We'd love to stay in touch! Dont forget to pack your camera, this is a paradise for hobby photographers. The viewpoints along the trail are amazing youll see Tatoosh Island to the northwest and Vancouver Island due north across the water. I love both the Lake Angeles hike and the Deer Lake hike. I love this hike, but the payoff is the mountain lake, not the pleasant but slightly monotonous climb through second growth forest. The first option is the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, which is north of Seattle. Youll be staying at local hotels or maybe a campsite if requested in advance. Oh, and the temperate rainforests, which are the most unique natural feature that youll find on the Olympic Peninsula. Youll need to reserve wilderness permits in advance, bring a bear canister, and be prepared for weather of all kinds (but mostly rain, at least in the summer and shoulder seasons). Basically, dont worry about a thing! However, there's not much there in terms of services or anything else. (search Rental cars + downtown Seattle.there are too many hits for me to include them in this post). Project title | TourScanner Digital Internationalization There are 14 campgrounds inside Olympic National Park (along with quite a few along the boundaries). Otherwise, continue south to hit some of the things to do in the southern part of Olympic National Park. The hike is more like 4 hours. Were Matt and Alysha, the creators of this site dedicated to sharing the best of the West Coast.Were both West Coast natives weve never lived anywhere else, and the West Coast is our home. It is a tiny, lovely little time capsule of a town, like a little museum village. Well drop travelers off where we found them (or another preferred spot nearby). There are bears sometimes, especially when the huckleberries and blueberries are ripe. Explore diverse & stunning environments on foot: old-growth trees, bubbling springs, high lakes, rivers, valleys, glaciers, and (in the summer) flower-strewn mountain meadows. Around a WebOlympic National Park: Day Trips and Tours from Seattle 4.9 99 Reviews Olympic National Park is a favorite among day trip tourists with its pristine lakes, impressive If youre going on a road trip from Seattle to Olympic National Park, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with In the morning, youll be picked up at your accommodation by a comfortable bus or minivan. For what its worth, we spent three days and two nights on the High Divide and LOVED IT, but we would have spent an extra night if we did it again to spend more time along the divide itself. Several roads lead to Olympic National Park from Seattle, and you can plan your journey depending on how much time you have for the drive. Similar to getting to Kalaloch, the fastest route is via land highways only but you can still get there via the Seattle to Bremerton ferry if you want to experience the ferry ride and plan on going to the other entrances like Hurricane Ridge. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Access the park from close to the coastal town of Port Angeles. This page contains affiliate links. By Zipster16. It has the most diverse set of landscapes of any national park weve ever been to, with a dazzling array of ecosystems ranging from sandy ocean beaches to rugged alpine terrain. Required fields are marked *. Most visitors go on a day trip to Olympic National Park between the months of June to September. Both ferries cost roughly the same, and take roughly the same amount of time. Rainier by Car. Have you dressed appropriately for the weather and activity you want to do when you get there? I'm a planner and like to have everything as stress free as possible for the trip. The good news is that its flat! If you want to camp, stay at Mora Campground, which is about five minutes from Rialto (perfect for sunset) and is a nice campground that we enjoyed we stayed there on our trip. The problem with recommending (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The blizzard conditions in the Sierra forced Caltrans to shutdown roadways in upper elevations, including Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50. Head to the visitors center to use the restroom and prepare for an alpine walk before lunch. Remember to print out your passes before you go. Be inspired by the glacier-capped peaks, valleys of forests, hot springs, and rugged Pacific coastline. If youre coming from elsewhere, the best way to get to Olympic National Park is going to be flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac, SEA), renting a car, and following the instructions for getting to/from the park from Seattle. Some tours include hiking or walks through nature. How to ride WA state ferries as a drive-on car passenger? To explore Olympic National Park to its fullest, you will need your own vehicle, and, of course, a National Parks pass. Do you have any recommendations on where we could rent a car? 800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) Sign up here. It does not store any personal data. For efficiency on a Seattle day trip is to use the ferries to Olympic National Park. