The Hall of Mosses Trail was easily one of the highlights of our visit to Olympic National Park…read more From the moment we stepped onto the trail, it felt like we had entered another world. Towering old-growth trees, lush green mosses and lichens draped from the branches, and the peaceful sounds of the rainforest created an unforgettable experience. The trail is short, easy to walk, and well maintained, making it accessible for families and visitors of all ages. Even though it isn't a long hike, there is so much to see that we found ourselves stopping constantly to admire the scenery and take photos. Every turn revealed another beautiful view, and the forest seemed to get more magical the farther we walked. One thing we would recommend is arriving early in the morning or later in the afternoon if possible. Parking can become busy during the middle of the day, but once you're on the trail, it's easy to slow down and appreciate the incredible beauty around you. If you're visiting Olympic National Park, the Hall of Mosses is an absolute must-see. It's the perfect place to experience the unique beauty of the Hoh Rain Forest and gain a new appreciation for one of the most remarkable ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. We would happily visit again! Check out our videos on our social @reessroots

One of the most popular attraction of Olympic NP, Hoh rainforest is undoubtedly beautiful and…read moreunique, however it came with a crowd and traffic. Parking is extremely limited, if you don't arrive early in the morning, prepared to wait in line for an hour or two. We got there very early and hiked the Hall of Mosses, the Spruce Nature trail and a portion of the Hoh River trail all before 9 am. All the trails are well maintained, mostly flat, family friendly and has wooden railings in many sections. By the time we finished our hike, the trails have become noticeably more crowded and the waiting line for parking was already long. The lush greenery, the streams and moss covered trees are great, but there are other alternatives in the area offer similar experience that has a more natural feel, without the crowd or wait for parking.

Firstly, several of these reviews are for the wrong hot springs. If a review mentions a restaurant,…read moreor a resort, or a time slot, they are referring to the SOL DUC hot springs, not these ones. Also, the reviews that mention that the hike is easy are all outdated! It's a slog to get there! The Olympic hot springs are a 12 mile hike mostly uphill. It used to be a much shorter hike but about five years ago the road washed out and you now have to hike an extra 8 miles... 12 miles total... one way. It's a slog! The springs themselves, while pretty, are shallow, muddy, slimy, and overall pretty gross. The signs warn of fecal bacteria. If you're hoping to hike 12 miles to soak in pristine pools, think again. Nudity is common. If anyone is actually using the hot springs, they will likely be nude. Get over it!! Let the nudists have their place... and 12 miles deep in the woods is a nice place to be nude. You might also see nudists hiking or biking on the trail to the hot springs. It's not common but does happen occasionally. Just smile and say hi! The hike starts off easy on a paved road for about 3/4 of a mile. Then you have to use a single-track dirt bypass trail that is steep and rooty. If you're using a bike you'll be pushing and carrying it over things. Then you're put back on an old paved road again. It's another 2 miles to the Glines Canyon overlook which is fun to see. Then it's another 5 miles on the same road, but now 100% uphill and sometimes steep, just to reach the trailhead. Once at the trailhead, you're already over 8 miles into it and you have another 2.5 or so to hike... bikes not allowed. You have to park at the Madison Falls parking lot. You're supposed to have a National Park pass.

Enchanted springs in enchanted forest, I have camped here quiet a bit when in college…read more Most special hot springs on earth to me. Hike is fun not too strenuous

Anytime we get a chance to hike to a waterfall, we usually find away to make it happen! Marymere…read morefalls was our second hike of the day after we had a good meal in after hiking Mount Storm King. I generally like to embark on hikes early in the morning to get to see the sunrise and see everything wake up for the day as well as to beat the heat and crowds. But, Marymere hike was a much shorter hike and all descriptions stated it was pretty easy. We started from Lake Crescent lodge and headed our way there. The signs were somewhat easy to find and the map the hotel staff gave us helped us to find the trail head. The hike itself, though easy, had a lot to offer on the way to the waterfall. A clearing where there were river stones and sparkling water that birds seemed to wisp by, two wooden bridges to cross, one was a narrow one. Trekking across bridges like those are always a favorite for me, those bridges then lead you to a small loop trail that got you to a lower area to view the water fall and then you can head up further to a higher vantage point that pretty much took your breath away. The waterfall was so worth it to see and after doing such a strenuous hike in the morning this hike was a piece of cake. If you're heading to this area of Washington I highly recommend hopping out and hiking this trail. It's worth it!

Awesome hike with an easily accessible waterfall. Easy and short. This is also close to the…read moreentrance to the Mt. Storm King hike, so if marymere is too easy. There's also that hike available here as well

We were excited for this hike!! And we were also prepared for the weather...summer in July is…read morewonderful but when we visited, it was early 60 degree weather with clouds and rain :/ So experiencing the northwestern tip of the U.S. -- that is pretty special! And our first rainy drenched hike, also an experience to never forget! Not a bad hike; 1.5 miles round trip. We started at 12:30pm and finished around 1:30pm so about an hour. Many tourists for this rainy weekend so be prepared to pass by a lot of ppl, it's a very popular hike!! The views are spectacular, even in the rain! Beautiful in site.

