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Olympic National Park Visitor Center is open all year. In fall and winter the hours are Thursday through Monday; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. It is located at 3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles, WA 98362 . A 25-minute video is available on request. There are exhibits on the park’s natural and cultural history, including a forest diorama, Native American canoe and pioneer cabin, and a hands-on “Discovery Room” just for kids. You will also find information and trip planning help and two nature trails. The visitor center is accessible; one trail accessible with some assistance. Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is open fall and winter Friday – Sunday from 10am – 4pm and is located in the Hoh Rain Forest. Exhibits, information desk, accessible restrooms, and self-guided nature trails are available. Check at the visitor center for a full list of assessable trails and sites.

Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is also open fall thru winter 10 am – 4:00 pm when the road is open. It is located at Hurricane Ridge. Barring heavy snows or winter storms, the Hurricane Ridge Road is scheduled to open 9 a.m. to dusk, Friday through Sunday through late March. The road will be closed Monday through Wednesday. If road and weather conditions permit, the road may also be open late in the day on Thursdays, once plowing is completed. Weather permitting the road is scheduled to be open daily from December 23 through January 2, with the exception of December 25, when the road will be closed. The road is scheduled to be open on Monday holidays. Call (360) 565-3131 for current road status and weather conditions. Guided walks and talks will be offered several times weekly from late June through Labor Day. Guided snowshoe walks are offered during the winter. A 20-minute orientation video is available. Exhibits include exploring the Olympic high-country ecosystem. Nearby short trails, often snow-covered well into May, are accessible with assistance. Snack bar and gift shop on the visitor center’s lower level will be open on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays mid-December through late March, with the exception of December 25. Food service and equipment rentals will also be available daily from December 26 through January 2.

Hurricane Ridge Winter Use Area is open thru April 30; weather permitting, Friday through Sunday. Exhibits and a short film provide an introduction to the high country of Olympic. The Hurricane Ridge Road leads approximately 17 miles south of Port Angeles to an elevation of 5,242 feet above sea level. The road is closed Monday through Wednesday through April. Thursdays the road may open if the plow crew is able to finish plowing in time. Severe weather may delay or prohibit the road from opening or may force an early closure.

Forks Recreation and Information Center is located on Highway 101 in the town of Forks. It is open fall through winter, Friday – Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Wilderness visitors can obtain Wilderness Camping Permits and food containers as well as trip planning assistance at the Forks WIC. The South Shore Quinault Ranger Station is open March 1 – May 13 Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. It is located 2 miles from Highway 101 on the South Shore Lake Quinault Road next to the Historic Lake Quinault Lodge. General information about Olympic National Park roads, campgrounds, trails and more is available here. Backpackers can get Wilderness Camping Permits, food containers, trip planning assistance, maps and more.

The Wilderness Information Center is open 7 days a week 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, through April 30; May 1 – May 31, Sun. -Thurs 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Fri. & Sat. 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The WIC is located one mile from Highway 101, behind the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles. Permits are limited for the Ozette Coast and several other high use areas beginning May 1. (http://www.nps.gov/olym/wic/permits.htm) If you are thinking of a wilderness trip, call or write the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) for current trail reports, trip planning, and safety, weather and Leave No Trace tips.

In 1897 President Grover Cleveland created the Olympic Forest Reserve, a portion of which President Theodore Roosevelt designated a national monument in 1909. Olympic National Park was established on June 29, 1938. In 1976 it was made a Biosphere Reserve and then in 1981, a World Heritage Site. In 1988, Congress designated 95% of Olympic National Park as Wilderness. The park itself is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are over 4 million visits each year making it one of the most visited National Parks. With Olympic’s nearly one million acres and three distinct ecosystems, plan on spending at least one very full day to get a feeling for the park’s diversity. Most roads remain open year round, although several are subject to winter closure because of snow or other weather related problems. Call (360) 565-3131 for recorded road and weather information. Visitor center hours vary throughout the year.

American Indians have lived here for thousands of years, both along the coast and in the interior reaches of the peninsula. Their primary form of subsistence came from the sea and rivers, as well as berries, roots, and land mammals. Cedar was the most important material resource, used for everything from house planks to canoes. The bark was used for clothing and baskets, even towels and diapers.

Olympic is the traditional homeland of more Native American groups than any other National Park unit. A unique opportunity exists to understand the relationship between these people and the ecosystem they live in. At a time prior to what Euro-Americans call the historic period, there were approximately 10,000 people living on the Olympic Peninsula. The tribes on the peninsula were formalized through treaties in 1855. Prior to the designation of tribes, language and kinship defined the numerous village groups. Native American religion, language and subsistence practices were repressed by the influx of Euro-American culture. However, the tribal groups were able to retain their distinct cultural identity and the oral tradition that links them with the landscape of the peninsula.

The Olympic Mountains were divided to protect the hunting territory of certain groups. Some areas were used by several tribes, for example, an elk hunting expedition high in the Olympics was recorded by two anthropologists who said that the Quinault, Skokomish and Dosewalips all camped in the same area at the same time. They traveled into the mountains by canoe as far as possible, and then packed in the rest of the way. Visits with other tribes in the mountains were important for meeting a spouse, as it was taboo to marry someone who was a relative. In the case of the hunting camp, oral history recounts that the Quinault requested that their boy marry a Dosewalips girl. After the union, there was a huge feast, and the Quinault and Dosewalips were then related by marriage.

The mountains are a place of spiritual importance, both in the past and present. A Klallam man, who loved the mountains, spent a great deal of his life at campsites in the high country. The question can be raised; if mountain use was common, why is there so little information recorded about this use. Historic accounts were often written by people from another culture, with their own personal perceptions. For those who are not avid hikers, the idea of hiking across the Olympics might seem impossible. The mountains are a logical thoroughfare, providing a treeless route for most of the trip, as well as an abundance of game, plants and scenery. Entire families traveled to the mountains, and spent many seasons, and sometimes several years at favorite places. One Klallam mother was known to hike across the Olympics with all of her children to visit relatives at Taholah as casually as if she were traveling in the family station wagon.