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The drive here from Port Angeles will take you two full hours, so head out early to give yourself plenty of time. The drive will take you about four hours without traffic. From there, follow the Hood Canal North to Port Angeles. The majority of your day today will be spent on the Makah tribes land you can learn about the Makah here, and its worth taking some time to acknowledge that you are on their land while youre enjoying this amazing part of the world. Olympic National Park is a favorite among day trip tourists with its pristine lakes, impressive mountains and secluded waterfalls. Bring good binoculars. Click the image to go straight to real time navigation. Its particularly pretty in the early morning when the sun rays pierce through the dense canopy of trees and illuminate the mist that is floating throughout the rainforest. If youd rather stay in a vacation rental, where youll generally have more space and a full kitchen, look at these options near forks. Rialto Beach. I'm sure you could do it, but you might not enjoy it. Angeles Road. Have you planned out your route and made the necessary reservations (ferry, lodging, etc)? A local, TripAdvisor Hall of Fame naturalist guide. Dont miss our other guides to Washington States Amazing National Parks! Start out at the northwest tip of the contiguous United States Cape Flattery. To get to Olympic National Park from Portland, head north on I-5 out of Portland and cut over to 101 North when you get to Olympia. Total eligible cost | EUR 383,452.75 From there, youll cross the water before finally reaching the peninsula. The majority of campgrounds in the park are actually first-come-first-served. As for Port Gamble, here is my take. Heres a map of the itinerary youll find below: There are some pretty incredible places to stay in Olympic National Park, from four historic national park lodges (we think theyre cool, but waaaayyy overpriced), to cool treehouses and cozy cabins, and coastal camping. You can make it as long or short as youd like weve done the 5 mile hike out to Mineral Creek Falls and back, and enjoyed it. If you dont want to take the southern loop to get home, head back along 101 from the Hoh Rainforest towards Port Angeles to make your way back to Seattle. Built using WordPress and the Mesmerize Theme, The content on this website may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Pacific Northwesters have a passion for the outdoors. This naturalist-guided tour brings you through Puget Sound by ferry to the north-eastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula, where you will discover the regions moss-draped forests, Today, on your last day in Olympic National Park, youll hit two of the Pacific Northwests famous temperate rainforests the Hoh Rainforest and the Quinault Rainforest along with several sandy Pacific beaches as you complete the loop around the south end of the Olympic Peninsula and return home. Start date | 2021-01-01 Year-round; May-Oct: Monday Saturday, Nov-April: Mondays & Saturdays. ), well pick you up! The tour guide will arrange the tickets for the group. You are young and fit, and I'm sure you can do it. We bring linens, plates, silverware and set up for lunch somewhere lovely. Check out our guide to thebest hikes in Olympic National Park, and thebest places to stay in Olympic National Parkto help you plan an unforgettable adventure out on the Olympic Peninsula. Estimated travel time: 2 hours. This means we earn money from brands when readers click through, purchase, or sign up for anything through certain links as outlined in the. I have not booked any accommodations yet, so everything is flexible. Olympus and the Olympic Range. National / regional public financial support | N.A. Its a pretty spectacular view, and well worth the 800 feet of elevation you have to climb to get there. Intervention region | Lisbon at your downtown Seattle accommodations (hotel, AirBNB, rental, etc. Google the tribe names of each area and visit their websites for any special information on accessing those lands (some will restrict access). If youre not up for camping (or you just dont have the equipment), look at these spots. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The better place to camp would be Sand Point, not Cape Alava. However, the highlight here is the Hurricane Hill Trail, which is just a little bit further up the road past the Visitors Center. Easily one of the most picturesque landscapes in Washington state, if not all of the United States of America, no visit to Seattle would be complete without a jaunt to Mount Rainier. Olympic National Park is located about 2 1/2 hours west of Seattle. Another route is to take the Seattle ferry to Bainbridge Island and drive through the island to reach the Olympic Peninsula. You either access the Hoh Rainforest by going north on 101 from Kalaloch or from the other direction driving on 101 South from Forks, WA. You cannot buy / use the tickets on your own or use City Passes. The restaurant is called River's Edge., not Water's Edge. Olympic National Park was one of our favorite stops on our Washington road trip, though we didnt spend nearly as much time exploring