11 Of The Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
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The hikes in Olympic National Park are some of the most unique in the state of Washington.
There really is something for everyone here- whether you like lush rainforests with roaring waterfalls, high mountain peaks or coastal scenes with beautiful, crashing waves, there is a hike for you.
One of the many great parts about the Olympics is that you can find many easy, day hikes that will fit nicely into a road trip or weekend itinerary. In fact- 4 out of these 11 hikes are under 2 miles round trip!
The other wonderful part about the Olympics is that the majority of these hikes remain accessible year round.
Since the Olympic National Park is in a temperate rainforest it remains generally mild year round- it does snow in the higher elevations but most of the low elevation forest spots are great for Winter weekend trips.
Without further ado here are 11 of the best hikes in Olympic National Park- enjoy!
Hiking Resources For Beginners!
In addition to this post I have other blog posts and guides that will add so much to your backpacking knowledge! Be sure to go give those posts a save 🙂
Hikes In Olympic National Park Map
Olympic National Park Hikes
Ranked From Easiest To Most Difficult
1. Hall Of Mosses Trail
Length: .8 Miles RT
Elevation Gain: 100 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: Link
Permit: National Park Pass
The Hall of Mosses is one of the most iconic hikes in the Olympic National Park.
Located in the Hoh Rainforest the trees look like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss Book (I like to think they are wearing leg warmers!) and it is absolutely magical when covered in a light fog and drizzle of rain.
This trail is a bit more of a stroll than a real hike, but it is still a wonderful addition to any Olympic trip and great for kiddos or people looking to get out and stretch their legs after a long car ride.
It begins at the visitors center and goes in a short, but beautiful loop over streams and through the ferns.
READ MORE: 11 Of The Best Moderate Day Hikes In Washington
2. Cape Flattery Trail
Length: 1.5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 200 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Makah Recreation Pass
If you are looking to check something fun off your list, you can head to the most Northwestern point in the United States- Cape Flattery!
This hike is actually located in the Makah Indian Reservation near Neah Bay, Washington. Since it is located in the reservation you will need an extra permit, you can acquire this $20 annual permit at any of the general stores or gas stations in the small town of Neah Bay.
Cape Flattery is another great hike for kids or older people, almost the entire hike is paved with cute little boardwalks and there are many benches and lookouts to hangout at.
It took me years to get to this hike as it is a bit far out of the way- about 2 hours North of Port Angeles. If you do decide to come here, make it a weekend and go to Shi Shi Beach as well!
READ MORE: Layering For Hiking
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3. Sol Duc Falls Trail
Length: 1.6 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 200 ft
Sol Duc Falls is easily one of my favorite waterfalls in Washington!
You have probably seen a photo of this on social media before as it is one of the most photogenic places in Washington (Photo tip- go in January to get morning light rays!)
The hike to Sol Duc Falls is a short trail, but filled with beauty! Crossover beautiful streams while you meander through the ferns and under towering trees dripping with moss.
This is a wonderful hike for children as it is almost completely flat the entire way with a great pay off at the end!
READ MORE: Check Out These 11 Stunning 4. Marymere Falls Trail
Marymere Falls is another one of those lucky hikes that doesn’t require much work but has a big reward.
The trailhead itself is gorgeous, starting out at Lake Crescent and the cutest Ranger Station you will ever see (a great spot for photography!)
To get to the waterfall you follow the path to the right of the lake and cross under the freeway. After a small tunnel, you are greeted with a lovely trail that leads by beautiful trees, two stunning bridges across a small river, and a gorgeous waterfall- all within a short 1.7 mile trail.
If you want to add a harder hike onto this, try Mt. Storm King! You can find more info on it farther down this list.
5. Staircase Rapids Trail
Length: 2.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 574 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Information: Link
Permit: National Park Pass
Located further south near Lake Cushman this is a great out & back hike if you are coming from the South.
Staircase Rapids is a nice little hike to a gorgeous suspension bridge over the Skokomish river- a wonderful place for a morning stroll!
If you are looking for a weekend trip you can loop this trail in with hiking the nearby Mt. Ellinor and then hanging out at Lake Cushman for the night.
6. 2nd Beach Washington
This hike takes you through a beautiful forest filled with ferns and graceful trees that softly filter the sunshine. It doesn’t take long before you’re ushered out onto the sandy beach.
With barely any elevation gain this truly is just a nice leisurely walk.
While you can make this just a day hike, the big fun comes from backpacking here!
Imagine with me for a moment, crashing waves, a fire you built from driftwood crackling at your feet while you sip red wine and laugh with your friends under the stars. This is camping at 2nd Beach.
This is one of the first backpacking trails I ever did in Washington and it is still one of my favorite memories- you can find more information in my favorite backpacks blog post linked below!
READ MORE: 11 Of The Best Backpacking Trails In Washington
7. Rialto Beach Trail
Rialto beach is another great beach to visit along the Washington coast. You park in a lot right next to the beach and hike the beach to some gorgeous haystack rocks.
