Sightseeing by Car  

U.S. 101 provides the main access to the park, with numerous spur roads leading to the interior. No roads pass through the heart of the Olympics. Rain forests can be seen along the Hoh, Queets, and Quinault rivers. Hurricane Ridge, accessible via a paved road, offers motorists an opportunity to look into a superb part of the Olympic wilderness. The coast area can be reached directly from U.S. 101 at Kalaloch and from spur roads to the mouth of the Hoh, to La Push, and to Rialto Beach.   

For lodging and visitor facilities outside Olympic National Park, contact the North Olympic Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau, Grays Harbor Tourism, Mason County Tourism

General Regulations   

Regulations protect the park as well as visitors. Pets, weapons, vehicles, bicycles and other wheeled devices are not permitted on park trails, meadows, beaches or in any undeveloped area of the park. Exceptions:   

    • Pets are permitted on leash, during daytime hours only, from Rialto Beach north to Ellen Creek, and on the Kalaloch beach strip between the Hoh and Quinault Indian Reservations. 
    • Bicycles are permitted from the Boulder Creek Trailhead to the Olympic Hot Springs campground, and on the Spruce Railroad Trail on the north shore of Lake Crescent. 

Area Information  

Olympic National Park Visitor Center, Port Angeles
Visitor Center: Beginning October 11, 2004: 
     Friday through Tuesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
     360/565-3130 (recorded)
Wilderness Information Center: 360/565-3100
Nearest Campground: Heart O' the Hills, 5 miles
Nearest Lodging: Port Angeles
Activities: Park orientation video; children's discovery room
Day Hikes: Peabody Creek Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest

Heart O' the Hills 
Nearest Campground: Heart O' the Hills
Nearest Lodging: Port Angeles, 6 miles
Day Hikes: Heart of the Forest Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest  

Hurricane Ridge
Visitor Center: Open 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. when the road is open. The Hurricane
      Ridge Road is closed Mondays through Thursdays in winter. Weather
      permitting the road is open Fridays through Sundays. Call (360) 565-3131
      for road status.
Nearest Campground: Heart O' the Hills, 12 miles
Nearest Lodging: Port Angeles, 18 miles
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Hurricane Hill Trail, Meadow Loop Trails 
Ecology: Subalpine  

Elwha
Ranger Station: Open seasonally, 360/452-9191
Nearest Campground: Elwha and Altaire
Nearest Lodging: Port Angeles, 12 miles
Day Hikes: West Lake Mills Trail, Griff Creek Trail, Krause Bottom Trail, Madison Falls Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest / river  

Lake Crescent
Ranger Station: Open seasonally, 360/928-3380
Nearest Campground: Fairholm
Nearest Lodging: Log Cabin Resort 360/928-3325, Lake Crescent Lodge
       360/928-3211
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Moments in Time Nature Trail, Marymere Falls,
      Mount Storm King Trail, Pyramid Peak Trail, Spruce Railroad Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest / lake
Area Notes: Fairholm General Store

Sol Duc
Eagle Ranger Station: Open seasonally, 360/327-3534
Nearest Campground: Sol Duc
Nearest Lodging: Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, 360/327-3583. (Closed in winter.)
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Sol Duc Falls Trail, Mink Lake Trail, Ancient Groves Nature Trail,
      Lover's Lane Loop
Ecology: Lowland forest / river
Area Notes:  Road may be closed in winter due to low-elevation snowfall.  

Ozette
Range Station: Open seasonally, 360/963-2725
Nearest Campground: Ozette
Nearest Lodging: Sekiu, Clallam Bay
Day Hikes: Cape Alava Trail, Sand Point Trail
Ecology: Coastal rain forest / coastline  

Mora
RangerStation: Open seasonally, 360/374-5460
Nearest Campground: Mora
Nearest Lodging: Forks, 15 miles
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Third Beach Trail, Second Beach Trail, Rialto Beach Trail, Tide Predictions
Ecology: Coastal rain forest / coastline  

Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest Recreation
      Information Center
Information Center: Call for hours, 360/374-7566
Nearest NPS Campground: Mora
Nearest Lodging: Forks, Call for details
Location: 551 S. Forks Avenue, Forks, WA  98331  

Hoh Rain Forest
Visitor Center: Beginning October 11, 2004: Friday through Sunday 
     10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 360/374-6925
Nearest Campground: Hoh
Nearest Lodging: Call for details
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Hall of Mosses Trail, Spruce Nature Trail
Ecology: Rain forest  

Kalaloch
Visitor Center: Open seasonally, 360/962-2283
Nearest Campground: Kalaloch, 360/962-2030 (staffed during summer
      season)
Nearest Lodging: Kalaloch Lodge 360/962-2271, Forks, Lake Quinault
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Kalaloch Beaches, Ruby Beach, Tide Predictions
Ecology: Coastal rain forest / coastline  

Queets
Nearest Campground: Queets
Nearest Lodging: Kalaloch Lodge 360/962-2271, Forks, Lake Quinault
Day Hikes: Sams River Loop Trail
Ecology: rain forest / river  

Quinault
Ranger Station: Open seasonally, 360/288-2444
Nearest Campground: North Fork, Graves Creek
Nearest Lodging: Lake Quinault/Amanda Park area
Ranger Guided Activities: Summer only
Day Hikes: Maple Glade Rain Forest Trail, Graves Creek Nature Trail
Ecology: rain forest/ lake /river  

Staircase
Ranger Station: Open seasonally, 360/877-5569
Nearest Campground: Staircase
Nearest Lodging: Hoodsport
Day Hikes: Shady Lane Nature Trail, Staircase Rapids Loop Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest / river  

Dosewallips
Ranger Station: Open seasonally
Nearest Campground: Dosewallips
Nearest Lodging: Brinnon, Hoodsport
Day Hikes: Terrace Loop Trail
Ecology: Lowland forest / river
Area Notes: Road is washed out 5 miles from park boundary.  

Deer Park
Ranger Station: Open in summer
Nearest Campground: Deer Park
Nearest Lodging: Port Angeles, Sequim
Ecology: Alpine / subalpine
Area Notes: Closed in winter, road not suitable for RVs or trailers