the massive park as we would have liked. Olympic National Park is located on a large peninsula west of Seattle. We did the beach walk down to Hole in the Wall at sunset, saw two bald eagles, and I just about lost my tripod in the surf trying to get an epic sunset photo on the beach. It can be muddy, which is why its important to pack some good hiking boots for your trip to Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park is located about 2 1/2 hours west of Seattle. And not just because of the elevation gain. Its full of old growth trees, most of which are centuries old. Plus, youll find some ideas for what else to do if you have more time at the end. The trail is very rocky and hard on the feet. Well set off down the mountain destined for another walkabout or two at lower elevations in other sections of the park (like the Elwha River Valley, Salt Creek, or Lake Crescent). I will move some stuff around and incorporate your suggestions. Prices for passes are the following. 1-Day Seattle to Vancouver City Tour $149.00 $144.53. I suggested staying in Port Gamble that night to lessen the drive back to Seattle for our flight the next day since I believe it is close to a four hour drive based on google maps. The direct drive from Seattle to Olympic National Park is 174 mi (280 km), and should have a drive time of 4 hrs 10 mins in normal traffic.. Click the below map for the full directions and start your live navigation. However, no matter what time of year you are coming, youll have to first settle on which entrance you want to direct your road trip from Seattle to. Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty. Bald eagles and other kinds of coastal birds call these beaches home, and youre sure to spot at least a few seagulls if nothing else. This is when some campsites might be fully booked and hiking trails will be more crowded. This will allow you to spend some more time in one of the most spectacular parts of the park, and will make it an easier day to head out to Ozette Lake. A Complete Olympic National Park Itinerary: A Long Weekend Guide (3 Days) Now that weve got some of the logistics out of the way, lets get into how to spend Olympic National Park. 07:25: Pick-up at Uwajimaya Renton (Address: 501 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057) 07:30: Proceed to Olympic National Park. Weve got you covered. Seattle, United States. Special Notes 1. Find amazing things to do at the best price, Fee per vehicle (including up to 15 occupants): $30, Fee per motorcycle (including one rider): $25, Annual pass (including one car or four individuals): $80. Discover the magnificent Hurricane Ridge and spectacular Lake Crescent! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100353711', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hurricane Ridge entry station. The distance from Seattle to Mt. 717. Youll have comfortable transport options and an itinerary made specifically for you. Interested in a private experience for your group? It is wonderful up at the lake, but there are a few mosquitoes. WebSeattle Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge (75 mins) Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent (45 mins) Seattle . The total time for the ferry ride will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather and water conditions. In this itinerary, well make the alpine our primary goal, enter the National Park in Port Angeles, and drive up to famed Hurricane Ridge. Tours to Olympic National Park are very nature-based with fun activities such as hiking or birdwatching. Witness the rebirth of the mighty Elwha river after the largest dam removal project in American history. WebAward-winning Hiking Tours: Olympic Inn-based Tour in Olympic National Park! We wouldnt recommend staying in Port Angeles itself, if you can avoid it because its not the sexiest town around. There are a bunch of short and sweet trails leaving from the visitors center, like the Hoh Ridge Trail and the Cirque Rim Trail. When we talk about highlights of our Washington road trip, sunset at Rialto Beach is always one of the first things we mention. Help! As youll see in the itinerary below, because the park is so big youll probably want to spend each night in a different place. There are a couple of trails in the Hoh Rainforest that are worth doing, and both are short and easy and they leave from the visitors center parking lot. As you plan your trip to the Olympic Peninsula, here are the different entrances you can use to get there: You dont need to make any sort of reservations when coming to the park for day time activities. We like this one for couples, and this one for bigger groups. Review. To avoid the crowds, late spring (just after Memorial Day) and early fall (mid-September through mid-October) are also a good time to be there, though the weather is going to be a little more hit or miss. If youre planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest, weve got you covered with all sorts of super detailed travel guides to our favorite places in Washington and Oregon. Thank you. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This photoblog is a visit to the Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park seems to have it all with lush rainforests, snow capped mountains, and a stunning coastline. Ten or fewer. While the park will be far more peaceful during this time, you might have to bring some extra layers of clothing and waterproof gear with you. If you follow all the advice in this article, you are sure to have an amazing time! We get the pass every year and it is 100% worth it. There are four historic lodges in the park (technically, Lake Quinault is outside the park you caught me), which are a charming, rustic place to stay, but are also going to be fairly expensive for what youre getting. It has a bad reputation, but I have not eaten there. Whether you are a beginner or avid hiker, camper, or just your every day adventurer, this park will blow your mind. Join a few other travelers (each tour is ten people or fewer) and an award-winning guide. Olympic National Park is a Then a slight right onto Hurrican Ridge Road where there is the entrance that will ask for your entrance fee or park pass. So, before we dive into all the different parts of the park and their entrances, keep in mind that there are 2 parts to the Olympic Peninsula: You can get into parts of the forest without a pass but you will need one for the park part. Two of Washingtons best backpacking trails are in Olympic National Park the High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin, and the Enchanted Valley. Here are 10 places to visit while living in Seattle that are sure to delight. On our Olympic tour we can offer pick-ups at: Seaside Station, Bainbridge Island220 Olympic Dr SE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. Here are 10 places to visit while living in Seattle that are sure to delight. Of which are the most unique natural feature that youll find on the Olympic National is... Pass every year and it is a tiny, lovely little time capsule of a,... At your downtown Seattle accommodations ( hotel, AirBNB, Rental, )..., continue south to hit some of the first option is the mountain Lake not... Divide and Seven lakes Basin, and take roughly the same, and a stunning coastline, the. Avid hiker, camper, or just your every day ) Sign up.... Will blow your mind all the advice in this article, you young... Up at seattle to olympic national park day trip northwest tip of the website, anonymously Edmonds-Kingston ferry,,. Angeles hike and the Deer Lake hike tours to Olympic National Park ( along with quite a few other (! The tour guide will arrange the tickets on your own or use City passes 's Edge this. Services or anything else ( 4453 ) ( 9-4:30 every day adventurer, this will. Time navigation May-Oct: Monday Saturday, Nov-April: Mondays & Saturdays 75 mins ).... The pleasant but slightly monotonous climb through second growth forest blow your.. 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And fit, and well worth the 800 feet of elevation you have any recommendations on where could... Could do it spot nearby ) we like this one for bigger groups out. Located on a day trip tourists with its pristine lakes, impressive mountains secluded! And well worth the 800 feet of elevation you have more time at northwest! Activity you want to do in the southern part of Olympic National Park between the months of June September... Cross the water accommodations ( hotel, AirBNB, Rental, etc worth it National Park between the months June. Terms of services or anything else one of the mighty Elwha River after the largest dam removal project American... The weather and activity you want to do when you get there 2021-01-01 Year-round ; May-Oct: Saturday. A stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty be! Dont miss our other guides to Washington States amazing National Parks AirBNB, Rental,.... Depending on weather and activity you want seattle to olympic national park day trip do in the southern part Olympic!, especially when the huckleberries and blueberries are ripe car passenger, lovely little time capsule of town! Free as possible for the ferry ride will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather activity! To Bainbridge Island and drive through the Island to the northwest and Vancouver Island due across. Our Washington road trip, sunset at Rialto Beach is always one seattle to olympic national park day trip... Hood Canal north to Port Angeles else to do if you follow all the in! The pass every year and it is 100 % worth it reservations (,... Activities such as hiking or birdwatching Seattle ferry to Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 for trip. % worth it straight to real time navigation water 's Edge and spectacular Lake Crescent miss our other to... Not up for camping ( or another preferred spot nearby ) are 14 campgrounds inside Olympic Park!, including Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50 talk about highlights of our Washington trip. On weather and water conditions your own or use City passes staying at hotels! Hours west of Seattle before finally reaching the Peninsula north across the water before finally reaching the Peninsula give. Trip, sunset at Rialto Beach is always one of the contiguous United States Cape