There are still several Indian tribes surrounding the Olympic Peninsula. The Makah Indian Reservation is located on the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula and was created by the provisions of the 1855 treaty of Neah Bay, signed by the Makah and Ozette. The Hoh Reservation was set aside in 1893 by Executive Order and is comprised of 443 acres on the south side of the Hoh River at its mouth. Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe has one of the most successful development companies in this area, including the Seven Cedars casino and an extensive art gallery. The Quileute Tribe is located on the Pacific Coast of the Olympic Peninsula at the mouth of the Quillayute River. The town site of La Push on the reservation is a destination resort for many visitors to the Olympic Peninsula because of the beauty of its location, open beaches, and proximity to Highway 101. The Quinault Indian Nation is located on the Pacific Coast, north of Gray’s Harbor. The reservation was created by the provisions of the ” Quinaielt River Treaty” of 1855. The Skokomish Tribe is located on the east side of the Olympic Peninsula at the head of Hood Canal on the mouth of the Skokomish River. The Skokomish Reservation was established with the signing of the Treaty at Point-No-Point in 1855 and currently contains 5213 acres. The Squaxin Island Tribal headquarters are located in Shelton, Washington, just south of the Skokomish. The Squaxin were signatories to the Medicine Creek Treaty of 1854, and the small 1,496 acre Squaxin Island reservation was established under this treaty. The Suquamish Tribe’s reserved land, the Port Madison Indian Reservation, is located on the Kitsap Peninsula, and extends to Puget Sound. The reservation was established by the 1855 Point Elliot Treaty. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s reservation lands are located on the east side of the Elwha River at its mouth, on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, directly across from Victoria, British Columbia and currently consist of 427 acres. The tribe is currently working with the National Park Service and other federal agencies toward restoration of the Elwha River ecosystem. The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe is one of three Klallam tribes. Port Gamble was the first Klallam tribe established under the IRA. The reservation is located on the North Kitsap Peninsula, across the bay from the Port Gamble mill and consists of approximately 1300 acres.

In 1592, the first European, Juan de Fuca, may have come along these shores. Reliable information of European penetration, however, was not available until 1774 when Juan Perez sailed along this coast. In the next 25 years a bevy of British, American, and Spanish explorers visited the area. The most enduring work was done by Robert Gray, an American, and George Vancouver, an Englishman. Both men explored the area thoroughly, establishing rival claims to this land for their own countries.

Although American Indians utilized and traveled throughout the mountains of the peninsula, it was not until 1885 that the first systematic documented exploration of the interior of the Olympic Peninsula was made. That year Lt. Joseph P. O’Neil led the first documented expedition into the interior. In 1889-90 the Press expedition led by James Christie made a north-south crossing in five and one-half months. In 1890 Lt. O’Neil returned and made an east-west crossing.

In the summer of 1885, Army Lieutenant Joseph P. O’Neil led a small party of enlisted men from Vancouver Barracks and civilian engineers on a reconnaissance of the Olympic Mountains. O’Neil chose Port Angeles –at the time a town of about forty inhabitants with a hotel, sawmill, and two stores–as his starting point because of its nearness to the mountains. On July 17, the party headed south into the foothills following a route similar to the present-day Hurricane Ridge Road, making slow progress cutting a trail through dense forest and windfalls. It took them about a month to climb to Hurricane Ridge. From there part of the group began to explore the Elwha Valley while O’Neil and the others headed southeast. O’Neil explored almost as far south as Mount Anderson before a messenger reached him with orders to report to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the expedition was cut short.

A second assault on the Olympic interior was made in the winter of 1889-1890. During the fall of 1889, the year Washington became a state, the Seattle Press newspaper called for “hardy citizens . . . to acquire fame by unveiling the mystery which wraps the land encircled by the snow capped Olympic range.” This call was answered by James Christie, who volunteered to organize an expedition if the Press would finance it. The Press Party consisted of six men (one of them left the expedition early; five completed the trip) whom the Press described as having “an abundance of grit and manly vim,” four dogs, two mules, and 1500 pounds of supplies. This group entered the Olympics in December 1889, one of the harshest and snowiest winters in the Peninsula’s history.

Christie had planned to follow the Elwha River into the heart of the mountains, transporting supplies on a large flat-bottomed boat, Gertie, which the men built. The boat leaked and had to be hauled over log jams and towed through rapids by the men, wading through deep snow along the banks or in icy water sometimes up to their chins. After twelve frigid, exhausting days, Gertie was abandoned. The party spent January – April 1890, exploring the Elwha Valley. In mid-March the explorers discovered and named Geyser Valley, where they heard sounds they thought were bubbling geysers although there are none in the valley. (James Christie predicted Geyser Valley would make “a young paradise for some venturesome squatter,” and ten years later Will and Grant Humes homesteaded in the valley. The Humes cabin can still be visited today, about 2.5 miles from the Whiskey Bend trailhead.) In early May, the Press Party, their clothes in tatters and running dangerously low on supplies, crossed Low Divide and headed down the Quinault Valley, reaching the coast on May 20, 1890 after nearly six months in the mountains. As a result of the Press Expedition, many peaks bear the names of prominent newspaper publishers and editors of the late 19th century, including Mt. Meany (named after Edmond Meany, an editor of the Seattle Press), Mt. Dana, Mt. Lawson, Mt. Noyes, Mt. Scott, and the Bailey Range. Press Party blazes can still be found along the Elwha River trail in the park.

