11 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park Hikes

Looking for the Best Hikes in Olympic National Park? Olympic National Park is in my backyard, and I go there whenever I can. However, Olympic is one of the most diverse National Parks and is almost one million acres in size, so I’ve also asked a few other National Park experts to weigh in, and together, we’ve come up with the best hikes in Olympic National Park.

Olympic National Park is full of incredible hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, these are the best hikes in Olympic National Park for you!

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a beginner, there’s something for everyone in this amazing park. So get ready to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in Washington State!

Olympic National Park Hikes Port Angeles Area

Olympic National Park is one of Washington state’s most popular tourist destinations. Situated on the Olympic Peninsula, the park is home to various ecosystems, from rainforests to glaciers and the famous Tree of Life. Port Angeles is a great base for exploring the park, as it offers easy access to some of the most popular hikes.

For example, Hurricane Ridge is just a short drive from Port Angeles and offers stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. Similarly, Sol Duc Falls is another popular hike that can be easily reached from Port Angeles. So whether you’re looking for an easy day hike or a longer backpacking trip, Olympic National Park has something to offer. And with Port Angeles as your base, you’ll be able to explore all that the park has to offer.

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Marymere Falls

Contributed by Anwar of Beyond my Door

One of the easier trails with a great payoff, the Marymere Falls trail is an easy hike that takes hikers out and back to a 90-foot waterfall in Olympic National Park. Each way of the trail is about 0.9 miles for a total of 1.8 miles out and back. The trail is well marked and starts very easily and meanders through the woods before descending down as you arrive close to the waterfall.

The trail can be pretty muddy as the area gets regular rainfall throughout the year. The trail is also well trafficked so it’s unlikely you’ll have the trail to yourself unless you hike early in the morning (it tends to still be busy even later in the day).

The trail can be accessed from either the Storm King Ranger Station or nearby Lake Crescent Lodge. Like many of the trails in Olympic National Park, dogs are not allowed on the trail. The trail is accessible year-round and requires no special permits (other than the general pass for the National Park)

Mount Storm King

Mount Storm King is a very popular trail in Olympic National Park. While the trailhead starts at Lake Cresent and follows the same easy starting path as Marymere Falls, it quickly turns uphill and becomes more difficult.

Mount Storm King is roundtrip 4.1 miles and is considered a difficult hike. There is one section where you will have to use ropes to scale your way up the steep rocks and hill. You may want to consider bringing gloves for the rope section.

The view from the top will make you forget all about the struggle though as you enjoy the lookout over Lake Cresent from over 2000 feet elevation.

Hurricane Hill

Contributed by Shannon of Adventuring With Shannon 

One of the best hikes in Olympic National Park is Hurricane Hill. Located at the end of Hurricane Ridge, this awesome hike takes you above the clouds where you can overlook the Olympic Valley below. This trail is famous for its incredible views as well as its wildlife viewing opportunities since it is home to many deer that enjoy grazing on the mountainside.

This trail is a 3.4-mile out and back trail that takes you up and down along Hurricane Ridge. To get to the trailhead, you go past the Hurricane Ridge visitors center to the end of the road. The parking lot at the trailhead is relatively small and fills up quickly, so be prepared to walk a little bit longer from an overflow parking lot or plan to arrive early. 

Once you reach the Hurricane Hill summit, you can enjoy 360-degree views of Olympic National Park. On a cloudy day, the clouds look like a blanket on the ground with the mountains sticking out above them.

Hurricane Hill is also one of the few handicap-accessible hikes in Olympic National Park. The hike is paved the entire way but can be steep toward the end.

Best Olympic National Park Beach Hikes

Olympic National Park is home to 73 miles of coastline, and its beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Many of Olympic National Park’s most popular hikes start from these beaches, so they are a great place to begin your exploration of the park. Some of the most popular beaches in Olympic National Park include First Beach, Second Beach, and Third Beach. Each beach has something unique to offer visitors, so be sure to explore all of them during your stay. Olympic National Park is a truly incredible place, and its beaches are a big part of what makes it so special.

