What to know before you go
- 01
Olympic covers nearly a million acres on the Olympic Peninsula: glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rainforest and more than 70 miles of wild coastline.
- 02
It starts with a ferry. The Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry leaves Colman Dock at Pier 52 on the downtown waterfront and takes about 35 minutes; the Edmonds to Kingston ferry crosses farther north. From either side, you follow Highway 101 to the park.
- 03
Port Angeles is the usual base. The park's main visitor center is on Mount Angeles Road, and Hurricane Ridge is 17 miles up the road from town.
- 04
The park is big, and its highlights are far apart. From Port Angeles, the park's own trip ideas put Lake Crescent about 30 minutes away, the Sol Duc Valley about an hour and a quarter, and the Hoh Rain Forest more than two hours. Marymere Falls is an easy walk from Lake Crescent.
- 05
Hurricane Ridge is open all summer. In winter the road is open Friday through Sunday and holiday Mondays, weather permitting, and all vehicles must carry tire chains. The day lodge burned down, so there's no food on the ridge: bring your own.
- 06
Without a car: Evergreen Escapes runs a guided Olympic day of about 12 hours from Seattle, with hotel pickup, the Bainbridge ferry and stops chosen by season, such as Lake Crescent, the forest, the coast or Hurricane Ridge. In summer, Clallam Transit runs a bus from downtown Port Angeles up to Hurricane Ridge.
- 07
You'll need a park entrance pass. Check the park's alerts page before you go: roads, the ridge and facilities change with the weather.
Roads, ferry schedules and park facilities change with the season. Check the National Park Service site and Washington State Ferries before you go.