Cape Flattery is one of the most breathtaking places we've ever visited. From the moment we stepped…read moreonto the trail, we knew this stop was going to be special. The hike is relatively short and well maintained, winding through a beautiful coastal forest filled with towering evergreens, ferns, and wooden boardwalks. It's an easy walk for most people and builds excitement with every step. The reward at the end is absolutely incredible. Standing at the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States, you're greeted with panoramic views of dramatic sea cliffs, crashing Pacific waves, rugged sea stacks, and the historic Tatoosh Island. Every overlook offers a different perspective, and it's worth taking your time to enjoy each one. We also appreciated learning that Cape Flattery is located on the Makah Reservation, adding an important cultural and historical connection to an already remarkable destination. Be sure to purchase your Makah Recreation Pass before visiting, as it helps support access to this beautiful area. Bring a camera because the scenery is unforgettable, and keep an eye out for wildlife--you may spot bald eagles, seals, sea otters, or even migrating whales depending on the season. If you're exploring Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Cape Flattery is an absolute must-see. It's one of those rare places that truly lives up to the hype, and we'd happily make the trip again. Highly recommended! Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

Lake Crescent is absolutely the most stunning lake I have been to! Probably the prettiest place I…read morehave ever been to in Washington state! Believe all the reviews about this beautiful place! We parked at Spruce railroad trail head east and walked through the tunnel entrance and from there we took the path to Devils Punch bowl. It's a fairly easy walk. There is a bridge that is very popular for people to jump into the beautiful blue water! Highly recommended! It's so beautiful, my pictures do not capture its beauty! Breathtakingly stunning

Crystal-clear, brilliantly beautiful water…read more Lake Crescent is famous for its blue-green water and is one of Washington's deepest lakes. Surrounded by mountains in every direction, it's almost impossible to take a bad photo. Even in the heart of summer, it stays quiet, calm, and incredibly peaceful. You can swim, kayak, chase waterfalls, and hike around the lake. Trails range from easy strolls to challenging climbs. I highly recommend Marymere Falls, which leads to a beautiful waterfall, and the Spruce Railroad Trail, where you'll walk along cliffs, through old tunnels, and past the famous Devil's Punch Bowl. The water shifts color with the light - turquoise, sapphire, even silver depending on the sun and clouds. The lake itself stretches 12 miles long. The shoreline is largely undeveloped, with just a few hotels and restaurants. Make time for the historic 1915 lodge, a perfect snapshot of old-school National Park charm. Pro tips: the north shore is quieter if you want to escape from everything, and the west side delivers the best sunsets.

Sol Duc Falls was one of the absolute highlights of our visit to Olympic National Park. The hike is…read moreonly about 1.6 miles round trip, making it accessible for most visitors, and every step is filled with beautiful scenery. The trail winds through a peaceful old-growth forest with towering trees, lush ferns, moss-covered logs, and the calming sounds of nature all around you. The waterfall itself is breathtaking. Watching the Sol Duc River split into multiple cascades before plunging into the narrow gorge below creates a view that's unlike most waterfalls we've visited. The wooden bridge provides an excellent vantage point and makes it easy to appreciate the power and beauty of the falls while staying safely behind the designated viewing areas. The trail is well maintained and clearly marked, making it enjoyable for families, photographers, and anyone looking for a relatively easy hike with an incredible payoff. We found ourselves stopping often to admire the forest and take photos along the way. If you're visiting Olympic National Park, Sol Duc Falls is a must-see destination. It combines a scenic forest walk with one of Washington's most iconic waterfalls, making it well worth the visit. We left with amazing memories and would happily hike this trail again on a future trip to the Olympic Peninsula. Highly recommended! Check out our video on our social @reessroots

Parking lot was full so we had to park at the side of the road about 1/4 mile away. I saw RV camp…read moresites which you can walk to the falls from the camp site. I don't recommend driving your RV into the parking lot, there is car parking only. I witnessed at least 3-4 RV's driving in and looping around because there wasn't RV parking. It's an easy walk to the falls once you get on the trail. It's worth to go see once. Beautiful views. It's not enough exercise for me. Lol

We came here to see the sunset because we had heard it was the best sunset hike close to Port…read moreAngeles and boy, was it! Takes a little bit of time to get up the mountain - about 45 minutes, but by sunset it is pretty deserted. Then when you get to the parking lot it's still a 1.75 - 2 mile hike to the summit to see the glory of the sunset. It is definitely worth the hike but make sure to hustle back down to the parking lot as it gets dark quickly post sunset.

A great short hike to see the surrounding mountains and the ocean. If you are an early bird,…read moreparking is not an issue. We are impressed by the wild life in the area.