Ozette Loop Trail

Contributed by Taryn, HappiestOutdoors

The Ozette Loop Trail includes a beautiful section of beach walking along with some rainforest and a unique coastal bog. It’s a loop hike that is 9.2 miles long. But since the trail is shaped like a triangle with three miles through the forest, three miles along the beach, then three miles through the forest back to the start, it is often also called the Ozette Triangle. 

The trail is a moderate hike with very little elevation gain and will take most hikers four to five hours to complete. However, the section along the beach has no trail – you just have to follow the coastline. 

That means that you should consult a tide table when planning your trip as you need a low tide to get around some rocky outcroppings. You will also want to time your hike for low tide so that you can explore the tide pools and look for Indigenous petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks. 

There are also three backcountry campsites along the beach if you want to make it a backpacking trip instead of a day hike. They have incredible ocean views.

The trail starts at Ozette Lake, which is a 2-hour drive from Port Angeles. There is no public transportation to this part of Olympic National Park, so you need to drive yourself. You must buy a National Park entrance pass for your vehicle and display it on the dash when you park. 

Hole in the Wall

Contributed by Jessica, Uprooted Traveler

The Hole in the Wall trail, along Rialto Beach, will take you past dramatic sea stacks, enormous pieces of driftwood, and some of the best tide pools in the Olympic Peninsula. This easy trail is just 3.3 miles out and back and along the flat shores of a pebble-strewn beach. You can also backpack here (so long as you get the appropriate permit) so this would be an excellent option for a beginner backpacking trip in Washington.

Be sure to time your hike with low tide. If you don’t, there will be limited beach left to hike on and you’ll be forced to scramble over the gargantuan pieces of bleached wood littering the beach, making this hike significantly more challenging. Additionally, at the end of the hike, you’ll reach the eponymous “Hole-in-the-Wall”, a narrow arch that you can only climb around during low tide on some nearby rocks. Careful, though- they’re quite slippery!

Once you’re on the other side of the hole, you’ll be treated to magnificent tide pools, teeming with starfish, anemones, and tiny crabs, and at the stunning view of Hole-in-the-Wall perfectly framing the neighboring sea stacks.

Beyond just being scenic, this hike is an awesome option whether you’re visiting Olympic National Park in winter or in the middle of summer, thanks to its location along the coastline and the resulting year-round temperate weather. Just be sure to pack a rain jacket (we are in the Pacific Northwest, after all)!

Olympic National Park Hikes in the Staircase Region

Olympic National Park is a vast and varied landscape, and the Staircase Region is one of its most underrated gems. Located in the southeastern corner of the park, the Staircase Region is easy to access yet feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

This forgotten corner of Olympic National Park is home to towering old-growth forests, pristine rivers, and some of the best hiking in the park. The region gets its name from the series of waterfalls that cascade down the stairs-like cliffs of Olympic Creek. Hiking to these falls is a must-do while in the area, and there are also plenty of other trails to explore, including a loop that takes you through an old-growth forest.

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to escape the crowds or an adventurous hike off the beaten path, the Staircase Region of Olympic National Park has something for everyone.

Staircase Rapids Loop

Contributed by Anna Tee

The Staircase Rapids Loop is one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park, but it’s often overlooked! It’s located in the underrated Staircase area of the park, in the southeastern corner close to Lake Cushman. 

The Staircase Rapids Loop is 2.1 miles long, with an elevation gain of 213 feet – this means the hike is pretty easy, and perfect for just about anyone! However, there are often some fallen trees if you hike in the spring – they usually get cleared by park rangers by the summer season, but the trees can make the hike a little more difficult. This loop hike is somewhat popular but less popular than many other hikes in the park – so while you’re likely to run into a few other people on the trail, crowds are usually not an issue and the trail feels serene and quiet!

