What to Know Before You Go
Do you love beautiful beaches? Maybe majestic mountains are your thing? Perhaps radiant rain forests are more up your alley? At Olympic National Park (ONP), you don’t have to choose. ONP is known for its vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and multiple distinct habitats, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of untamed coastline. Here is your ultimate guide to Olympic National Park to get you started on planning your next trip.
Sleeping
There are several campsites available at ONP, but only Kalaloch, Hoh Rain Forest, and Mora campgrounds accept reservations in the summer. Log Cabin Resort RV and Campground offers reservations by phone and Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort RV Park & Campground takes reservations during the summer season online. Every other campground is first-come, first-served. Summers are exceedingly busy, so plan accordingly! Please remember you can only pay by credit or debit cards, or you can make a purchase on-line beforehand. Most sites offer car camping. Depending on the amenities offered, a campground spot will cost you between $0 and $45 per night.
If you’re an avid backcountry hiker and backpacker, please remember that permits are required for all overnight hikes year-round, and the permits MUST be obtained in advance. As of this writing, all wilderness information centers at ONP have been closed, and no walk-up permits are available. The best option is to get your permit online. As a final note, reservations can be made up to six months in advance and up to the start date of your trip, depending on availability, of course. If you’re an adult (16 and older), the permit fee is $8 per night. There is no fee for younger individuals. In addition, there is a $6 reservation fee for each permit.
ONP also offers lodges and cabins for rent. Rooms in historic hotels dating back to the early 1900s, modern motel-style accommodations, and rustic cabins are available to visitors. My personal favorite is Lake Crescent Lodge which is typically open from May to January. You can rent cottages, lodge rooms, or cabins there. It also has a gift store, restaurant, and kayaks to rent. Reservations are highly recommended. Rooms fill up quickly, especially in the summer months of July and August.

Hiking
Because of the varied ecosystems at ONP, hiking trails are plentiful and diverse in terrain. In essence, there are four major types of hikes available: Coastal, Mountain, Rain Forest, and Lowland Forest. A few wheelchair and “accessible with assistance” trails are also scattered throughout the park.
Coastal Hike – Ruby Beach
Distance: 1 mile (out and back)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Please be aware of the tides before going on a costal hike. A tide chart can be picked up at a ranger station or visitor center. I also recommend downloading a good tide chart app on your smartphone. If you do just one hike at ONP, make sure it’s Ruby Beach. You’ll be rewarded with amazing views of huge, charismatic rocks and pristine, clear water. It’s a very popular destination, so be prepared to share the trail with many hikers, walkers, and runners. You can bring your dog along, but he/she must be on a leash.
Lowland Forest Hike – Lovers Lane Hike (Sol Duc Falls)
Distance: 6 miles (out and back)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Sol Duc Falls is arguably the most photographed waterfall in ONP and for good reason. If you just want to see the fall, it’s an easy one-mile jaunt from the parking lot. However, I think it’s worthwhile to do the entire loop to get a nice workout and enjoy the smells and sounds of the lowland forest.
Mountain Hike – Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge
Distance: 3.4 miles (out and back)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
This is a moderately-trafficked 3.4-mile out-and-back trail near Port Angeles, Washington that features gorgeous wildflowers and crystal-clear views of the Olympics. The trail is best from July to October, and you may run into a few deer and mountain goats along the way.
Rainforest hike – Spruce Nature Trail and Hall of Mosses Loop
Distance: 3 miles (loop)
Difficulty Level: Easy
This gives you a great introduction to a temperate rainforest and is prefect for beginner hikers. It is located near Joyce, Washington and is best from April through October.
Mountain Hike – Royal Basin – Royal Lake Hike
16 miles (out and back)
Difficulty Level: Strenuous
If you feel a bit adventurous, this is the hike I recommend for most people. Please obtain a backcountry permit, as you may want to make this an overnight trip. Camping is allowed within Royal Basin and reservations are needed from May 1st to September 30th. Also, bring along a bear canister to store your food!
The above hikes will give you a nice taste of what ONP has to offer, but if you want to explore more and have some extra time, I also recommend the following locations:
- Hurricane Hill and Klahhane Ridge trails at Hurricane Ridge
- Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, Second Beach, James Pond, and Shi Shi beach
- Marymere Falls, Mount Storm King Trail, and Spruce Railroad Trail