Even though Olympic National Park is on a peninsula, it is similar to an island in many ways. It’s been isolated from the rest of Washington for thousands of years. In the past, a vast continental ice sheet, descended from Alaska, south through British Columbia to the Olympics. The ice split into the Juan de Fuca and Puget ice lobes, as they encountered the resistant Olympic Mountains. A glacial outwash stream surged around the southern end of the peninsula to the Pacific Ocean. This isolated the Olympic Peninsula from the nearby Cascade Mountains and limited species from entering and exiting the peninsula. When the ice sheet reached the Peninsula, large areas of the continental shelf were also exposed by the lower sea levels since so much water was trapped as ice. This created a coastal refuge. The distance from Mount Olympus to the Pacific Ocean may have been double that of today.

Although the vast ice sheet has retreated, the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park are still isolated by natural features: to the north the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the east the Hood Canal and Puget Sound, to the south the wide valley of the Chehalis River, and to the west the Pacific Ocean. Other features also influence the system. Ice-free ridges and rocky outcrops create “habitat islands” for plants and animals. Large differences in elevation cause the climate to change quickly. The wettest location in the contiguous United States, Mount Olympus, receives over 220″ of precipitation a year, while just 34 miles away in the rain shadow of the mountains, the town of Sequim, receives less than 20″.

Mt. Olympus (7,980 ft.), the highest in the Olympics, is one of the most spectacular areas in Washington. Mt. Deception is 7,788 feet and Mt. Constance, at 7,743 ft., is the third highest peak in the Olympic Mountains. Olympic’s rock formations are generally shale, sandstone, soft basalts and pillow lava.

The Olympic Wilderness is home to many species of plants and wildlife. Several of these are found nowhere else in the world. In the Olympic forests stand some of the world’s largest trees, some towering over 300 feet above the forest floor. Olympic is one of the wildest places remaining in the contiguous United States . Few known species have been lost from Olympic’s ecosystem. Until recently, the Pacific yew was considered an unimportant forestry tree. Researchers then discovered that it contained a chemical called taxol, which is now being used to treat ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. Besides being integral pieces of the ecosystem, plants and animals in our national parks benefit people for medical, economic, aesthetic and recreational reasons.

The temperate rain forest in the valleys of the Quinault, Queets, and Hoh rivers are protected and contain some of the most spectacular examples of undisturbed Sitka spruce/western hemlock forests in the lower 48 states. This ecosystem stretches along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to Alaska; other temperate rain forests are found in several isolated areas throughout the world. What defines a rain forest quite simply is rain–lots of it. Precipitation here ranges from 140 to 167 inches–12 to 14 feet–every year. The mountains to the east also protect the coastal areas from severe weather extremes. Seldom does the temperature drop below freezing in the rain forest while summertime highs rarely exceed 80 F.

The dominant species in the rain forest are Sitka spruce and western hemlock; some grow to tremendous size, reaching 300 feet in height and 23 feet in circumference. Douglas-fir, western red cedar, big-leaf maple, red alder, vine maple, and black cottonwood are also found throughout the forest. Nearly every bit of space is taken up with a living plant. Some plants even live on others. These are the epiphytes, plants that do not come into contact with the earth, but also are not parasites. They are partly responsible for giving the rain forest its “jungle” appearance. Mosses, lichens and ferns cover just about anything else. Oregon oxalis is also a common ground cover. But because of this dense ground cover it is hard for seedlings to get a start. Many seedlings germinate on fallen, decaying trees. As they grow they send their roots down the log to the ground. Eventually the log rots completely away and a row of young trees is left, up on stilt-like roots, all in a row. The thick and protective vegetation also provides excellent habitats for the animals of the rain forest. In turn, they contribute to the health of the forest by keeping the rampant vegetation under control by browsing.

Olympic National Park offers over 60 miles of the some of the most primitive natural coastline in the 48 contiguous United States . The views of ocean, cliffs, headlands, islands and seastacks, coupled with the dramatic changing sea, provide a unique wilderness experience. Most of the coast can only be accessed by foot. Rialto Beach and Kalaloch beaches are accessible by road. Backpacking and day hikes are great ways to explore this stunning area.

There are several hiking trails to enjoy. Ozette Boardwalk is a well-maintained, nine-mile boardwalk. It leads to the wilderness coast where you will see petroglyphs and bald eagle viewing. North Olympic Coast is a moderate, well-maintained trail that is 17.1 miles. This offers ocean views, eagle watching, as well as Chilean and Norwegian Memorials. Hole-in-the-Wall is beach hiking at its best. Just .5 mile to Ellen Creek , it is an easy hike with ocean views, eagle watching, and, of course, the Hole in the Wall. The South end of Second Beach is an easy .7 mile hike along the coast with ocean views and sea stacks (offshore land formations). There are excellent opportunities to view bald eagles and seals, and bird life is common on sea stacks. Whale migration occurs in March/April and October. The Makah Trail accessing Shi Shi Beach is a part well-maintained boardwalk, part muddy road bed that is 2 miles long. You will find wilderness coast and bald eagle viewing. Cape Alava Trail has several connecting trailheads and is 3.3 miles of easy walking on a boardwalk. It passes old-growth forest and the pacific coast where you can view bald eagles and marine mammals. Olympic Hot Springs is located 8 miles south of Lake Sutherland . Boulder Creek trailhead will take you through a montane forest on an easy 2.5 mile hike to the hot springs . Boulder Creek trailhead leads to Boulder Lake which contains exotic trout where fishing is allowed. It is 5.3 miles to the lake. The best season for this excursion is May through late September.

Humes Ranch is located 9 miles south of the junction of Highway 101 and Olympic Hot Springs Road . From the Whiskey Bend Trailhead it is 2.5 miles to the historic homesteads and meadows. It is also a good place to view deer, elk and bear. Bears are common in this area during the spring and summer months, so be cautious. Elwha Valley is located 10 miles southwest of Port Angeles, WA. It contains the largest watershed in the park and historic homestead cabins. A moderate, well maintained trail hike is 28.4 miles to Low Divide. The best time to hike this is May through September as snow may linger into July beyond Chicago Camp.