All you need for this hike is your pass into Olympic National Park – no special permits are required, so it’s a great day hike. You’ll start in the parking lot, and then wander through old growth forest that takes you along the gorgeous rapids, where you’ll see some small waterfalls. Halfway through the loop, you’ll cross a big bridge across the river, and continue back to the trailhead! By the bridge, there is a spot that would make an excellent swimming hole in the warm summer months.

Lena Lake (upper and lower)

While Lower Lena Lake isn’t in Olympic National Park, continuing on to Upper Lena Lake does land you back inside park borders and will require the National Park Pass and a backwoods camping permit if you plan on overnighting here.

At the very least, you will need a NorthWest Forest Pass. The Pass is $30 annually. If you have purchased the America the Beautiful Pass (which I highly recommend) you can use that in lieu of a NorthWest Forest Pass, and it will also cover your entrance to Olympic National Park.

Lower Lena Lake is a popular and busy trail. The round trip distance for the Lena Lake hike is just over 7 miles. The trail is moderately challenging with moderate elevation gain. You’ll hike through old-growth forests alongside Lena Creek. The sights and sounds are peaceful and beautiful.

You can walk to the lake shore, but for the best views continue about 1/4 mile past the lake to the overview where you can sit and have lunch with the lake below you.

If you want to continue onto Upper Lena Lake, you’re in for a bit more of a challenge. You can choose to camp at Lena Lake and then head onto the rest of your hike the next day, or push forward and try to do the whole trail in one day.

Round trip, the hike to Upper Lena Lake is 14 miles and is considered difficult. It is very steep uphill, but the views of the Olympic Mountain Range and the alpine lake are incredible.

This trail can be snowed in even during the summer, always check trail conditions before hiking.

Olympic National Park Hikes – Hoh Rainforest Area

Olympic National Park is the only US National Park with a temperate rainforest. Hoh Rainforest is also a UNESCO Heritage site. Walking through the Hoh is a magical experience. I always feel like I’m in a storybook fairytale when I’m there. If fairies and trolls exist, they live in the Hoh Rainforest. If you are planning to visit Olympic National Park, make the drive to the Hoh.

Sol Duc Falls Hike

Contributed by Nina, Washington is for Adventure

The Sol Duc Falls trail is one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park simply because it’s an easy and rewarding hike with a gorgeous waterfall at the end. What’s not to love?

There are two ways you can enjoy viewing Sol Duc Falls. By doing the quick hike from the parking lot or by doing a longer loop that takes you to Sol Duc Falls but also to other hidden waterfalls and further through the verdant forest.

Here are the stats on the two versions of this hike:

#1 Sol Duc Falls Trail

• Distance: 1.6 miles
• Type of Trail: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Easy

#2 Lovers Lane Loop

• Distance: 6.1 miles
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

The first straight shot trail you can’t go wrong with. From the parking lot, you’ll stroll along an easy path until you hear the rushing waterfall in the background. You’ll come around a corner and there it is! Sol Duc Falls! It’s a unique waterfall with a few prominent gushing streams falling into a small canyon at the bottom with a viewing bridge over it.

A more challenging yet still easy trail starts at the same parking lot but instead of turning back at Sol Duc Falls, continuing walking past it. You’ll wander down the Lovers’ Lane Trail through the moss-covered rainforest and soon happen upon other smaller waterfalls with nobody around you! This loops around and takes you past the Sol Duc Hot Springs.

Make sure to make a stop at the Ancient Forest and Salmon Cascade on your way driving back out from the Sol Duc Falls Hike!

Hall of Mosses

Hall of Mosses is a short, easy hike that should be a must-do on any Olympic National Park itinerary. The entire loop is just under 1 mile and is mostly flat on a wide well-maintained trail.

This hike is good for hikers of all ages. At the ranger station at the beginning of the hike, you can find information about the animals and plants that you might see along the way. Keep an eye out for huge banana slugs, and herds of Elk in the area.

