Top Things to See in
Olympic National Park

The forests of the Olympic Peninsula are among the rainiest places in the world.  Hoh Rain Forest receives 12 feet of rain annually.  The Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock are most common here, each of which can reach over 300 feet tall and 7 feet in diameter.  We loved seeing the different mosses attached to the trees, which get their moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, fog and debris that accumulates around them.  We hiked approximately 4 miles of the Hoh River Trail, which was more than enough to see the things that make this rain forest famous.

Hoh Valley Road heads northeast from Highway 101 and leads to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor’s Center.  From here you can hike the Hall of Mosses Trail and the Hoh River Trail.  The latter leads 17.3 miles one-way to Glacier Meadows. 

2.  Lake Crescent 

Lake Crescent is a glacially-carved lake found directly off Highway 101.  It is located about 15 miles west of Port Angeles, Washington.  The water is vibrant and clear, with visibility down as far as 60-feet.  A recent bathymetric survey found the reservoir to be 596 feet deep.  Beardslee and Crescenti trout are found in Lake Crescent, which are found nowhere else in the world.

Lake Sutherland is located very slightly east of Lake Crescent where we spent the better part of the day paddle boarding.  Public access is via the boat launch on the south side of the lake.  Water is cold, but it felt warmer than the waters of Lake Crescent.  Lake Sutherland was less windy as well, which made for easier paddle boarding.

3.  Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is named for the hurricane-strength winds that blow through the area in the winter time.  In the summer this location offers great views of both the Olympic Mountains as well as the coast. 

We unfortunately did not make it to Hurricane Ridge as we thought the area was accessible from the Lake Crescent area.  That is not the case, Hurricane Ridge is accessed by driving south on Hurricane Ridge Road, south of the town of Port Angeles.  However this article would be remiss had we not mentioned this as one of the top things to see in Olympic National Park.

4.  Elwha River Hike

The Elwha River is the Olympic Peninsula’s largest watershed.  Two dams were constructed on the river in the early 20th century to supply power to local milling operations.  Dams create barriers to fish passage, and eliminated the impressive salmon returns that previously existed.  In 1992 the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act was passed.  By 2014, both the Elwha and Gilnes Canyon Dam had been removed in the largest dam removal project in U.S. history.  The Elwha River now flows freely from its headwaters in the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  Anadromous salmon and trout are now able to naturally migrate past the former dam sites for the first time in over 100 years.

The Elwha River Trail extends 28.4 miles from the Whiskey Bend Trailhead to Low Divide, following the Elwha River the entire way.  The trail passes multiple stream tributaries and features Fir, Hemlock, and Spruce trees much like the Hoh Rain Forest.  

5. Sol Duc Valley and Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls is one of the more popular things to see when visiting Olympic National Park.  The hike to the falls is under 1 mile from the trailhead.  In contrast with the other water falls in the park, Sol Duc Falls is viewed from above, rather than below.  For longer hikes you can do Lover’s Lane (6 mile loop) or the hike to Mink Lake (5.2 miles roundtrip).  The Sol Duc River is immediately adjacent to Sol Duc Road, for those that want to skip the hike.

The Sol Duc Valley features a number of  hiking trails where you can experience both the valleys and the mountains. Specifically, the High Divide Loop passes through Seven Lakes Basin and is often done in 2-3 days. This trail offers excellent views of Mt. Olympus.

During late October and early November you can watch the coho salmon leap their way up the river to spawn.  The best place to see this is the Salmon Cascades overlook, located approximately 5 miles down the Sol Duc Road. 

6.  Sol Duc Hot Springs

Is all the intense hiking and sightseeing wearing you out?  Look no further than Sol Duc Hot Springs.  We did not take photos here because, well…that would be creepy.  The website linked above will tell you everything you need to know about their resort.  There are three developed pools with water piped from local hot springs, and one freshwater swimming pool.  The hot spring pools vary from 99 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  The cooler pool is shallow and perfect for toddlers.  My 5-year old played in the shallow pool while us adults were in the hotter pool not even 5-feet away.  

We split our time between the hot pools and the freshwater swimming pool.  This is when I discovered the vehicle keys to the Sprinter in my pocket.  Woops.  I’m not sure how, but the keys still worked fine, and continue to work to this day.  I highly recommend carrying an extra set of keys.  I had a set and thankfully did not need them.

7.  Cape Flattery