The Lake Crescent area offers several day hikes. Moments in Time Nature Trail, Marymere Falls , Mount Storm King Trail, Pyramid Peak Trail, and Spruce Railroad Trail all bring their own rewards. Hurricane Ridge offers Hurricane Hill Trail and Meadow Loop Trails. Elwha has West Lake Mills Trail, Griff Creek Trail, Krause Bottom Trail, and Madison Falls Trail. Sol Duc has Duc Falls Trail, Mink Lake Trail, Ancient Groves Nature Trail, and Lover’s Lane Loop. Cape Alava Trail and Sand Point Trail are in Ozette. Mora has Third Beach Trail, Second Beach Trail, Rialto Beach Trail, and Tide Predictions.

Sightseeing by car is also a possibility. 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 and give you a taste of the park’s high country and mountain vistas. From there, a three-hour drive to the west will bring you to the Hoh Rain Forest , where over 12 feet of rain per year creates a stunning world of huge trees and profuse greenery. 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 where you see views of the Pacific Coast and Olympic’s wilderness beaches.

Olympic National Park contains hundreds of miles of salmon producing rivers and streams. Five species of salmon and the steelhead trout depend on Olympic’s rivers and streams as a natural hatchery and nursery. Rainbow trout and cutthroat trout are just a few of the prevalent species found in the park and make for good fishing. No licenses are needed for fishing in Olympic National Park except when fishing in the Pacific Ocean from shore. No license is required to harvest surf smelt. Recreational fishing in freshwater areas of Olympic National Park is restricted to artificial lures with single, barbless hooks. Fishing from boats or other floating devices is permitted on the following rivers: Ozette, Queets below Tshletshy Creek, Hoh downstream from the launch site approximately 1/2 mile from the park boundary near the confluence of the South Fork, Hoh River in the Pacific Coastal area, Quinault below the North Shore Quinault River Bridge, Elwha below Glines Canyon Dam, Quillayute and Dickey rivers.

The waterways are also great for kayaking, canoeing, swimming, whitewater rafting and boating. Motorized craft are only allowed on the Quinault below the North Shore Quinault River Bridge, in the park’s coastal portions of the Quillayute, Dickey, and Hoh Rivers (in the Pacific Coastal Area), and in Lake Mills, Lake Crescent, and Lake Ozette.

There are also several other great outdoor adventure activities to participate in. Biking is allowed on paved roads and on the Spruce Railroad Trail on the north shore of Lake Crescent . Climbing and mountaineering opportunities abound with unique costal and mountain environments. Horseback riding and bird watching are also popular pastimes. In the winter there is snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and snow skiing.

Mt. Olympus (7,980 ft.), the highest in the Olympics, is one of the most spectacular areas in Washington . Mt. Deception is 7,788 feet and considered a hazardous climb. Mt. Constance, at 7,743 ft., is the third highest peak in the Olympic Mountains . Due to overcrowding, there is an overnight quota of 20 persons at Lake Constance . Reservations are recommended. Like Mt. Deception , many of the routes are very exposed and hazardous. Climbing this peak requires technical expertise. Climbing season usually begins in late June and goes through early September. Summers are most popular, and more crowded, as weather is warmer and drier. Plan to arrive early to obtain space, especially on weekends.

Olympic’s rock formations are generally shale, sandstone, soft basalts and pillow lava. While offering excellent remote alpine climbing opportunities, the rock is often fragmented and loose. Always wear a helmet, and beware of rock fall. The Climber’s Guide to the Olympic Mountains , by Olympic Mountain Rescue and published by The Mountaineers, is available through the Northwest Interpretive Association. This is the standard work on climbing routes in the park. Information on current conditions is available from the WIC, ranger stations and various mountaineering outfitters on the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound .

Olympic National Park offers many educational programs for kids all year long. During the summer, join a ranger for a walk into Olympic’s wilderness or attend an evening campfire program. In the winter, kids can trek out into the snow on a guided snowshoe walk. Rangers will even come to your classroom in the spring if you’re in fourth grade and live on the Olympic Peninsula. While discovering the wonders of Olympic you might decide to become an Olympic National Park Junior Ranger! A self-guided program targeting children ages 5 – 12 (and the young at heart), Junior Ranger Activity Booklets are available year-round at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles and the Recreation Information Office in Forks. Booklets are available at other ranger stations when staffed. A $1.00 donation is requested.

Defenders of wilderness note that humans need wildland as examples of unhindered, healthy ecological processes. Humans have altered the landscape so drastically that wilderness provides a necessary yardstick with which to measure the damage. For instance, intact wilderness plant and animal communities can help us measure the accelerating loss of biodiversity through species extinction.

While wilderness helps us gauge our destructiveness, it also works to mitigate the damage. Wild areas filter air and water, break down waste, recycle nutrients, and generate soil. Forests all over the world are carbon dioxide sinks, helping to balance man’s increasing release of greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere, possibly moderating extreme weather and climatic fluctuations.

When you visit the wilderness, think about what wilderness is to you? What could you do to help preserve Olympic’s wilderness for future generations? In your camp and when traveling through wilderness, think about your actions and their impact on wildlife, plant life, other wilderness travelers and future generations of wilderness travelers. Over 50,000 people a year visit Olympic National Park’s backcountry wilderness. If we limit our impacts, we can preserve the beauty and wildness of wilderness and prevent the debilitation of our experience and the experiences of others. Please learn more about what you can do to Leave No Trace in Olympic’s wilderness.

Visitor uses in many of the more popular wilderness sites has resulted in sprawling bare-ground campsites and has multitude of social trails. Park staff and volunteers work every year to replant impacted areas and stabilize erosion. This requires thousands of seedlings and thousands of hours of work for propagation and planting. Please stay on trails and within designated sites to help ensure the recovery of closed areas.

