Hurricane Ridge is one of the most visited areas in Olympic National Park. It has an elevation of…read moreover 5,000 ft and is about an 18 mile drive from Port Angeles. Hurricane Ridge is known for skiing, sledding, snowboarding and its many hiking trails. The mountain views from up here are just breathtaking. A lodge and visitor center stood here for 70 years. While preparing for renovation work, the building was completely destroyed by fire on May 7, 2023. Right now there is a temporary structure in its place that has working toilets. A ranger is on hand to give out paper maps and answer any questions for those that want to hike or explore the area. Sadly there is no food options or a gift shop here at Hurricane Ridge anymore. If you want to shop for gifts, you can visit the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles. They have set up a small table outside for those that want to stamp their National Park Passport books. The parking lot near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is really spacious. You can also hop on a shuttle from Port Angeles for a couple bucks if you don't want to do the drive yourself. There are many trail options that range from easy to difficult for those that like to hike.

Very good spot . Visitor center has a cafe which serves good food . We got few stuff to eat and it…read morewas good . Especially the potato fries . Loved it . Few seats to sit and eat . Wish they had more seats . Lovely views from visitor center . Clothing / merchandise is very expensive. A hoodie costs about 52$ here ! Insane .. not a very good place to shop souvenirs.. parking can be tricky . Overall a good experience.

The Victoria Visitors Centre is centrally located Downtown, at the shore of the Inner Harbour, and…read morefrom the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It's a cool Art Deco building and was originally an Esso gas station. The tower vaguely looks like the Empire State Building. This is a good place to begin your explorations of Victoria and "Up Island". It's also within easy walking distance from the cruise ships and ferries and close to popular attractions (Royal BC Museum, Parliament Building, Beacon Hill Park, etc.) and shopping. The friendly folks at the Front Desk can give you good advice on places to see, tour packages, and dining options. There's also a large selection of brochures and posted information if you want something more self-directed.

This center is located dockside nearly across the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel. Easy to find…read more Restrooms are located below the Visitors Center by going down the steps towards the boat dock. I didn't see a wheelchair ramp. Talented musicians played their tunes and a budding juggler attempted an act- amusing. A food truck selling Poutin (steak fries, cheese curd, brown gravy) was located at the corner of the boat dock and the government bldg. US dollars are accepted at stores.

John at the Port Angeles visitors center was exactly who we needed to speak to about our trip. He…read moregave us the best recommendations and essentially planned the entirety of our Olympic National Park trip. I highly recommend stopping by and if you're lucky enough to speak to John, know you're in good hands! He was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us step by step sections for the 3 or so days we would be in the area before moving on. Thanks, John!!! - Rachel and Hannah from NY and San Diego

The visitor center is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and is staffed with employees who are…read morevery knowledgeable about attractions, events, restaurants, resorts, RV parks, and lodging in the area. It's located by the ferry line and the city pier with brochures about anything related to Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula. This place is more of a quick stop if you have questions or need more information about things to do. We found brochures about the waterfalls, maps, and Twilight useful.

1. This review is for Marymere Falls Trail which was a ~1.8 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to…read morecomplete. This was short and easy hike with a spectacular rainforest and waterfall in Olympic National Park, Washington. Trail was mostly a flat dirt path that becomes an incline up the stairs towards the waterfall. If you're used to Oregon waterfalls, Marymere Falls would be considered somewhat dry. Make a detour to the Lake Crescent docks for some stunning views! Beware of yellowjackets; randomly got stung near the ankle in the forest. Limited parking area at the trailhead. Restroom available at the parking lot. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/FPgMOt1G5tk 2.This review is for Hurricane Hill via Hurricane Ridge which was a ~3.5 miles round trip that took ~2 hour to complete. Located 1 hour from Marymere Falls Trail, Hurricane Hill was a strenuous hike with stunning views of the surrounding mountains in Olympic National Park, Washington. Trail was mostly paved with steep inclines towards the top with little to no shade. Parking can be a nightmare. Small parking lot at the trailhead; additional small parking lot 0.25 miles away and larger parking lot 1+ miles away. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/0bxivXIqy4A

Olympic NP is very diverse, you get the mountain ranges on the north side, the lush rainforest in…read morethe southwest and the classic PNW coastline all in one park. We actually enjoyed some of the less crowded spots more than the main attractions. Parking can be very limited, so it's worth it to arrive very early, especially during peak season. Since there isn't a road cutting through the park, plan your accommodations accordingly to reduce driving each day. The dinning options are subpar in the area, and businesses close very early. It's a good idea to plan your meals ahead of time and have snacks on hand.

I called in to the visitor center, and they promptly replied. He was good at giving information,…read moreand answering questions I had about the place. The deception pass itsef was pretty awesome. We crossed the bridge, and found that there was parking on both sides of the bridge. One of the parking lots also had the restrooms. I went on a weekday, and the parking wasn't completely full, luckily found a spot :)

The visitor's center is now closed. The phone number rings at the location but don't bother…read morecalling- it's not a visitor's center anymore!

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB…read morehost INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

Truly a picturesque park with beautiful coastal hikes. We certainly enjoyed walking along the…read morecoastline while taking in the scenery. Walking to the lighthouse was a perfect adventure and not strenuous if you are looking for a pretty easy hike. Stop and look out for whales (we didn't see any) and also check out the tide pools!

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.