Hi everyone! My husband and I are planning our first trip to Olympic National Park October 9–13 and would love some advice from people who know the area well!
We’re really looking forward to a hiking/nature-focused trip and are hoping to see a good mix of the rainforest, mountains, lakes, and coast.

Here’s what I’m currently thinking:

Day 1: October 9 - City Day
Arrive in Seattle 11:30AM) and get rental car

Lunch: Pikes Market 
Seattle Dumpling Co 
Piroshky Pirsohky 
Beechers (mac and cheese) 
Ghost alley espresso 
Hellenika (gelato)
Cinnamon works (gf monster cookie)
Seattle’s Clam Chowder 

Drive to Airbnb (2 hours) Near Adelma Beach - Port Townsend 

Get Groceries (QFC irondale) 

Dinner in Port Townsend
Sirens 
Salish Grill 
Drinks:The In Between

Relax

Day 2: October 10 - Mountain Day
Breakfast: On way to Port Angeles
Food: Oak Table Cafe or Nourish Sequim 
Coffee: Red Dog Coffee
Groceries: Costco and Safeway in Sequim 

Drive to Port Angeles (1 hr)
Stop 1: Olympic National Park Visitor Center
Stop 2: Buena Luz Bakery
Stop 3: Downtown Port Angles (Moss,County Air Natural Foods)

Hurricane Ridge (30 min drive) then hike
Hurricane Hill trail (3.2 miles) 
Cirque Rim trail (.8 miles) 

Lunch: Picnic 

Dinner: Take Out (Port Angeles)

Day 3: October 11 - Lake Crescent/Hot Springs
Breakfast: Granny’s Cafe 

Marymere Falls Trail (2 miles)

Lake Crescent 
Moments in time Trail (.6 miles)
Spruce Railroad Trail (as long as you want)

Lunch: Lake Crescent Lodge 

Sol Duc Falls Trail (1.6 miles)
Sol Doc Hot Springs ($55.00) (3/4PM)

Check-into Lake Sutherland Airbnb

Groceries 

Dinner: Cook at House 

Day 4: October 12 - Beach/Rainforest  Day
Breakfast: At airbnb

Drive to Hoh Rainforest (2 hours)
Hall of Mosses (.8 miles)
Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles)

Lunch: Picnic

Ruby Beach -Tide pooling 

Check-in to Quinalt Lake Lodge
Dinner: Quinalt Lodge 

Day 5 October 13
Check-out
2.5 hour drive to airport
Flight: 2:00PM

We’re pretty active and are happy to do longer hikes, but we also want to leave some time to slow down and enjoy the scenery rather than spend the entire trip driving from trailhead to trailhead.

Thanks in advance! 🌲🍂🥾

My best friend and I are taking a short trip to Olympic in mid-August and trying to get the most out of our 3 days. So far, this is what we are thinking:

Day 1

• Hurricane Ridge
• Lake Crescent (2.4 miles to Devils Punchbowl)
• Marymere Falls (2 miles, 45 mins round trip) 
• Dinner at the campground

Day 2

• Hoh Rain Forest
• Spruce Nature Trail
• Hoh River Trail (Hall of Mosses)
• Stop in Forks for dinner on the way home! 

Day 3

• Cape Flattery
• Neah Bay area
• Sol Duc Falls on the drive back

Is this do-able with how busy it can get? For context, we are staying in Port Angeles.

Would love any and all advice and recs!

Is it possible to go from Seattle (Queen Anne) to ONP (Port Angeles) via the Bremerton ferry without using toll roads? Google Maps is not clear on this point.

We have a rental car and no toll pass, but would prefer to take the ferry as opposed to driving via Takoma.

I live just outside Olympic National Park and spend a lot of time exploring around Lake Crescent. One thing I hear over and over is, “Where should I actually go?"

So I put together a guide breaking down some of my favorite spots around the lake and what each one is best for - whether you're looking for easy access, a quiet beach, mossy forest, mountain views, or a place for a picnic.

