Under The Stars With Sasquatch: Olympic National Park Glamping
Chantelle KincyIf you’re looking for an amazing outdoor adventure, look no further than the Olympic Peninsula. Home to Olympic National Park and numerous other natural attractions the Olympic Peninsula is one of my favorite places on earth.
There is no better way to experience the beauty of this area, than by really getting outside and surrounding yourself in nature. Don’t leave yet, I’m not suggesting you pack a tent and sleeping bag ( I mean, that’s awesome, but this is better). I’m talking about Olympic National Park glamping!
What is Glamping?
Glamping combines the best of both worlds – you get to enjoy nature while still having all the comforts of home.
Glamping is a portmanteau of the words “glamorous” and “camping” that describes a style of camping with increased amenities and comfort levels. Glamping has become popular in recent years as a way to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing luxury or creature comforts.
While traditional camping involves pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground, glamping often includes features such as a real bed, furniture, electricity, and even private bathrooms.
For some glampers, the goal is to get back to nature without giving up modern conveniences. Others see it as a way to enjoy unique accommodations while still being able to explore the great outdoors. Either way, glamping is a fun and unique way to experience all that nature has to offer.
If you’ve tried glamping you’ll probably never return to “regular” camping. Glamping embraces everything you like about a camping vacation: fires, smores, starry skies, and plenty of outdoor experiences. While I love beach camping, after being spoiled by my Washington glamping experience, I don’t know if I can ever sleep on the ground again!
The Best Glamping Near Olympic National Park
You can read this whole post if you want, if you want to skip to the bottom line, here it is: Just stay at Mossquatch Resort! I can confidently promise you, that you’re gonna LOVE it here! Here are the details about Olympic National Park glamping at my favorite resort:
What is Mossquatch?
Mossquatch is an eco-friendly glamping site located near Forks Washington, near Olympic National Park. It’s a truly unique experience. We just came back from a weekend getaway at Mossquatch and we are already planning when we can go again.
Inspired by the legend of Sasquatch (big foot) who many think to live in the dense woods of the Pacific Northwest, Mossquatch has subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the big guy all through the resort.
All of the cabins are built from timber left behind by the logging industry, and the accents around the resort are all things found locally too. Driftwood, saw blades, chains, hardhats, moss, wood, and rocks are used to create a dreamy fairytale-like accommodation that you can’t get anywhere else.
The tents and cabins are spread out to ensure everyone has a private experience. We never even saw our “neighbors” in the whole 2 days we were there.
There are many trails around Mossquatch. There are hiking trails that lead to the creek that borders the resort, trails that lead to the woods (look for Sasquatch on your walks), AND a short walk to a waterfall and a plunge pool.
At home, I use an iPhone app every night that plays white noise so I can sleep. At Mossquatch, I fell asleep every night to the sound of the babbling creek, and it was heavenly.
As an extra bonus, as if the setting wasn’t magical enough, there are 5 bunnies that will come right up to you and eat from your hand. Here’s your chance to channel your inner Disney Princess and be surrounded by woodland animals that want to be near you.
Oh! I almost forgot! You can bring the kids too! There is a large grassy area with cornhole, frisbees, and other lawn games you can play with. In the woods, there is also a swingset, a teeter-totter, and a super cool zipline! You can also leave the kids at home and play the games yourself. 😊
There is a flushing toilet, running water for hand washing, and 3 showers that you can use too if you don’t feel like totally roughing it.
There are common cooking areas near the cabins that are stocked with a propane stove, pots, and pans, and other items you may need
What are the accommodations like at Mossquatch?
You have two options for lodging at Mossquatch: Canvas Tents, or a Cabin. We stayed in a Cabin and had a magical experience, so I have the most information about those, but the tents looked awesome too!
Tents at Mossquatch
The glamping tents are huge and come with bedding options such as Queen beds, Bunk Beds, and trundle twins. You’ll have nightstands, a porch with lawn chairs, a fire pit, and a cooking area.
There are outhouses near each tent. Don’t panic. The outhouses are super clean and have seats on the toilets, hand sanitizer, and a motion light for nighttime. As I said before, there is also a flushing toilet and showers near the front of the resort.
Cabins at Mossquatch
There are 3 cabins at Mossquatch. We stayed in Cabin 3, and freaking LOVED it, but I truly don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. The amenities in the cabins are all the same.
