This is page 3 of this article. To start at the beginning, click here.
Most people miss out on some of the most amazing views in Olympic, but that doesn’t have to be you! Check out this itinerary before you go.
6. Hall of Mosses
Get ready to enter a world where the trees drip with moss, and the rain never stops. Experience Olympic’s Hoh Rainforest as you hike the Hall of Mosses Trail — this area of the park receives 12-14 feet of rain each year!
What You Need to Know
This hike is perfect for all ages and provides an impressive introduction to the mystical Hoh Rainforest. Take your time as you hike 0.8 miles through moss-covered trees. If you look closely, you’ll likely discover many unique plants and animals along the way!
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
The Hall of Mosses Trail is located in the Hoh Rainforest area of the park. From the town of Forks, drive approximately 13 miles south on Highway 101 and look for the turn-off to the rainforest. Turn left and follow the road for another 18 miles as it snakes along the Hoh River. After paying to enter the park at the entrance station, continue to the end of the road. Park in the large parking area and walk to the Visitor Center. Your hike begins at the sign just outside of the Visitor Center doors.
7. Sol Duc Falls
Dramatic. Enchanting. Powerful. This hike will make you feel as though you’ve shattered the barrier that separates fantasy and reality! Feel the spray and savor the beauty of Olympic’s most famous waterfall.
What You Need to Know
The hike to Sol Duc Falls is an enjoyable activity for hikers of all ages and abilities. You’ll travel 1.6 miles roundtrip and gain about 200 feet of elevation along the way. Enjoy the wide, well-maintained trail as it curves through the forest and crosses a few small, picturesque streams.
Shortly after passing the historic shelter, you’ll reach the popular bridge that spans the waterfall. Sol Duc Falls will usually have either 3 or 4 channels of water, depending on the water flow. Enjoy the view from the bridge, and the viewing decks, then return the way you came to reach the parking area. Several challenging trails continue on from this area if you are prepared to continue hiking.
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
Sol Duc Falls is located in the Sol Duc Resort area, about halfway between the cities of Port Angeles and Forks along Highway 101. Look for the sign to the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Olympic National Park and turn here! Follow the Hot Springs Road for approximately 13.8 miles as it follows the river, passing by the Resort and Campground. The trail begins where the road dead-ends.
8. High Ridge Trail
Experience a lofty mountain landscape on this short hike in the park’s most popular section! Hiking high on this ridgeline offers sensational 360-degree views of Olympic’s marvelous peaks.
What You Need to Know
This trail is a 0.5-mile loop, but what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in elevation. You’ll gain 220 feet quickly as you make your way up the hill! From the top of the hill, soak in the views in every direction. Continue following the trail along the ridge, and be sure to take the short spur trail out to Sunrise Point.
From here, continue your loop down the mountain. You can stay on the High Ridge Trail to go straight to the parking area, but I recommend taking the Cirque Rim Trail (adding one additional mile) to see more wonderful views before wrapping up your hike.
Many trails intersect in this area, but here’s a map to help you choose your route.
Pets are not permitted on trails in this area.
Getting Here
The High Ridge Trail is located in the Hurricane Ridge section of Olympic National Park. To get here from Port Angeles, travel south on Race Street. After passing the Olympic National Park Visitor Center on your right, take a slight right onto Hurricane Ridge Road. After driving for 18 miles on this curvy mountain road, you’ll reach the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
The High Ridge Trail begins near the parking spots on the right at the very beginning of the parking lot as you come up the hill.
9. Kalaloch Beach 4
Get ready to discover an underwater world full of peculiar creatures. Sea stars, anemones, and crabs are common in these tidepools, but you never know what you might find!
What You Need to Know
Beach 4 is (in my humble opinion) the best easily accessible beach in Olympic National Park for tidepooling — this place is teeming with sea creatures! A short trail leads down to the beach from the parking area, but some climbing over driftwood is required.
Tidepool environments are extremely fragile, so please use caution and courtesy as you explore. A few guidelines are:
- Wear sturdy shoes and keep an eye out for sneaker waves
- Only step on bare rocks or sand
- Don’t step on any creatures, such as barnacles or mussels
- Touch the marine life very gently {no poking, prodding, or forcing them to move}
Tidepooling needs to be done at low tide. See when the best low tide is for your adventure by checking the tide table here.
Getting Here
Beach 4 is located in the Kalaloch (pronounced clay-lock) section of the park. From the Kalaloch Lodge, drive 3.3 miles north on Highway 101. Turn left at the sign for Beach 4 and then hike down to the beach to begin tidepooling.
10. Marymere Falls
Venture past the shores of Lake Crescent to find this peaceful waterfall. Get excited for big trees, beautiful log bridges, and the 90-foot Marymere Falls as you follow the trail through a picturesque old-growth forest!
What You Need to Know
This hike is 1.8 miles roundtrip and gains about 200 feet of elevation. Most of the elevation is gained on the stairs at the end of the trail as you approach the waterfall.
Hikers of all ages and abilities will enjoy this trail! The path is wide and well-maintained to accommodate groups, and there is a fun place to hang out by the water near the log bridges. You’ll find two viewing decks for Marymere Falls at the end of the trail — I think the lower one offers the best view.
Pets are not permitted on this trail.
Getting Here
From Port Angeles, travel west on Highway 101 for approximately 18 miles until you see the turn for the Lake Crescent Lodge on your right. Turn here and park near the Storm King Ranger Station. Look for the trail that travels in front of the ranger station. This is the way to Marymere Falls.