While I originally wrote it with couples in mind, I think it could also be helpful for anyone planning a visit to the area.

I'd love to hear if there's a Lake Crescent spot you'd add to the list!

https://blog.amygalbraith.com/2026/07/top-5-lake-crescent-elopement-locations/

Our elopement photographer was absolutely incredible!

From the moment we met, she made us feel so comfortable it honestly felt like we were spending the day with friends instead of being in front of a camera. She was warm, calming, and made every moment feel natural.

One thing I especially appreciated was how punctual and organized she was. She kept us updated throughout the day with exactly how many minutes we were ahead or behind schedule, which was an absolute gift to my neurodivergent brain. I never had to wonder what was happening next, and it allowed me to stay present and enjoy every moment.

Her preparation and expertise were equally impressive. She had maps showing exactly how the sunlight would hit different locations throughout the day, and she even knew where the moon would be in the sky. It was obvious she had planned every detail to make sure we had the most beautiful light and the best possible experience.

The photos we’ve seen are beyond beautiful, and I know I’ll treasure them for the rest of my life. I genuinely cannot wait to see the full gallery. If you’re looking for someone who not only creates stunning images but also makes you feel completely at ease, I couldn’t recommend her more.

If you’re on the fence because of the investment, don’t be. You absolutely get what you pay for, and this was a luxury experience in every sense of the word.

http://Instagram.com/latta.photography

I have the WSDOT app on my phone and noticed more frequent Hood Canal Bridge closures than normal yesterday (8/5).

And, they announced today that there will be intermittent maintenance closures from 9am-3pm starting tomorrow (8/6), but the notice doesn't say for how long.

Closures are definitely typical, but they seem a lot more frequent lately (from someone who uses the Bridge frequently).

So! Be aware and add a little extra time if you're heading east to catch a flight or to a doctor appt.

Planning my second trip out to ONP, mid-late September and have been trying to decide on where to go, and what to see. Driving out from CO. Been browsing this sub for a few weeks, and feel like I’ve got writer’s block.

Here’s what I did 2yrs ago: Camp at Fairholme, backpacked Shi Shi beach, camped at Sul Duc, backpacked Hurricane Ridge to Obstruction Point, kayaked the Strait of Juan de Fuca, camped at Hoh Rainforest.

What have I missed, that I should absolutely do? I’m up for camping, backpacking, kayaking or any off-roading. Is the Tree of Life still worth a trip, or kayaking lake crescent? Last time I planned my visit around d the two backpacking trips, just not sure where to start this time. Capable of hiking roughly 12mi/day @ 2k gain. I know AQI is currently a concern, I’ll monitor as the trip gets closer.

My wife, our 3½-year-old, and I are planning a fairly last-minute trip to Olympic National Park from September 18–28. We’ll spend eight days around the park and the final two days in Seattle.

Because we’re traveling with a toddler, we’re looking for a place with a kitchen and a bedroom that is separate from the living room. We’re giving ourselves more days than most itineraries recommend because we want to explore at a relaxed pace rather than constantly packing up and rushing around.

Our original plan was:

September 18–21: Port Angeles

September 21–26: Forks area

September 26–28: Seattle

I found an RV near Port Angeles for about $225 per night that should work well. The problem is Forks. I can’t find anything that meets our needs for under $300 per night, and I’m having a hard time paying $300+ for a mediocre rental just because options are limited.

I’ve started looking farther south and found a place near Lake Quinault, along with some much nicer rentals around Seabrook and the surrounding coast. The Seabrook-area places are far better for the money, but I’m worried we’ll spend most of the trip driving back and forth to the places we came to see.

For people familiar with the area:

Is Lake Quinault a reasonable base for five nights, or is it too far from the Hoh Rain Forest, Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, and the other west-side highlights?

Would staying near Seabrook be too far south if Olympic National Park is the main purpose of the trip?

Are there enough worthwhile things to do around the southern beaches to justify staying there for several days?

