Overview

Olympic delivers three parks in one: temperate rainforests with moss-draped giants, alpine peaks crowned by glaciers, and 70 miles of driftwood-strewn coastline. The park spans 1,442 square miles with remarkable ecological diversity—from the wettest spot in the lower 48 (Hoh Rain Forest) to high alpine terrain. The trade-off: this variety requires strategic planning. You'll need multiple days and significant driving (some areas are 3+ hours apart) to experience more than one ecosystem. With 3.7 million visitors but a congestion index of just 4.6, crowds disperse naturally across the vast landscape.

Trail Tip

Hit Hurricane Ridge at sunrise in May before the tour buses arrive. You'll have the wildflower meadows and mountain goat sightings virtually to yourself, and the road is freshly cleared from winter closure. Park at the main lot by 6:30 AM, then hike the Hurricane Hill trail—the alpine views are unobstructed before morning fog rolls in.

When to Go

The sweet spot is June — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in August.

Best weather window before peak season. Most trails accessible. Long daylight hours for Mount Olympus attempts.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Alpine trails: Heavy snow limits high elevation access; best July-September

Some forest roads: Weather-dependent closures during winter storms

How Busy Is It?

How Olympic compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 39% of national parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

More crowded trails than 36% of parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

Higher campsite pressure than 51% of parks

EasyTough
Above Average
6,522 Visitors / Trail Mile
856 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Olympic has more trail mileage than 89% of national parks, with 570 miles across 600 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 17% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 17% Moderate 58% Strenuous 25%
A trail leads through an old growth forest surrounded by ferns.

Walk the Moments in Time Trail

easy
0.8 mi ·30 min hrs
A waterfall rushes over mossy rocks to a pond below.

See Madison Falls

Moderate
0 mi ·15 min hrs

Mount Olympus Trail

strenuous
17.5 mi ·3,600 ft gain ·9-11 hours hrs

Hoh River Trail

moderate
17.2 mi ·1,000 ft gain ·8-10 hours hrs
View all 48 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Olympic's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

12 campgrounds with 719 total sites. About 58% are first-come, first-served.

A view from the top of a mountain with trees and mountains in the background.

Deer Park Campground First-Come

14 sites ·$15/night ·Seasonal
A campsite with a picnic table. Beyond the trees, glittering turquoise water.

Fairholme Campground Reservable

88 sites ·$24/night ·Seasonal
A campsite with a picnic table among tall trees.

Graves Creek Campground First-Come

30 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
A campsite with picnic table among tall trees.

Heart O' the Hills Campground First-Come

97 sites ·$24/night ·Seasonal
View all 12 campgrounds

Top Activities

Olympic excels at 11 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Photography

10/10

Rainforest landscapes, waterfalls, alpine views, wild coastline, and pristine wilderness

Hiking

9/10

600 miles of trails from rainforest walks to alpine peaks to coastal beach hikes

Backpacking

9/10

Extensive backcountry with coastal backpack routes, Ozette Triangle, and Hoh River trail

Wildlife Viewing

9/10

Elk, deer, seals, sea lions, bald eagles, bear tracks; tide pool creatures along coast

Kayaking Canoeing

8/10

Lake Crescent and Lake Quinault excellent for paddling; pristine waters and mountain views

Scenic Driving

8/10

Lake Crescent loop and Hoh River Road scenic drives; limited highway options in park

Bird Watching

8/10

Over 300 bird species; bald eagles, marbled murrelets, woodpeckers, waterfowl

Fishing

7/10

Excellent salmon and steelhead in rivers; trout in lakes; rivers and coastal streams

Stargazing

7/10

Good stargazing in backcountry; frequent clouds and rain affect coastal areas

Snowshoeing

7/10

Alpine trails convert to snowshoe routes; lower elevations muddy; winter access limited

Ranger Programs

7/10

Ranger talks, guided walks, campfire programs, and educational activities June-September

Who It's For

Photographers 10/10 Experienced Hikers 9/10 International Visitors 9/10 Families Teens 8/10 Solo Travelers 8/10 Couples 8/10 First Time Park Visitors 8/10 Adventure Seekers 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: Seattle, WA (240 mi). Fly into SEA.

In-Park Services

Gas available · Lodging available · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Port Angeles, WA / Sequim, WA — full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#6 Best National Parks for Hiking #9 Best National Parks for Backpacking

Stories

10 Longest Trails in the National Parks The ten longest trails in the national parks all happen to be at Crater Lake, from a half-mile stroll to a 33-mile sufferfest 10 Short National Park Trails That Pack Serious Elevation Ten trails that deliver serious elevation in small packages, from Denali climbs to vertical shortcuts you'll pay for on the way back 8 National Parks With the Most Trails Eight parks where trail networks measure in hundreds of miles and you could hike every weekend for years without repeating routes 8 National Parks With the Most Campgrounds These parks lead the country in campground volume, spreading hundreds of sites across varied terrain and seasons 10 Best Waterfall Hikes in the National Parks Crater Lake's waterfalls and water features deliver what postcard views can't: solitude, old-growth forests, and geological oddities worth the walk 10 Short National Park Trails That Pack a Punch Capitol Reef's best short trails pack slot canyons, arches, and real scrambling into distances that fit between breakfast and lunch The Pacific Northwest National Parks Road Trip Four volcanic parks near Seattle where terrain and timing conspire to shake crowds, even the ones that draw millions

Gateway Cities

Seattle, WA 83 mi / 1.5h drive Portland, OR 214 mi / 3.9h drive

Road Trips

Olympic is a stop on this road trip:

Pacific Northwest Loop 4 parks · 750 miles

Compare Olympic

See how Olympic stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Olympic

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park?

The best month to visit Olympic is June, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in August. The park has 4 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Olympic National Park?

Olympic is moderately crowded, with a congestion index of 4.6/10. The park receives 3.7M visitors annually across 1,442 square miles.

How many trails does Olympic National Park have?

Olympic has 570 miles of trails across 100 easy, 350 moderate, and 150 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Mount Olympus Trail, Hoh River Trail, Marymere Falls Trail.

Can you camp at Olympic National Park?

Yes, Olympic has 12 campgrounds with 719 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Olympic National Park open year-round?

Yes, Olympic is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as temperate_rainforest_alpine.

Nearby Parks

Mount Rainier National Park 113 mi away
North Cascades National Park 129 mi away
Crater Lake National Park 344 mi away