Have a great time in Olympic National Park. Happy trails!
Click NEXT for the Ultimate Trip Planning Guide to Olympic.
More Olympic Trip Planning Information
Olympic Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Olympic — the best airports, roads, and ferries in the area.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Olympic? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners
Best Things to Do — activities for every adventurer
The Ultimate Olympic Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know
I really enjoy your videos. I will be driving up front NorCal and.my sister will either be with me already or fly into Seattle. We plan on June, but I now wonder if July would be better. we have about 3 weeks total in Wa.
I thought of doing in this order Olympic peninsula, Mt. Rainier, San Juan Island for the orcas, North Cascades. should we move the orcas up or even do that first in June? Should we move everything to July so we have to worry less about snow around Mt Rainier and N Cascades? We will stay at hotels, day hikes only no camping.
Thank you, we would very much value your input.
June is too early for hiking in Rainier and North Cascades. If you don’t plan on doing much hiking and don’t mind the snow, then June is ok. But otherwise, I wouldn’t go any earlier than mid-July. Have fun!
I am SO glad I stumbled upon your website! SO helpful! We are doing an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle next late June/early July. We would like to explore either Olympic National Park or Mt Rainier before or after our cruise. Any recommendations as to which would be best? Maybe some scenery we won’t see on our Alaskan cruise? Can’t decide if we should purchase your Olympia or Mt Rainier itenerary! We’ll probably only have 2 days so maybe Mt Rainier would be best?
Rainier will still be really snowy that time of year, so I’d go to Olympic if you want to do something other than driving through the park :)
I found your itineraries to be EXCEPTIONAL!! No stone was left unturned relative to detail. Additionally it was extremely well presented and laid out. I look forward to using your itineraries for future trips. Thank you for your efforts in putting together an invaluable resource.
Well thank you Bruce! I really appreciate that, and am so grateful for your kindness and support. I look forward to hearing about your future national park adventures!
I just purchased the Olympic itinerary. We are fortunate in that we’ll have over 4 days in June. However, planning when to be in certain areas was overwhelming. When I found your website our trip planning became much easier. The itinerary is well worth the money! We want to be adventurers – not sitting in traffic, I listened to your podcast where you mentioned that your first trip to Olympic was “underwhelming”. I believe that with the itinerary in hand, we’ll avoid that.
Thanks so much Lisa! And yes, your trip shouldn’t be underwhelming if you have the itinerary in hand and if you’ve listened to the podcast episodes. That’s all the stuff we wish we would have known before we visited for the first time. Enjoy Olympic!!
Hi Ash!
I purchased your itinerary for Olympic and have been studying it for our trip in July 2024. My question – you recommend staying in Port Angeles and Forks, but are those more convenient than staying IN the park? We traditionally stay in the parks (and book a year ahead) to save on driving time and have more character/historic lodging. But all I noticed is your tip to stay at the Lake Crescent Lodge if we want to split the difference. We plan on doing your 3-day itinerary just as you advise and staying 3 nights.
Thanks for your advice!
Amber
Hey Amber, please contact me here so that I can better answer your questions!
Hi, We will be visiting our son with 3 days and 2 nights to spend on the Olympia peninsula Dec 28-30 2021. Please advise us on an itinerary and where to stay. I was going to purchase you travel plan but found no way to specify the mid week winter trip. Thanks so much
Hey Alison! My itineraries don’t work during the winter when things close down, but I hope you have an amazing time in the park!
My Wife and I are planning to visit Olympic, Mt. Rainier, and maybe Northern Cascades the last week of May (weather permitting, won’t know till we get there what the snow is like).
Do you think one day is enough time in each park or should we plan some extra time?
Mt. Rainier and North Cascades will be a challenge at that time of year — some of the most popular trails in Rainier don’t melt out until mid-July! Olympic should be mostly accessible, so I’d put more time there. That park is huge and takes a long time to drive between activities. Have a great time!
I am a senior citizen who used your itinerary in Yellowstone and loved it. My son now lives in Seattle and I can’t wait to go back for a visit. I am hoping to convince him and his girlfriend to join me as they are hikers too. I just want to know the best month for me weather wise. I hate the cold but have the layers to endure if I must. But over 80 degrees and my hot flashes and body temp go crazy😆😆 so when should I go.
Haha I’m not a fan of hiking in the heat either :) Temperatures in Olympic don’t usually get hotter than 75 or 80 degrees during the summer, but if you’re worried about that, I’d say aim for June or July. Summer is the dry season in that area, so if you go in Spring, Fall, or Winter, there’s a good chance of getting a lot of precipitation. The beaches usually get really foggy in August. Hope that helps!
Hi! I really enjoy reading your material! My husband and I are thinking of making a trip to Olympic National Park in November (middle 10th-13th). If we pack rain gear, could we still hike at that time?
Many areas of Olympic are accessible year-round, so you should be fine. Hurricane Ridge will be iffy, but the beaches and rainforest should be okay!
Hi Ash! I wonder is middle of May a good time to visit Olympic NP? Thank you!
Yeah it can be great! Just be aware that the higher elevations (like Hurricane Ridge) will likely still be very snowy. And it will probably be too cold to swim in Lake Crescent :) But the rainforests and beaches should be wonderful!
Another great set of suggestions with clear information about each site. We will be there in just a few weeks. Our time is extremely limited, but we will make the most of it, thanks to your guidance.
Thanks Karin! Have fun!