This “hike” is a wonderful way to spend your day- watch for eagles, sea lions and whales while you meander over the sand.
Similar to 2nd beach you can turn this day hike into a backpacking trip with a permit from Recreation.gov! There are campsites tucked amongst the woods and it makes for a wonderful weekend trip.
Rialto beach has a special significance for me- it’s where I met my boyfriend!
READ MORE: Artist Point Snowshoe– The Best Winter Activity In Washington
8. Shi Shi Beach Trail To Point Of Arches
Length: 8.8 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 352 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Makah Recreation Pass
This hike is my most recent addition to my collection here in the Olympics and it is definitely vying for a spot as one of my favorites!
Similar to 2nd beach you will hike through a forested trail for around 2 miles before you reach the beach- it is relatively flat but careful, it has tons of mud!
After two miles you reach the beach and can now make the decision for yourself on how far you want to meander. Point of Arches is a beautiful collection of haystack rocks at the end of the beach and in my opinion, a great destination to hike to!
Just like the rest of the beaches on this list you can make this an over-niter with a permit from the Ranger station (be sure to reserve ahead of time!) and a Makah trip permit from Neah Bay which is actually required for a day hike as well.
READ MORE: Getting Started In Mountaineering
9. Mt. Storm King Trail
I don’t often repeat a hike, with that being said- I have done Mt. Storm King three different times now.
What can I say? It is just one of those hikes that just doesn’t get old!
With the combination of expansive views over Lake Crescent, an adventurous rope climb and a split off to a waterfall (Marymere Falls!) I find it to be one of the most perfect day hikes around.
It combines adventure with amazing photography options. Come at sunset for a night you will not forget.
Check out my full guide-linked below!
READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide To The Mt. Storm King Hike
10. Hoh River Trail to 5 Mile Island
Length: 10.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 387 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: National Park Pass
If you did the Hall of Mosses and are looking for a longer version- this is your trail!
The Hoh River Trail meanders along the Hoh River for a while until it branches off into the rainforest.
Many people will take this trail until they have had their fill of beautiful rain-forest and then turn around, or will set up camp and spend the night!
If you are looking for a challenge you can backpack the trail all the way to the Blue Glacier (37 miles RT) at the bottom of Mt. Olympus- I haven’t done it yet but it is high on my list!
READ MORE: What To Wear Hiking In The Fall– Cute Options That Will Keep You Warm!
11. Mt. Ellinor Trail
Length: 6.2 miles rt
Elevation Gain: 3,300 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Information: Link
Permit: Northwest Forest Pass
This is the hardest hike on the list, but also one of the most rewarding! Hike to the summit of Mt. Ellinor- a gorgeous mountain in the Southern part of the Olympic Peninsula near Lake Cushman.
This hike is totally worth the hard climb and can be done in the Summer or Winter (although Winter requires mountaineering gear and an alternative route)
The views from the top look over mountain layers, lakes and gives you a 360 view of the surrounding area. This is also a popular spot with mountain goats in the summer so you may be lucky and run into some friends!
There are two trailheads to choose from- the lower and the upper. The lower trailhead is longer but eases you into the hike’s elevation while the upper trailhead jumps straight into the upward climb but is only 3.2 miles round-trip.
More Info On Hiking In Olympic National Park
Getting To Olympic National Park
There are generally two ways to get to the Olympic National Park and the best way will depend on where you are coming from and where you are going.
Coming from the South: You can drive around the southern part of the sound to the Olympia area and either head to the coast from there and drive up or cut through Tacoma to Gig Harbor and head up through Vashon to Port Angeles.
Coming from the North: You can take the Edmonds to Kingston Ferry and then drive to Port Angeles and beyond from there or you can take the ferry from Downtown Seattle to Bainbridge.
Just be wary of making sure you get to the ferry a bit early as the line can get really long in the Summer and you will just be stuck sitting in your car for an hour as there are no reservations.
Olympic National Park Hiking Permits
The Olympic National Park is an interesting park as much of it is not guarded by entrances.
The main area you will actually need to go through the entrance is if you want to go up to Hurricane Ridge- other than that just leave your pass on the dashboard and you should be good to go.
If you will be heading to Cape Flattery or Shi Shi Beach you will need to buy a Makah Reservation Permit.
You can purchase these in Neah Bay (only a 10-15 minute drive from both trailheads) at a gas station or general store. They cost $20 for an annual permit.
What To Bring Hiking In Olympic National Park
While you will want to make sure you bring all of the normal essentials for hiking while you are in the Olympics, I did want to make an extra point about rain gear here.
The Olympic National Park is in an area of Washington that rains the majority of the time.
It is no fun being wet and cold so I would highly recommend bringing a rain jacket and rain cover for your backpack with you even if the weather says it is going to be fine.
Conclusion
I hope you have an absolutely wonderful time exploring these hikes in Olympic National Park! This is truly such a dreamy park to explore year round and I think everyone should experience the magic of the Olympics.
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