Other Activities
Besides hiking and backpacking, you can enjoy wildlife viewing, ranger led programs where you can learn about the park’s diverse ecosystem and history, and winter activities such as skiing, snowshoeing and climbing. If you enjoy fishing, ONP has some great rivers and lakes to explore. If you want to harvest shellfish from the Pacific Coastal Area, you’ll need to get a Washington State Shellfish/seaweed license.
Do you Hot Spring? You may want to visit Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which is located off the Sol Duc Hot Springs Road. The resort has three mineral pools and one freshwater pool, which are tested daily to comply with safety and health regulations.
Best Time to Visit
ONP has something to offer all year around. The summer is always busy, so if you don’t like crowds, it’s best to visit during the other seasons.
Summer – The days are pleasant and rain-free. Most hiking trails are open, and the daylight seems to last forever. Wildflowers are also most plentiful at Hurricane ridge during the early summer months.
Fall – Autumn is perhaps my favorite time to visit ONP, because the crowds have dispersed, and a bit of color arrives in the lowland forest. Most trails are still open, but there is a higher chance of rainfall.
Winter – I love visiting Hurricane Ridge in the summer and winter months. With the snow fall comes cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Hurricane Ridge Road is open Friday through Sunday throughout the winter season, if the weather allows. However, road closures can occur at a moment’s notice because of storms or avalanche concerns.
Spring – Spring is when the rainforest is the most luscious shade of green, and I visit almost every year. The waterfalls are also the most powerful and beautiful during the spring months.

Wildlife
ONP is home to many creatures and critters. According to the National Parks Service (NPS) website, 62 species of mammals, 13 species of amphibians, 4 species of reptiles, and over 300 species of birds have been seen. The most dangerous wildlife is probably the black bear. That’s why bear cannisters are required for backcountry adventures. According to the NPS website, there have been multiple incidences of aggressive bears, but no injuries have been reported. If you encounter a bear on a trail, the NPS advises to give the bear plenty of room. If a bear approaches your camp, make a lot of noise to scare it away.
A few cougars have also been spotted but they are much more reclusive than bears. If you encounter a cougar, the NPS asks you to not approach it. Instead, face the cougar, talk loudly, wave your arms, and back away.
There is high likelihood of encountering black tail deer, Roosevelt elk, Olympic marmots, and Douglas squirrels. If you’re lucky, you might even see a mountain goat, and if you’re unlucky you’ll run into a striped skunk. Here are some helpful tips to increase your chances of seeing wildlife at ONP:
- Dawn and Dusk are when animals are most active, so it’s best to plan your excursions during these times.
- Bring along big zoom lenses, binoculars and field guides to help you spot and recognize wildlife.
- Ask a ranger at a visitor’s center for some advice on where certain wildlife have been spotted.
- Read up on the habits of the animals you’re interested in. For example, gray whales are migratory and are usually seen during the spring and autumn months.

Photography Hot Spots
- Sol Duc Falls – This is seriously one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen. It’s worth the 1-mile easy hike from the parking lot.
- Ruby Beach – It’s best to visit during sunset to capture some amazing color behind those huge rock formations.
- Point of Arches – If you have some extra time, I highly recommend visiting this area. It’s wonderful for long-exposure astrophotography, especially during a new moon and clear sky. Part of the trail extends through Makah Tribe territory, and you need a Makah Recreation Pass to park at the trail head. You can pick one up at several locations in Neah Bay. I usually get mine at The Museum at the Makah Cultural and Research Center after I have a look around and marvel at the amazing artifacts.
- Hurricane Ridge – You’ll get some spectacular, almost eye-level views of the Olympics. Be sure to hike one of several trails there for a chance to see deer, elk, marmots, and mountain goats.
- Hoh Rainforest – Just pick a trail and point your camera anywhere! The vibrant shades of green look surreal!
Packing
The elevation changes are enormous at ONP. It’s best to dress in layers. Rain can fall at any time, so be sure to invest in some good water-proof gear, including for your digital equipment such as cameras and laptops.
Essential ONP Packing Checklist:
- Layered clothing – including some waterproof gear
- Hat
- Headlamp
- Hiking boots
- Tide charts
- Hiking poles (highly recommended for rough terrain)
- Water filtration system for longer hikes
- Bear cannister
- Swimwear (beaches during summer)
- First aid kit (including wrapping tape)
Article and Photos by Mahesh Thapa.
Mahesh Thapa is predominately a nature and landscape photographer based out of Seattle, WA. He has been creating content professionally for over 10 years and is an ambassador for several photography related companies including Sony Alpha and Lowepro. Mahesh is also a physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. You can see more of his work at his website, starvingphotographer.com, Instagram @StarvingPhotographer, YouTube, and Facebook.