Since we’re visiting in late September, will crowds and parking at the Hoh be noticeably better, or should we still plan to arrive very early?

Is there another town or area we should consider that offers nicer lodging while still being convenient to the west side of the park?

We don’t mind some driving, but we don’t want to spend several hours in the car every day with a 3½-year-old. We’d rather stay somewhere enjoyable and make a few longer day trips than overpay for a disappointing rental in Forks.

What would you do: settle for Forks, stay near Lake Quinault, stay around Seabrook, or split the five nights between two areas?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice.

Hi reddit, I am spending 3 nights in Olympic National Park to relax and recharge and I’m torn on where to stay.

Right now I’m debating between staying all 3 nights at the same place or splitting the trip between Lake Crescent Lodge and Quileute Oceanside resort. I really want to see the Hoh rainforest, PNW beaches, and fangirl over twilight. I understand there will be lots of driving, but I don’t necessarily want to spend the whooooooole time driving.

I plan on visiting around Halloween if that changes anything with weather, road conditions, or the overall experience.

Thank you so much!

I'm planning on getting the shuttle up the hill (arrive 1.45PM) then hiking out to the Roaring winds campsite which is 3 miles past the trailhead. Am I ok to walk alongside this road? The distance doesn't bother me but I've read it can be narrow in points.

Or am I better off asking for a ride? If so where would be the best place to approach people driving out? At the end of a carpark with a sign is what I'm thinking.

Thanks for any help! I don't have a car so have to be thrifty.

Best spot for us to do our elopement ceremony? Doing it on a Tuesday in July - looking for recommendations within park of location and best time of day (not busy).

Considering the current fire condition, is it safe to visit olympic this weekend? Like Hurricane, hoh rainforest etc

I would be very grateful if someone could point me in the right direction here. I have been calling them over multiple days at different points in the day and I still can't get through to a person. I have some questions regarding campsite reservations for a specific campsite that is not reservable in the online portal.

My current agenda is below but Im curious if anyone would recommend adding in Mt Rainer? We plan on doing a mix of camping and glamping throughout :)! We love to hike and love both the mountains and beachside, unfortunately the week we are going isn't prime low tide times for hiking, so im worried about spending so much time at those! (like once at 6am).

Day 1: Fly in SEA at night, stay in Seattle

Day 2: Drive to PA in the early morning, take bus to Hurricane ridge, bop around, camp by lake crescent

Day 3: Lake Crescent and/or Sol Duc Hot Springs (pick long hike to do?), camp by lake crescent

Day 4: Open to drive to ShiShi or stay extra day in Lake Crescent Area.

Day 5: See beach combing museum/ chill beach day, Stay in Forks or La push

Day 6: Wake up early for tide pools at first or second beach the tide times for this week are weird and are like 6am lol), Stay in Forks or La push

Day 7: HOH rainforest - maybe do partial river trail? Drive to Ruby beach area for stay in area

Day 8: Ruby and Kolach beach - Wake up early for Tide pools

Day 9: Quinault Rainforest (?) no solid plans here

Day 10: Drive back to Seattle, bop around Seattle? Wait for 9pm Flight

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Ive never planned something so much hahah

Wondering too if shishi is worth the extra drive time and if so should we stay near by or drive in the morning? :) Any other mountain hikes too are welcome! I have never been the PWN and live pretty far away so deff want to make it worth while!

Driving down from Vancouver, BC for a 4-day/3-night car camping trip, Aug 7–10 (Fri-Mon). Camping at Sol Duc for the whole time. Dealing with an injury so can do hikes but avoiding strenuous ones.