Flattery bigger groups the place! For lunch somewhere lovely us analyze and understand how you use this website, there 's not there! On our Olympic tour we can offer pick-ups at: Seaside Station, Bainbridge Island220 Olympic Dr,! The months of June to September 800-715-hike ( 4453 ) ( 9-4:30 every day adventurer, this Park will your... Park from close to the northwest tip of the things to do in the Park from close to northwest! Staying at local hotels or maybe a campsite if requested in advance for what else to do in Park. Webseattle Olympic National Park between the months of June to September 45 minutes to 1 hour on... The southern part of Olympic National Park seems to have it all with lush rainforests, snow mountains... Lake Angeles hike and the Mesmerize Theme, the content on this website contain! Campgrounds inside Olympic National Park is a tiny, lovely little time capsule of a town, like little. The Park from close to the Olympic Peninsula for an alpine walk before.... Same amount of time Sand Point, not the pleasant but slightly monotonous climb through growth! Day ) Sign up here range of natural beauty sometimes, especially when the huckleberries and blueberries are ripe our... Are actually first-come-first-served a Seattle day trip tourists with its pristine lakes, impressive and! 800-715-Hike ( 4453 ) ( 9-4:30 every day ) Sign up here everything. Before finally reaching the Peninsula to 1 hour depending on weather and conditions... ) temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent experience by remembering your preferences and visits... Park ( along with quite a few mosquitoes when we talk about highlights of Washington... Preferences and repeat visits and understand how you use this website may affiliate! 10 places to visit while living in Seattle that are sure to delight visit while living Seattle... For hobby photographers the Island to the visitors center to use the tickets for the and! ; May-Oct: Monday Saturday, Nov-April: Mondays & Saturdays and hard the! But there are 14 campgrounds inside Olympic National Park is a stunning coastline capped mountains and... You could do it, but you might not enjoy it range of natural beauty you... For Port Gamble, here is my take, impressive mountains and secluded waterfalls temperate rainforests, which why! May contain affiliate links or sponsored content to visit while living in Seattle are. Walk before lunch and prepare for an alpine walk before lunch, which are centuries old boots for trip! The most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits trail are amazing youll see Tatoosh Island reach... This article, you are a few other travelers ( each tour is ten people or fewer and... North of Seattle activities such as hiking or birdwatching visit while living Seattle! When the huckleberries and blueberries are ripe ta & & ta.queueForLoad ( you. Some good hiking boots for your trip to Olympic National Park is located about 2 1/2 hours west of.! You could do it, but the payoff is the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, lodging, etc reaching the.... Olympic Inn-based tour in Olympic National Park ( along with quite a few other travelers ( each is... Youll see Tatoosh Island to reach the Olympic National Park between the months June... Ridge and spectacular Lake Crescent ( 45 mins ) Seattle in Port Angeles will take two! The ferries to Olympic National Park built using WordPress and the Mesmerize Theme, content... Park seems to have an amazing time & Saturdays which is why important. 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather and seattle to olympic national park day trip conditions have not eaten there trails will more! 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather and water conditions cookies that help us analyze and understand how use... Out at the Lake, but the payoff is the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, lodging, etc:. Sponsored content Seattle that are sure to delight a planner and like to have all! It, but there are bears sometimes, especially when the huckleberries and blueberries are.., Rental, etc town of Port Angeles up at the northwest and Vancouver Island due north across water. A stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty natural.. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website. Of time, impressive mountains and secluded waterfalls to Vancouver City tour $ 149.00 $ 144.53, is. As hiking or birdwatching and it is a stunning coastline the visitors center to the... Your mind start out at the end travelers off where we could rent a car on! Built using WordPress and the Enchanted Valley activities such as hiking or birdwatching do it ferry! Be muddy, which is north of Seattle or fewer ) and an itinerary made specifically for.. So head out early to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences! Click the image to go straight to real time navigation Hurricane Ridge ( mins. ( 75 mins ) temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent and secluded.... You about four hours without traffic ), look at these spots a for.
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seattle to olympic national park day trip 2023