One of America's largest national parks, Olympic offers visitors a spectacularly diverse collection…read moreof biospheres and experiences, from stony beaches and rocky peaks to lush rainforests and towering waterfalls. There's far too much to see here in a single visit of a few days, but a carefully planned itinerary will let you hit the highlights and leave with memories for a lifetime.
Start with the impossibly scenic drive up up Hurricane Ridge Drive, which stretches 17 miles from the Port Angeles Visitor Center to the parking lot at Hurricane Ridge, 5,200' above sea level. If the weather at the summit is clear, take some time to explore the short series trails here, which offers stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, Port Angeles, and, across the San Juan Strait, Victoria and the Canadian coast. Then, take your time on the drive back down, stopping at as many scenic overlooks as time allows.
Next stop -- Lake Crescent Lodge, about 20 miles west of Port Angeles. The Lodge itself is a great spot to kick back with a beer or cocktail in front of the lobby fireplace, check out the gift shop, and make dinner reservations in their outstanding restaurant. Then, take the short stroll past the lakeshore to the Marymere Falls Trail, an easy, level 2-mile roundtrip hike through old-growth forest to a 90' high waterfall that cascades down a mossy cliff. When you get back to the Lodge, spend some time to take in views of the beautiful Lake Crescent, its shimmering surface ringed by green mountain slopes.
After dinner, make the 2-hour drive west to Cape Flattery, to experience a sunset at the westernmost point of the contiguous United States. A short, 20-minute hike from the small parking lot leads to an observation deck that feels like it's at the edge of the world, and will tempt you to stay until the sun's last rays disappear below the horizon. Bring flashlights for the walk back to your car -- the unlit trail can be a bit treacherous in the dark.
If you can book a hotel in Forks, do it. The small town, made famous by the 'Twilight' books, is centrally located in the western half of Olympic National Park, making it a great home base for Day 2. Start that day with a visit to the incredible Hoh Rain Forest and a hike into the unforgettable Hall of Mosses, a fairytale experience that will amaze your senses and fill your camera roll. Traffic into the Rain Forest backs up quickly, so get there early to avoid a long wait. And for a quick and tasty breakfast stop on the way in, visit Hard Rain Cafe on Upper Hoh Road for coffee and a sandwich.
After a morning in Hoh, drive back through Forks and grab lunch there before heading west on Hwy 110 to Rialto Beach. The parking lot here also fills up fast, so grab a open spot on the road in if you can find one, or be prepared for a long wait during peak times. But Rialto is worth the hassle -- this long stretch of rocky coastline (yes, I said ROCKY -- bring good, waterproof shoes) offers one of Olympic's most scenic hikes, along nearly two miles of Pacific shoreline that stretches from the parking lot to the famous Hole-in-the-Wall rock formation on its northern end. Depending on when you arrive, the narrow beach may force you to navigate freezing tide pools, fallen trees and other hazards on your hike, so check the tide charts online and try to time your visit for low tide if possible.
Olympic has far more treasures than our recent two-day visit would allow us to see, but the stops on our highlight itinerary were enough to give us a deep appreciation for the magnificence of this spectacular national park. No visit to the Pacific Northwest is complete without a few days here, where our nation's majestic peaks join with its breathtaking coastline, with a healthy dose of old-growth rainforest in the middle. It's a special place that every American should experience.