The successful recovery of these areas depends on your thoughtful uses. Tread especially lightly when visiting any of these restoration projects sites: Deer Lake, Heart Lake, Lake Buffet, Morgenroth Lake and Ground Duke Park in the Ground Duke drainage; Large and Moose Lake in the Hurricane area; Hoh Lake above the Hoh To Rivet Valley; Lake Constancy in the Dosewallips drainage; Sand Not in the Ozette coastal area; and Upper Lena Lake in the Hamma Hamma drainage.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased almost 25% since the Industrial Revolution. Many scientists suggest that increased levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, may alter the Earth’s climatic patterns. Each year, Olympic National Park’s forests trap carbon dioxide and bury it in the form of rotting logs, detritus, and other dead vegetation. Olympic’s vast forests and lush vegetation, therefore, help to maintain a balanced world climate. Living plants also produce oxygen, on which all of us depend.

Exotic plants, those introduced into the ecosystem by people, and introduced animals, can disrupt natural ecosystems by displacing or eliminating native species and destroying native habitat. Forest management outside of the park boundaries affect the species that use lands both in and out of the park. They can also impact water quality, which can affect native fish populations.

Park Resource Managers lessen the effects of these impacts by trying to maintain all the natural and cultural components and natural processes of the park ecosystem, while still providing for visitor use and enjoyment. This is accomplished by studying these processes and human-induced effects, and working to prevent negative impacts. Park manager’s survey and monitor plant and animal populations, habitats, and air and water quality, and protect existing native plants, animals and biodiversity, including endangered, threatened, and sensitive populations.

Olympic has a moderate marine climate with pleasant summers and mild, wet winters. Summers are generally fair and warm, with high temperatures usually between 65 and 75 degrees F. Summer is the driest season, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. Winters are mild, with temperatures at lower elevations in the 30′s and 40′s. At higher elevations, snowfall is generally heavy, with accumulations of up to 10 feet common. Closer to sea level, much of the precipitation comes as rain, with some infrequent snow fall. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions. Rain gear and layered clothing are a must. The Seattle office of the National Weather Service provides up-to-date weather information and forecasts.

 Current Park Weather

Last year, there were nearly 40,000 overnight visitors to The Olympic Wilderness and countless day visitors. If we treat Olympic with respect, we can preserve its wildness and grandeur for future generations. Many visitors do not realize the impacts their actions can have on the character of the wilderness, on wildlife and on other visitors. Please help take care of your wilderness by practicing Leave No Trace camping and using proper food storage techniques to protect park wildlife.

A good backpacking checklist is essential. Needed items are: tent with rainfly, backpack, sleeping bag and mat, appropriate layered clothing for the season, appropriate hiking boots for the terrain you will be trekking, water filtering system, food, first aid kit, compass, GPS unit, topographical map, tide charts, signal mirror or whistle, multipurpose tool or knife, bear wire (if not using the bear canisters), collapsible water container, 1-2 quart water bottle or a hydration system, camp stove, fuel, cooking and eating utensils, matches or fire starter, repair kits, flashlight with extra bulb and batteries, garbage bags to pack out what you pack in, and an ice axe if you’ll be doing snow/ice climbing or trekking.

Follow the wilderness camping regulations. Pets, weapons, vehicles, bicycles and other wheeled devices are not permitted on park trails, meadows, and beaches or in any undeveloped area of the park. Exceptions: Pets are permitted on leash, from Rialto Beach north to Ellen Creek , and on the Kalaloch beach strip between the Hoh and Quinault Indian Reservations. No camping in these areas. Firearms may be transported on Park roads in vehicles, provided they are adequately sealed, cased, or otherwise packed to prevent use, and out of sight. Firearms are not necessary for protection from wildlife. All visitors are required to secure all food (including dehydrated and canned), garbage and other scented items from wildlife 24 hours a day. Hard-sided containers such as bear canisters are required for food storage on the coast. Bear Canisters are required in areas where it is not possible to hang food 12 feet high and 10 feet out from the tree trunk. When traveling on snow, bring an ice axe and know how to use it.

In campgrounds where wood is not available for sale by concession services, visitor may collect dead wood on the ground within 1 mile of campgrounds. Wood gathering is permitted along road corridors within 100 feet of the road. In the Deer Park area, firewood gathering is prohibited. Campfires are allowed below 3,500 feet only. This helps protect subalpine forests and soils.

On the coast, all food, garbage and scented items must be stored in hard-sided containers such as bear canisters. Bear canisters are now available for loan at the WIC and most park ranger stations for a $3 suggested donation. Never leave unsecured food unattended. Turning your back for a moment is long enough for a raccoon to snatch your food. Store your food in a hard-sided container with a tight-fitting lid at all times. Keep a clean camp. Any type of gear is susceptible to raccoon thievery. Store any unhung, unscented gear inside your tent (NO FOOD). Most coastal water sources have a tea-stained appearance. The light tan color originates from tannin leached from leaves. Boil, filter or treat your water. Giardia is known to exist at Sand Point and in other coastal streams.

Wood gathering in forests adjacent to the beach has extensively impacted trees and other vegetation in many coastal camp areas. Cut stumps, cut or broken lower branches of trees, compacted soil and trampled plants are evidence of this impact. To allow for the recovery of heavily-impacted coastal areas, gather wood only from the beach. Use only previously established fire rings and keep your fires small. If you build beach fires, keep them at least ten feet from beach logs and below the high tide line. Remove any evidence of the fire before you leave. To assist in restoring damage from heavy use, campfires are not permitted north of Yellow Banks to the headland at Wedding Rocks. This includes the Sand Point area.

Camping with pack animals above 3,500 feet is prohibited except in designated stock camps. Pack animals are not permitted to travel off maintained trails above 3,500 feet. Only horses, mules, burros and llamas are allowed as pack animals. Oversize parties can damage the wilderness and impact the experience of other visitors. Group size for overnight wilderness trips is limited to 12 people and 8 stock. Larger groups are not permitted. Affiliated groups may not combine to form a group of more than 12 people at any time, and must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart. No additional fee is charged for stock animals. Pellets and rolled grain are required for supplemental feed, so that weed seed is not introduced into the wilderness. Feed your stock with a nose bag, the animal will get more of the feed than if it is scattered on the ground. Grazing is permitted within 1/4 mile of designated stock camps. Grazing animals must be moved every 12 hours or sooner. Use existing hitch rails, high lines or other methods to restrain animals at least 200 feet from water. Tether stock to trees for only brief periods. There are several trails that stock animals are not allowed on. Please check with the park before riding the trails. Because stock animals have a greater impact on the environment, make sure you use the Leave-No-Trace principles by restraining your animals and following the wilderness use rules.