"Ye ghosts of all the dear old trees, The oak, the elm, the ash, Nightly those gentlemen go tease,…read moreWho hew you down like trash." It's like if a menthol punch of freshness sensation would hit the deepest nook of your lungs. That first inhalation provides you with an instant invigoration. What better medicine than nature's air cleaning the toxic waist passing through your veins. Your muscles shaking away negativity will give you an instant mood booster, the oxygen modifying every molecule in your body, a shiver that reconnects you with the source, or in Carr's words "...the God in you responding to the God in them". Welcome to a real "Pandora", an almost intact landscape of natural monuments in where the heaviness of the branches will hold wind's melodies. My neck hurt at times when trying to reach by sight the top of these enchanted trees. Once surrounded by that foggy green darkened reality, I understood why some fairy tales were inspired by forests. It's unavoidable to feel observed, every step felt as trespassing, as if I was intruding a sacred space. I tried to understand Carr's perspective, why trees became her obsession until she exhaled them. Every tree had a personality, some of the roots' shapes reminded me of "Pan's Labyrinth", would those muddy holes take me to other realms? The shadows created obscure introspections, the ambivalence of existence, as above as below, a darker interpretation of nature. Some trees languished and perished long time ago, their remains acting as a pillar for new sprouts of life; moss, younger trees, mushrooms, bushes, they all use the elements of the fallen one to continue life's cycle. The Gnarliest Tree in Canada might be the star, with a conjugation of shapes resembling multiple fists, all kind of stumps appearing to flow in circles, as if its circumference was formed by dozens of human extremities piled towards and unreachable sky. Come hike to realize how tiny, irrelevant and forgettable you are. We all should play to be forest Rangers, deep thank you to the First Nations and Ancient Forest Alliance for standing against logging in this area.

I can believe the hidden gems this world has to offer. I never thought after driving on a rough…read moredirt road in the middle of nowhere would lead to such an amazing place. Don't get discouraged by the road a car can make it. We saw lots of them up there. The journey is well worth it.

Third and Fourth beach have rest stops along the highway. Scenic views overlooking the pacific…read more There are no crowds, no major attractions - other than the views themselves. There are clean restrooms and gravel walking paths that lead down to the beach. This would be a difficult trek from the rest stop parking down to the beach for any strollers, walkers, wheel chairs, or for anyone with limited mobility. However, there are some great lookout points from the rest stop that are more accessible. You can walk several miles along the coast and see unending views of cliffs, trees, and rock formations. Great walk & views!

Third Beach was just eh, just okay for me. I wanted more. But in comparison to Rialto Beach and…read morestunning Ruby Beach among the Olympic Peninsula....I felt like this...3rd Beach...fell flat. At least...can I give a reasoning or two, lol? During my summer visit of 2020, after hanging out at mesmerizing Hoh Rain Forest, I was heading in a counter clockwise direction (which I believe is the most efficient way to navigate Olympic National Park). I had read that the La Push area and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Beaches were all worthwhile spots to explore from my itinerary. Well...1st and 2nd Beaches were closed due to the pandemic. My only option for a getting a feel for what the La Push area surroundings were like was to come here to 3rd Beach. This was fine by me as I figured all 3 beaches would be relatively the same in appearances...so if I was only afforded 1 beach to explore...I was accepting of coming here to 3rd Beach. I was quite surprised that for the entrance way towards 3rd Beach...you had to park along the road. And I couldn't believe how crowded it was!!! Yeah, I barely found a parking spot and cars were parked off the road on the shoulder in almost a 45 degree slope. Could they be that desperate to hang out here? It was quite a steep angle! So...I put the emergency brake on just in case. I then had a good feeling about what to expect here at 3rd Beach since it appeared quite popular according to the amount of cars. To get to 3rd Beach...you have to hike almost 2 miles! Wow...I didn't expect this. Though that's what it said according to the trailhead. Well, I guess I was already committed to the task so I didn't mind making the trek. Overall, the hike was pleasant. It was along flat ground through the forest without much elevation. Towards the end of the trail I walked down a series of switchbacks to the beach. Finally making it here along the shores...the best way to describe things were...very quiet and desolate. There wasn't much happening. I actually noticed tents on the sand and was in astonishment that you could really camp out at 3rd Beach. My main reasoning for coming to 3rd Beach was to capture the best photographs of the surroundings, among the Pacific Northwest setting here in Washington. But...I never captured any magical moments for pictures. I did walk towards the end of the beach to an area that had some rocks on the shores sort of making the area somewhat scenic. In the end, I was just sort of bored and maybe spent 30 - 40 minutes hanging out. And...for having to hike 2 miles each way just to arrive at a "pedestrian" looking beach sort of frustrated me as if I was wasting time out of the day. In comparison...Rialto and Ruby Beaches offered much much more as to the scenery and sweeping beach shores. Rialto Beach featured plenty of fallen trees and a few boulders protruding out from the waters enhancing the overall setting. Although the beaches were very touristy and crowded...their sights were worth it. Ruby Beach put everything to shame. This was my favorite beach at Olympic NP. There were terrific viewpoints, a rugged yet scenic coastline, many playful spots to climb rocks and offered really good photography opportunities. Ultimately when I compare Ruby Beach to this 3rd Beach...I much more preferred the scenic terrain where I felt like I was admiring the true essence for what makes Olympic Park so special. But...for those who are interested in more exclusivity without the visitors and tourists, then this 3rd Beach would be appropriate for you. For me, I want to be hanging out at a place where the views reign supreme.