Hall of Mosses has so many shades of green coming from ferns, trees, plants, and moss covering every surface it looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale.

Since the Hall of Mosses trail is so short and easy, it’s best to combine it with another hike that starts in the same parking lot, the Spruce Nature Trail.

The Spruce Nature Trail

The Spruce Nature Trail is one of the easiest hikes in Olympic National Park, but it is still worthwhile to check out.

The Spruce Nature Trail starts from the same parking lot as the Hall of Mosses. This trail is 1.2 miles with relatively no elevation gain. Combine these two trails together to make the most out of the long drive to get here.

The Spruce Nature Trail winds through the forest with signs along the way to teach you about the local flora and fauna. It is mostly shady so it’s a great hike even when it’s hot outside.

About halfway through the hike, you’ll be alongside the river which is a beautiful setting to sit down and hang out for a while or let the kids play along the bank.

You’ll need to have the National Park Pass to use the Spruce Nature Trail and the Hall of Mosses.

Hikes in Olympic National Park: Quinault Area

Enchanted Valley

Contributed by Jessica, Uprooted Traveler

The Enchanted Valley trail is a 29-mile hike that meanders through the lush Quinault rainforest in the seriously underrated southern portion of Olympic National Park. 

This out-and-back trail will take you past the turquoise waters of the Quinault River, underneath absolutely massive western hemlock and Douglas fir trees, and through a luscious rainforest of hanging moss and enormous primeval ferns. 

While your entire journey through the forest will be, well, enchanting, the ultimate pay-off is jaw-dropping- you’ll be lead into the Enchanted Valley itself, with a dense forest on one side and, on the other, a seemingly sheer vertical cliff of mountains, with countless cascades of waterfalls rushing down its slopes. In fact, this place is colloquially known as “The Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls.”

To add to the picturesqueness of the scene, the Enchanted Valley chalet sits in the middle of this meadow, a charming wooden cabin that was built in 1931 to provide shelter to weary travelers. While hikers can no longer stay in the cabin, this charming rustic structure has become something of a landmark along the trail.

Because of its length, hikers usually tackle this trail as a multiple-day backpacking trip, by using one of the four primitive campgrounds found along the trail. That being said, it’s not unheard of for folks to try this as a day hike. Given the Enchanted Valley’s incredible views, though, you’re definitely going to want to bring along a tent and stay a while!

Tips for Hiking Olympic in National Park

• Keep in mind that Olympic National Park is nearly a million acres, so you’ll need to have your own car or a rental car while visiting Olympic National Park. You’ll see lush forests, lakes, mountain peaks, beaches, and rainforests.

• Bring layers to wear. The weather can change quickly, and can vary depending which part of the park you are in.

• Download the free NPS app before you leave, select Olympic National Park, and upload for offline use. You’ll have access to all the maps, and help you need even when you don’t have service.

• Check the tides before you head to the Beaches of Olympic National Park. You can check tides here.

• Practice leave no trace principles and always carry the 10 essentials of hiking.

• Purchase an America The Beautiful Pass before you go. This will save you money over the year by giving you access to over 2000 parks, forests and attractions.

• Understand and respect the fact that some of the land you will be recreating in was the home of indigenous tribes long before Olympic National Park was formed. Some of the trails still cross through tribal land. Be aware of restrictions, extra permits, or policies that are in place.

• Animals you might see in Olympic National Park range from starfish, anemones, and crabs, to bald eagles, mountain goats, cougars, black bears, and Roosevelt Elk.

• For the best weather, consider visiting Olympic National Park from April to October. The beaches are accessible year-round but be prepared for rain.

Conclusion: Hikes in Olympic National Park

The best hikes in Olympic National Park are waiting for you. Get out there and start exploring! Whether you’re looking for a challenging hike or an easy stroll through the forest, you’ll find it in Olympic National Park. And don’t forget to take some time to admire the incredible scenery along the way – you won’t regret it.