An overnight holding corral is available at the Hoh and Staircase Ranger Stations. The “barn site” 1/4 miles from the Eagle Ranger Station is available for overnight holding of stock; reservations should be made through the Eagle Ranger Station. Elwha (Whiskey Bend ) has a small corral with 2 campsites for stock users. There are unloading ramps at Whiskey Bend and Sol Duc. Hitch racks are provided at the following trail head locations: Dosewallips, Whiskey Bend , Sol Duc, Hoh and North Fork Quinault. No turn around space is available for trailers at the Boulder Creek trailhead (turn and park at wide pullouts 3/4 mile from the road end.) Pack animals may not be tied within 150 feet of any developed campground.

When traveling to Cape Alava or Sand Point from the Ozette trailhead, you walk on three miles of boardwalk, which can be extremely slick. It is important to take your time and walk carefully. Soft-soled shoes, such as tennis shoes or lightweight hikers, grip the boardwalk better than stiff hiking boots with lug soles. Reservations are required for overnight hikes in the Ozette area between May 1 and September 30.

Hiking on the wilderness coast includes both beach hiking and hiking on trails over forested headlands. On the beach, the hiking surface varies from soft to hard sand, gravel, cobble stones, boulders and large drift logs. Algae-covered rocks and wet logs can be slippery and unstable, often tipping or rolling. Hard lug-soled boots do not give traction on slick rocks. Wear lightweight hiking boots with flexible soles. It is best to stay low, take short steps and keep your hands free for balancing. The variable hiking surfaces of the beach, combined with headland trails and tides, usually limit even strong hikers to between five and ten miles per day. Avoid walking on or picking up tide pool animals. This can kill the animal.

Tides can trap you. Do not attempt to round headlands without knowledge of the tide heights and times. Along the ocean, rising water can corner you below cliffs. People have died along the Olympic wilderness coast trying to beat the tide. Some headlands require low tides for passage. Some can never be rounded safely even at the lowest tides, so overland routes must be taken. Before traveling along the coast, obtain a detailed topographic map. Your map should indicate areas where tides may be a problem, and the tidal height at which headlands become hazardous or impossible to round.

Carry a tide chart. They are available at the WIC and some ranger stations. DON’T GUESS! Know when tides occur and carry a watch. Refer to tide charts before setting out on longer coastal hikes. On the same low tide, it may be possible to get around one headland but not the next. Strong winds or off-coast storms make tides higher than tide charts indicate, sometimes making normally passable routes impassable. Winter storms can significantly elevate tides and create seriously hazardous conditions. Never underestimate the Pacific Ocean .

Tide charts give the time and height of morning and evening high and low tides in good weather. Look over your map for the route you will follow. Note any locations where you see the words “danger,” “caution” or “round at low tide.” If your map does not include this type of information, obtain a map with those references. See the map key for definitions of hazards. They will vary between maps. “Danger” usually means that a headland cannot be rounded at any time by walking on the beach. “Caution” usually suggests a low tide height below which it may be safe to round headlands. Check the time and height of the two low tides for the day you will be hiking. Note that occasionally there may be only one low tide per day. The safest time to round headlands is within one to two hours before low tide. Rounding a headland on an incoming tide can be dangerous.

Headland trails are marked by orange and black targets. These trails lead from the beach over many headland cliffs. Headland trails are typically steep and muddy and receive minimal maintenance. Cable ladders or fixed ropes may be on site to assist climbing. Parties should climb one hiker at a time to avoid dislodging rocks onto members below. Be cautious when traveling atop headlands. Thick vegetation can mask the edge of sea cliffs—one wrong step could prove fatal. Bring leather gloves for headland trail ropes.

Always keep in mind that waves can move beach logs which can crush and kill. Strong currents, cold water and hidden rocks make swimming hazardous. Be vigilant for large swells.

Park regulations permit taking a handful of pebbles or unoccupied sea shells. All living organisms found on the beach and in tide pools are protected—disturbing or collecting is not permitted. Seal pups seen on the beach are not in need of our help. Picking up a seal pup may lead to abandonment by its mother.

Garbage and plastic, debris cast from ocean vessels, accumulates on coastal beaches. Do not decorate campsites with beach debris, as this detracts from the wilderness character of the area. Help keep your wilderness beaches clean by carrying out marine debris. Do not touch metal cylinders or other containers that have washed up onshore. They may contain hazardous or explosive materials. If you see a suspicious object, note the type of container, any markings and its exact location. Report this information to a ranger.

The seastacks and islands located off the coastal strip are National Wildlife Refuges and designated wilderness. They are also part of Olympic National Park and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Rocks and islands that cannot be reached by foot at low tide, as well as Cannonball and Ozette Islands at Cape Alava , are off limits to visitors. This protects nesting birds and other wildlife from human disturbance as well as to protect cultural resources.

Climbing in the Olympic Mountains is by no means void of danger or risk due to the unstable rock and snow, frequently inclement weather and other hazards. Though climbers have generated far fewer search and rescue incidents than hikers and backpackers, it is important that climbers recognize that these risks and dangers are real. Outside rescue may be extremely difficult due to remoteness and/or poor weather conditions. Constantly track your location using a map, compass and altimeter. Constantly follow the weather. Do not get yourself into a situation that is beyond your skill level. Use a known or easier route. Don’t climb alone. If you become lost or injured: don’t panic, find shelter and stay put, make an SOS signal and be visible. Some of the dangers climbing Mt. Olympus are: glacier travel, rock fall, and avalanche potential. Climbing parties should be skilled in crevasse self-rescue and should possess other technical skills as well. If a climber falls and does not arrest immediately, he or she may not be able to stop for some distance due to rotten snow or loose rock. Please check with the WIC for the latest known snow and route conditions. Current information may not always be available.

