Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is a place of contrast, where rainforest valleys, rugged coastline, and alpine peaks all exist within the same park. You can spend the morning walking through mossy forests, the afternoon along wild beaches, and end the day in the mountains. With thoughtful planning, we help you move through Olympic at a comfortable pace—mixing well-known highlights with quieter spots that make the experience feel more personal. It’s a destination we enjoy designing at Highline Horizons for travelers who want variety, space, and a deeper connection to the landscape.
Park History
Olympic National Park has a long history shaped by water, time, and the people who have lived along its rivers, forests, and coastline for thousands of years. Long before the park was established in 1938, Indigenous tribes including the Hoh, Quinault, Makah, and Quileute relied on these lands and waters for fishing, hunting, and gathering. The rainforests, beaches, and mountain passes you explore today were central to daily life, trade, and culture long before they became protected landscapes.
In the early 1900s, explorers and conservationists began pushing to protect Olympic’s diverse ecosystems, from old-growth forests to rugged alpine peaks. Its designation as a national park helped preserve one of the most varied natural areas in the country. Today, Olympic’s history feels closely tied to its landscape—woven into the rivers, coastal trails, and quiet forest paths that make the park such a distinctive place to explore.
While every Highline Horizons trip is fully customized to your travel style, the sample itinerary below offers a glimpse of what this experience could look like.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Hurricane Ridge
Arrive on the Olympic Peninsula and head straight into the mountains for a big-picture introduction to the park. Drive up Hurricane Ridge Road and take in the sweeping views across the Olympic Range and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Walk part of the Big Meadow Loop and spend time at the main viewpoints to get oriented. This is a great way to ease into Olympic and immediately understand how wild and diverse the park is.
Day 2: Guided Alpine Hiking at Hurricane Ridge
Today is all about the high country. Spend the day hiking Hurricane Hill, one of the best trails in the park, with constant views of snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows. The trail is well-graded but rewarding, and it gives you that classic Olympic alpine feel. Along the way, you’ll likely see Olympic marmots and black-tailed deer, and on clear days you can see all the way across to Vancouver Island.
Day 3: Guided Rain Forest Walk in the Hoh
Head into the heart of the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the most famous temperate rain forests in the world. Start with a slow, intentional walk through the Hall of Mosses, then continue onto the Spruce Nature Trail, where massive old-growth trees line the river. After that, hike a portion of the Hoh River Trail, following the river deeper into the forest before turning back. This day is about slowing down and really noticing the details—moss, ferns, and the constant sound of water.
Day 4: Pacific Coast & Tide Pool Exploration
Spend the day along Olympic’s wild Pacific coastline. Walk Rialto Beach toward Hole-in-the-Wall, timing the hike with low tide so you can explore some of the best tide pools in the park. Later in the day, visit Ruby Beach, known for its sea stacks, driftwood, and wide-open coastal views. The ocean side of Olympic feels completely different from the mountains and forests, and this contrast is part of what makes the park so special.
Day 5: Lake Crescent Kayaking & Waterfalls
Start the morning on Lake Crescent with a guided kayaking outing on the crystal-clear water, paddling beneath forested slopes and sheer rock walls. After getting off the water, hike to Marymere Falls, an easy forest walk that leads to a powerful waterfall tucked into old-growth forest. In the afternoon, head to Sol Duc Falls, a short but scenic hike to one of the park’s most photogenic waterfalls.
Day 6: Quinault Rain Forest Exploration
Today you’ll explore the quieter southern side of Olympic in the Quinault Rain Forest. Drive the Quinault Rain Forest Loop, stopping at the World’s Largest Sitka Spruce, Maple Glade, and several short riverside trails. Walk along the shores of Lake Quinault and take time to appreciate how different this rain forest feels compared to the Hoh—just as lush, but far less crowded.
Day 7: Final Walks & Departure
Spend your final morning soaking up a few last moments in the park. Take an easy walk near Kalaloch, revisit Lake Crescent, or enjoy a short forest trail near Port Angeles. Olympic is the kind of place where the quiet moments stick with you just as much as the big views, and this last day is about letting it all settle in before heading home.