Power and water are not available in cabins. Solar charging stations are provided in cabins for small electronics. There are lanterns in the cabins for lighting, as well as battery-operated candles. There is a wood stove to keep you cozy at night. Wood and a torch to light the fire are both provided.
The Mossquatch Cabins have a ton of windows for letting in the beautiful scenery, and curtains to offer privacy at night.
There are nightstands, a little table in the corner, and 2 sitting chairs. The bed is super comfy with cozy blankets and soft sheets and plenty of pillows.
When we arrived there were fresh towels, wine glasses, coffee mugs, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa mixes waiting for us.
Each cabin has its own private deck, with a table and chairs to eat at, a few chairs for lounging, and its own fire pit. There is plenty of firewood on site, you don’t need to bring any. You will want to bring some cash, to put in the firewood box, it is $4.
Cabin 1 is the Trapper Cabin. This cabin is ADA accessible. It is also closest to the strongest wifi signal, if that is important to you! Trapper Cabin has a queen bed and a trundle twin.
Cabin 2 is called the Sawyer Cabin. It also has a queen size bed and a trundle twin bed in it.
Cabin 3 is called the Logger Cabin, and this is where we stayed, so obviously it is my favorite. There is a queen size bed in the Logger Cabin. There are two things that are different with the Logger Cabin that made me love it so much.
The first thing that is different is that it’s closest to the creek. I’m not sure if you can hear the creek from the other cabins but you can for sure hear it inside this cabin, and it was incredible.
The second thing that was unique about this cabin is that the fire pit is down the hill a bit from the cabin, which makes the fire pit right near the creek, instead of up top near the cabins. I personally loved this feature, as it felt more private and I loved being near the water. If you have trouble walking or worry about walking at night, then this may be something to consider, but to me, it’s the reason I would book this cabin again and again.
I should also mention the smell of the cabin in Mossquatch. It smells woodsy and fresh and like luxury camping at its finest! Honestly, I sat on the floor and meditated each morning. The smell of the cabin, the sunlight coming through the windows, and the sound of the creek created such a great space to unwind and refocus.
Where is Mossquatch?
Mossquatch is located in Forks Washington. You can use this Washington glamping resort as a base for exploring Olympic National park, or the Olympic Peninsula. Mossquatch is in a great location that is off the beaten path, yet still close enough to beaches, hiking, and other activities. Keep in mind that Olympic National Park is HUGE and everything is pretty spread out, so having a location that is centrally located to some of the best parts of the park is essential.
Forks
You might recognize Forks from the Twilight Saga. Forks is a very small logging town that sees about 21 feet of rain per year. In town, you can see Bellas Truck, visit the Twilight museum, drive out the LaPush and see the Vampire-Werewolf Treaty line. You should also visit the logging museum.
We went to the Thriftway in town and purchased snacks and groceries for our stay, it was super convenient, and just about 10 minutes from the glamping site.
Beaches
Mossquatch is close to some of the best beaches in Olympic National Park. It is under an hour to the Tree of Life, the Kalaloch area beaches, and Ruby Beach. In less than 30 minutes you can be at the LaPush beaches too. Be sure and check the local tide schedule to make the most out of your time on the beaches.
Hoh Rain Forest
One of the best experiences in the Olympic National Park is visiting the Hoh Rainforest. Staying at Mossquatch puts you just over an hour away from this iconic location. Be sure and hike the Hall of Mosses, one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park
Cape Flattery
Cape Flattery is the most NW point of the contiguous US. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and one hundred percent worth your time to visit. However, it is pretty out of the way and often gets skipped on Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park itineraries, due to how far it is from “everything else”.
If you drive from Mossquatch you can be at Cape Flattery in about an hour and a half. Take some time to hike and explore the area, stop at Pats Place for some delicious frybread, and then you can check out Shi Shi Beach, or drive back towards the glamping site.
We did this and made it back to camp in time to go check out the waterfall, have dinner, play a few games, and settle in at our fire pit just before dark. It was a perfect day!
The Best Glamping Near Olympic National Park
Be sure and check out Mossquatch whether you plan to visit Olympic National Park, the Olympic Peninsula, or like us, just need a weekend away from real life.
One last tip, be sure and take time to chat with Ron, the caretaker. He’s wonderful, and has a wealth of information about the property and area surrounding it! He also let me feed the bunnies, so bonus points for him. ❤️