Include warm clothing and a windbreaker for higher elevations and cool evenings. Higher elevations are snow-covered from early November to late June. Some campgrounds and comfort stations are closed and water systems drained during off seasons. The number of sites may also be limited at that time. Inquire about open facilities upon arrival during the off season.

Climbing parties are requested to register for their climb at the Glacier Meadows Ranger Station. Rangers do not certify competency, nor is anyone refused a wilderness permit because of deficiencies in equipment or ability. Risk is recognized as a legitimate component of the wilderness experience. Their goal is not to eliminate risk but to help climbers make informed decisions as to their level of exposure.

Harvest of Seaweed (algae) is prohibited. Harvest of unclassified invertebrates and fish is prohibited. While fishing from the intertidal zone, bait and barbed hooks may be used but the harvest of any organisms for use as bait is prohibited.

Forage fish (Herring/Sardine/Sandlance/Anchovy/Surf smelt) may be harvested using a dip net, with a maximum mesh size of 1/2″ stretched mesh. Only one dip net may be used at a time and must be held by the rigid handle at all times.

Prior to harvesting shellfish, check current marine toxin conditions at the Washington Department of Health Marine Toxins/PSP Hotline (1-800-562-5632 or http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm ).

Olympic is home to large herds of Roosevelt elk for which Olympic National Park was established. Some animals and birds that benefit from the forest are Golden buprestid beetle, Almond-scented millipede, Pacific tree frog, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Gray Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Spotted owl, American Dipper, Keen Myotis, Douglas squirrel, bobcat, cougar, raccoon, black bear, and Columbia black-tailed deer. The Olympic marmot and Olympic yellow-pine chipmunks are related to other marmots and chipmunks. But through isolation on the peninsula, they became different enough to be recognized as unique animals. Another endemic animal is the torrent salamander, which lives in fast flowing mountain streams and is believed to be an ancestor to other salamanders common to the area. Mountain goats were introduced to the area from Alaska and British Columbia in the 1920′s.

Olympic National Park contains hundreds of miles of salmon producing rivers and streams. Five species of salmon and the steelhead trout depend on Olympic’s rivers and streams as a natural hatchery and nursery. Rainbow trout and cutthroat trout are just a few of the prevalent species found in the park.

Along the coast, especially at Cape Alava and Sand Point in the Ozette area, years of heavy use, feeding of wildlife and improper food storage have habituated raccoons to stealing human food. Raccoons are clever, resourceful and aggressive. They can climb ropes, hang from tree branches and leap long distances. Raccoons have learned how to work toggles and zippers, and can unscrew containers. Raccoons can break into Tupperware, coolers and other types of containers. Containers known to work reliably against raccoons and bears: Bear Canisters. Raccoons have been breaking into plastic buckets at Sand Point! Call the WIC to find out how to keep raccoons out of your bucket or use a bear canister. Report any incidents of raccoons getting food. Do not feed any wild animals!

Hunting or disturbance of wildlife in any manner is prohibited in National Parks.

Black bears live throughout in Olympic. They require wild habitat and freedom from human contact to survive a species. Bears are opportunistic and can learn to search for any available food–even the hot dog bun left near your tent. Therefore, it is important for park visitors to manage their food storage, dirty dishes, and garbage so as to not encourage a bear to seek them out as alternate food sources. See the Wildlife Precautions page for further safety tips.

A Single Visit Vehicle Permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase. This cost is $15.00.

A Single Visit Individual Permit allows an individual traveling on foot, horseback, motorcycle, or in a vehicle owned by a non-profit organization to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase. This cost is $5.00.

Olympic National Park Annual Pass allows all persons traveling with the pass holder in one single non-commercial vehicle, or the pass holder and his/her family (spouse, children, parents) traveling by means other than a single private non-commercial vehicle, unlimited entry to the park for 1 year from the month of purchase. This cost is $30.00.

Camping fees at park campgrounds range from $10.00 to $18.00. Fees for Wilderness Camping Permits are $5 to register for a permit to camp overnight in the wilderness (for groups up to 12 people), plus $2 per person per night. There is no nightly charge for youth 16 years of age and under. Annual passes are available for frequent wilderness visitors for $30; $15 for each additional household member. Discounts associated with Golden Age and Golden Access Cards apply. An Entrance Fee of $15 is also charged at the following park entrances: Hoh, Sol Duc, Elwha, Hurricane Ridge, Staircase and Ozette. Maximum rates charged are $50.00 for trips up of to 14 nights with a party of up to 6 people and $100.00 for trips of up to 14 nights with groups of 7-12 people.

The WIC in Port Angeles accepts Visa and Mastercard, checks and cash. At staffed ranger stations where wilderness permits are available, Wilderness Use Fees may be paid by credit card, cash or check. At self-registration trailheads register boxes contain envelopes (with printed instructions), which are stapled to blank permits. Upon completion of your outing, mail your payment in the envelope. Do not leave payment in trailhead permit boxes.

Get your free Volunteer Pass by volunteering 16 hours of your time in the park. This pass covers entrance fees, wilderness fees and campground fees. For more information contact Olympic’s volunteer coordinator (360) 565-3141.

The U.S. Forest Service now accepts the Golden Eagle, Golden Access and Golden Age passes in place of the Northwest Forest Pass. US Forest Service Northwest Forest Passes are required when parking at Olympic National Forest trailheads. Some areas of Olympic National Park are accessed by trails originating in Forest Service areas. Both Park Service and Forest Service registration and fee procedures may apply. Northwest Forest Passes are available at all Olympic National Forest offices and a number of commercial outlets. The fee is $5 per vehicle per day. An annual NW Forest Pass is available for $30, good for a calendar year. Call (360) 956-2400 for more information.