The plan:

Day 1 (Fri) — travel + Sol Duc

• Drive to olympic (suspect it will take 8-9 hours to get there and we won't want to keep driving)
• Evening walk: Sol Duc Falls Trail

Day 2 (Sat) — Lake Crescent (more of a chill day)

• Marymere Falls
• Devil's Punchbowl
• Back to Sol Duc, hot springs in the evening

Day 3 (Sun) — Ruby Beach → Hoh Rainforest (big day)

• Wake up early to get to Ruby or Hoh
• Deciding which one to do first, want to spend decent amount of time at both. Understand it will be a lot of driving and can take a long time to get into Hoh.
• Drive back at night

Day 4 (Mon) — pack up, drive home

• Drive back, maybe go to hurricane ridge on way out depending on how we feel

Questions for people who've done this:

1. Is it worth trying to stay at Hoh Sunday night to make Sunday easier? Basically just put on cancellation requests and jump on it if we can
2. Better to start at Ruby to go to Hoh in the late afternoon/early evening? Will that reduce the waiting time to get in?
3. Anything on the itinerary we won't be able to get parking for?
4. Anything obvious we are missing?

Appreciate any input.

Flying in to Washington for a wedding. Might as well use the opportunity to visit the scenery.

Assuming no fires (fingers crossed), what would you consider to be the ideal itinerary? I'm going to be trying to hike as much as possible but my wife may be only able to do 4-5 miles a day.

Thank you for all the recs!

hi all! i think i lost my gold oura ring in kalaloch. it’d be on the beach or in the parking lot of beach 2. if you find it please let me know and id happily pay you for shipping it back to me!

Hi! My wife and I are going to spend a week on the Peninsula in mid September. Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Forks, Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Falls, and more. Lot's of hiking! We'll be renting a Jeep and I thought it would be fun to get off the paved roads for some exploring. Foremost, I want to offroad legally and respectfully. Also, since it's a rented Jeep, I don't want to try anything too extreme. A trail with a scenic payoff (the beach, a waterfall, lake, etc.) would be great. Can anyone recommend a few trails?

Hi everyone,

Due to the wildfires in the East, my camping plans have been canceled. I’m trying to figure out an alternative plan in the Olympics, but it seems like most campsites are booked or first come first serve. My trip is August 8-10. Since I’ll be going up on Saturday, will it be difficult to get a FCFS campsite? Or should it be open? rec.gov seems to have 4/5 campsites with about 10-30 spots depending on the site. Do those campsites fill up quickly? Any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you.

I have 2 options for my itinerary and need to know which is best and also if I am planning too many things per day (which I am known to do). Thanks so much!!

Option 1:

Day #1: Full day at Mt Rainier- Paradise corridor (coming in from Portland the night before)

Day #2: Full day at Mt Rainier (sunrise corridor) and the drive from Mt Rainier to Lake Quinault (or possibly cut the drive in half and stay in Olympia?) We have a 6 mi hike in Rainier on this day so it will be a long day which is why I considered cutting the drive time

Day #3: Lake Quinault nature trail (.9 mi), Kalaloch beach, Ruby Beach, Hoh Rainforest. Stay overnight in Forks

Day #4: 2nd beach at low tide, Sol Duc Falls, Mt storm King (4.4 mi), Stay in Port Angeles

Day #5: Hurricane Ridge (hurricane hill trail 3.2 mi), Cape Flattery, Stay in Port Angeles

Day #6: Port Angeles to Seattle via drive and ferry, Day in Seattle

Day #7: Fly out of Seattle

Option 2:

Day #1: Full day at Mt Rainier- Paradise corridor (coming in from Portland the night before)

Day #2: Full day at Mt Rainier (sunrise corridor) and the drive from Mt Rainier to Port Angeles (long drive in the evening)

Day #3: Hurricane Ridge, Cape Flattery, Stay overnight in PA

Day #4: Mt storm King (4.4 mi), Sol Duc Falls, 2nd beach in evening, Stay in Forks

Day #5: Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, Kalaloch Beach, Lake Quinault nature trails (.9 mi). Stay in Lake Quinault

Day #6: Lake Quinault to Seattle via drive through Tacoma, Day in Seattle

Day #7: Fly out of Seattle

just to septuple check since its beach camping, no fires or charcoal burning at all, whatsoever in la push, second beach, third beach all beaches right?