Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park adds sparkling lakes and temperate rain forest to the natural landscape of Washington state, making it one of the great outdoor destinations in America all year-round.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: William LaitnerPhone Number: 360-565-3000
Entrance Fees: Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $5; Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $15; Olympic National Park Annual Pass: $30
Sights: Hurricane Ridge; Elwha; Lake Crescent; Sol Duc; Ozette; Rialto Beach; Hoh Rain Forest; Kalaloch Beach; Queet Valley; Quinault Valley; Staircase
Endangered Species: Northern Spottted Owl; Marbled Murrelet; Grizzly Bear
Important Dates
Established as Park: June 29, 1938By The Numbers
Acres: 922,651.00Highest Point: Mount Olympus (7969 feet)
Annual Visitation: 2,749,197 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :47.888150 / -123.500840 (map it)
State: WA
Nearby Big City: Port Angeles, WA
Gateway Communities: Port Angeles, WA; Carlsborg, WA; Sequim, WA; Joyce, WA; Forks, WA; Beaver, WA; Chimacum, WA
Nearby Airports: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA); William R. Fairchild International Airport (CLM)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Banana Slug
Steffen Foerster Photogr...
Hoh Rain Forest
Mike Norton
Mountainscape
Natalia Bratslavsky
View More Olympic Photos
In Detail
Activities & Programs From nature walks to snowshoeing, there is much to do in Olympic year-round. SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL Park Programs The NPS offers free programs in the summer, including coastal forest walks and bea ... read more.
Campgrounds Altaire 30 yes $ 12 Deer Park 14 no $ 10 Elwha 40 yes $ 12 Fairholme 88 yes $ 12 Graves Creek 30 no $ 12 Heart O' the Hills 105 yes $ 12 Hoh 88 yes $ 12 Kalaloch 170 yes $ 14, $18** Mora 95 yes $ ... read more.
Camping Whether it's deep in the rain forest, on a lakeshore or on a cliff above the ocean, camping in Olympic National Park is truly outstanding. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. ... read more.
Did You Know? Olympic was established in 1938 and receives more than three million visitors per year! ... read more.
Hiking Trails Ozette Lake-Cape Alava-Sand Point Trail — moderate Beginning on the shores of Ozette Lake, this 9.3-mile loop trail follows a wooden walkway 3.3 miles through lush, coastal forest to Cape Alava ... read more.
History The Olympic Peninsula was an Eden for its early inhabitants. Today, American Indians are still a strong presence on the Olympic Peninsula. In fact, Olympic National Park is close to the reservations ... read more.
Lodging & Dining Kalaloch Lodge The lodge is located on the scenic coast off U.S. 101, 36 miles south of Forks. There are 44 cabins with kitchenettes; 20 sit right on a coastal bluff. Built in 1953, the present lodge ... read more.
Only A Day If you only have a day, you may want to choose one of two routes. Each will introduce you to two of the three "faces" of Olympic National Park: mountains, forest and coast. For a good introduction, b ... read more.
Sights To See The three areas of Olympic National Park—the mountains, forest and coast—may be accessed by U.S. 101 with spur roads leading to some areas. For an orientation to the park, begin your visi ... read more.
Walking & Hiking Whatever your choice, hiking in Olympic can be a wondrous experience. The following self-guiding trails range from 0.5-mile to 3.2 miles round trip and some are accessible with assistance. For more ... read more.
Who's Who National Park Service (NPS) Since its founding in 1916, the NPS has endeavored to preserve America's parklands for future generations. Contact the NPS at Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, ... read more.
Recent News
- Park Readies for Winter Visitors, Activities November 13, 2008, 11:37 am
- New ONP Leader Speaks to Business Group November 5, 2008, 6:07 pm
- New Olympic National Park Leader Will Attend Open House in Sequim September 25, 2008, 10:19 am
- Olympic National Park Entrance Fees to Be Waived This Weekend September 23, 2008, 4:49 pm
- Backpacking for the First Time August 25, 2008, 12:34 pm
- OFF THE BEATEN TRACK August 5, 2008, 11:10 am
- Flags at half staff in honor of fallen firefighter July 28, 2008, 12:00 pm
Olympic In Depth
News from the Parks
Frommer's Top 5 Parks for Cozy Camping
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
Park to Reopen Today after Crews Repair Road, Channel Kautz Creek
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
Jenna Otter Returns to Scene of Grizzly Bear Attack
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
Things Slow At Hawaii's National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
