic glacier-carved and glacier-fed Lake... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
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Catala Shipwreck
Ocean Shores, Washington
Distance: 0.0 Miles (from destination center)
Description: In 1963, the S.S. Catala was transported... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
3.0 out of 5
3.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
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Feature Articles

More Olympic National Park Parks and Outdoors Feature Articles (15)
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Olympic National Park Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

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