Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Olympic National Park.
Q: Where is Olympic National Park located?
A:Olympic National Park is located in northwestern Washington.
Q:What type of terrain can I expect when visiting Olympic Park?
A:The diverse terrain at Olympic National Park contains jagged mountains, glaciers, lush rain forests, and beaches that are covered with driftwood. This is a park where you can experience several types of vacations in one!
Q:What are some popular activities at Olympic National Park?
A:Nature lover’s come here to hike, bike, and take photographs. Other activities include boating, fishing, and water sports.
Q:Is there an entrance fee to get into Olympic National Park?
A:
Vehicle: $30.00 for 7 Days
Motorcycles: $25.00 for 7 Days
Individuals: $15.00 for 7 Days
Q:What is the weather like at Olympic National Park?
A:Because of this remarkably diverse landscape, climatic changes within the park are abrupt. The western side of the park has the wettest weather in the United States, averaging nearly 12 to 14 feet of precipitation each year. The eastern side of the park, which lies in the rain shadow of the mountains, is the driest area on the Pacific Coast north of Los Angeles.
Q:What is the recommended stay duration at Olympic National Park?
A:Minimalist (3 - 4 Days)
Driving/Sightseeing: 1 – 2 days
Hiking/Exploring: 1 day
Activities/Tours/Special Programs: 1 day
Adventurist (5 - 7 Days)
Driving/Sightseeing: 1 – 3 days
Hiking/Exploring: 2 days
Activities/Tours/Special Programs: 2 days
Notes: Olympic National Park is vast, and so are its recreational opportunities. Olympic is really like three separate unique parks mashed into one. The spectacular mountains of hurricane ridge allow for some unparalleled scenic vistas and panoramas as well as the opportunity to witness a few of the parks 60+ names glaciers. Hurricane Ridge is also home to two of the parks popular lakes, Lake Sutherland and Lake Crescent, two lakes that were once a single body of water until a great landslide created a natural dam that divided them into two separate lakes. You can’t leave the Hurricane Ridge area of the park without visiting the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. This special resort has been a favorite destination for tourist to the area since 1912! A variety of natural thermal pools sooth away your cares as you sit back and enjoy the beauty of the forests and mountains that surround the resort. If time allows, a day trip up to the Port Angeles area is also recommended. The straight of Juan de Fuca which separates Washington state from British Columbia, CA is a great place to see some aquatic wildlife including migrating Wales during certain times of the year.
Take another day to explore the Hoh Rainforest, another “park” within the park. The Hoh Rain Forest is located about 2 ½ hours southwest of Port Angeles, between the Olympic National Park Mountains and the Coastal Region. The Hoh is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park's most popular destinations. Take the Upper Hoh Road into the heart of the park where you will find the visitor center. This is a great place to learn more about the beauty and history of the rainforest and to get a general overview of what it offers. Behind the visitors center you will find the trail heads of two popular nature trails, the Hall of Mosses Trail and the Spruce Nature Trail. Both of these trails are well worth the time and effort and will give you a more personal look at some of the regions intricate beauty from it’s spruce, hemlock and cedar trees measuring up to 25 feet in circumference and 300 feet tall, to it’s delicate mosses, ferns that drape the conifers and maples creating an endless variety of lush greenery. If you are an adventurist you will want to explore the Hoh River Trail, a 17. 3 mile trail that leads through the forest to Glacier Meadows along the shoulder of Mount Olympus.
Q:What are the temperature variances at Olympic National Park?
A:
Month
High (F°)
Low (F°)
January
47
36
February
49
37
March
51
37
April
55
39
May
60
43
June
63
48
July
67
51
August
69
51
September
66
47
October
58
47
November
50
38
December
46
35
Q:Are pets allowed inside of the park?
A:
Pets are not allowed on most trails, in public buildings, on interpretive walks, or in the wilderness. Pets are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots, and pet-friendly trails. These trails allow pets: Peabody Creek Trail (Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles), Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek (1/2 mile), The beaches between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations (Kalaloch area), Madison Falls Trail (Elwha), Spruce Railroad Trail (North shore of Lake Crescent), and July Creek Loop Trail (North shore of Lake Quinault). You can not leave your pet unattended or tied up to an object. Pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet (1.8 meters) at all times. Owners must clean up after their pets.
Q:Is there cellular and WiFi service?
A:
Cellular service is very limited and depends on your carrier. Public WiFi is available at some restaurants, shops, visitor centers, and lodgings in and outside of the park for guest use only.
Q:When is the park open?
A:
Olympic National Park is open year-round 24 hours a day. Although some roads and facilities are only open seasonally.