The National Park Service operates 16 campgrounds with a total of 910 sites. The following campgrounds also have associated park entrance fees: Staircase, Hoh, Altair, Elwha, and Heart O’ the Hills, Ozette and Sol Duc. All are available on a first-come, first-served basis with the exception of Kalaloch which operates on a reservation system in the summer. Some remain open throughout the winter. No park campgrounds have hookups, showers, or laundry.

Altair is open late spring through mid autumn. It is located along the shore of the Elwha River . The Altair campground has 30 sites and is at an elevation of 450 feet. Altair operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms are available. Fees are $12 each night.

Deer Park is open late spring through mid autumn. Deer Park campground is nestled just below the summit of Blue Mountain offering spectacular views of the Olympics. It has 14 sites and is at an elevation of 5,400 feet. Deer Park operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Access is via a narrow, windy dirt road; RV’s and trailers not permitted. Pit toilets. No water available. Fees are $10 each night.

Dosewallips Campground is walk-in only with pit toilets and no potable water. In the spring of 2002 the Dosewallips Road washed out approximately five and a half miles from the Dosewallips Campground.

Elwha is open all year. The campground is located in the Elwha River Valley and has 40 sites at an elevation of 390 feet. Elwha operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms are available. Fees are $12 each night. This campground is primitive in winter with pit toilets and no water.

Fairholme is open late spring through mid autumn. It is located on the western edge of Lake Crescent , has 88 sites, and is at an elevation of 580 feet. Fairholme operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms, boat launch and RV dump station are available. Fees are $12 each night.

Graves Creek campground is situated along the forested shore of the Quinault River and may be closed in winter. It has 30 sites at an elevation of 540 feet. Graves Creek operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Fees are $12 each night. This campground is primitive with pit toilets (accessible) and potable water available. The Graves Creek Road is prone to washouts during periods of heavy rain.

Heart O’ The Hills is open all year. It is a beautifully forested campground that has 105 sites and is at an elevation of 1,807 feet. Heart O’ the Hills operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms are available. Fees are $12 each night. It may be walk-in during periods of low elevation snow during winter.

Hoh is open all year and sits within the Hoh Rainforest along the banks of the Hoh River . It has 88 sites and is at an elevation of 578 feet. Hoh campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms and RV dump station available. The Hoh Visitor Center is nearby. Fees are $12 each night.

Kalaloch campground is open all year and is located along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the southernmost portion of Olympic’s coastal strip. Reservations for Kalaloch campground are accepted up to five months in advance (beginning on the 5th of every month) for June 23 – September 4, 2006. During this reservation period unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. During the reservation period call 360-962-2030 for Kalaloch Campground information (not reservations). During the rest of the year Kalaloch is a first-come, first served campground. Kalaloch has 175 sites and is at an elevation of 50 feet. Accessible restrooms and RV dump station are available. Fees are $18 each night during the reservation period; $14 each night during the rest of the year. A Group campsite is available, call (360)962-2271, with a 30 person maximum.

Mora campground is open all year and is located along the Quillayute River approximately two miles from Rialto Beach. It has 94 sites, plus one walk-in site, and is at an elevation of 32 feet. Mora operates on a first-come, first-served basis. No park campgrounds have hookups, showers, or laundry. Accessible restrooms and RV dump station are available. Fees are $12 each night.

North Fork campground is located along the shores of the North Fork Quinault River and may be closed in winter. It has seven sites and is at an elevation of 520 feet. North Fork operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessed via a dirt road, RV’s and trailers are not recommended. The campground has pit toilets and no drinking water. Fees are $10 each night.

Ozette campground is located at the northern tip of Ozette Lake approximately three miles from the Pacific coast and may be closed in winter. It has 15 sites and is at an elevation of 40 feet. Ozette campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible restrooms located nearby. Fees are $12 each night. It may be closed during periods of heavy rain due to flooding.

Sol Duc campground has 82 sites and is at an elevation of 1,680 feet and may be closed in winter. They are first come, first served. There are accessible restrooms. RV dump station is available. Fees are $14 each night. “Organized” group campsite is available, call (360) 327-3534. There is a 24 person and 8 stock maximum.

South Beach is open late spring through mid autumn and is first come, first served. South Beach has 50 sites and is at an elevation of 50 feet. It is accessed via a dirt road. No drinking water is available. Fees are $10 each night.

Staircase is first come, first served. Staircase campground has 56 sites and is at an elevation of 765 feet. There are accessible restrooms. Fees are $12 each night. It may be closed during winter due to snow or road damage.

Toilets are located at each of the main concentrations of campsites at Cape Alava and Sand Point, and at various other high use camp areas along the beach. In the absence of a toilet, dig a cat hole 200 feet from any campsite or water source in the forest to dispose of human waste.

Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Olympic National Park backcountry. Be sure to check to see if reservations are needed. Permits are limited in some areas. Overnight backcountry camping is allowed at Hurricane Ridge during the winter season. Permits are required and can be obtained from the park’s Wilderness Information Center (WIC) in Port Angeles. Call the WIC before your trip for information about where to camp, parking locations, weather and snow conditions and avalanche hazards. (360) 565-3100 Overnight parking is not allowed in the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.

Overnight quotas are in effect between May 1 and September 30 for high-use wilderness camp areas to help minimize human impacts and provide a quality wilderness experience. Reservations may be made no more than 30 days in advance for trips between May 1 and September 30 by calling the WIC at (360) 565-3100. Permits for quota areas must be picked up at the WIC or a staffed ranger station during business hours. Within quota areas, groups of 7-12 people must camp in designated group sites. When calling to make reservations, please have your itinerary ready with campsite locations. Ozette Coast, Royal Basin / Royal Lake , Grand and Badger Valleys , and Lake Constance all require advanced reservations. Flapjack Lakes (includes Gladys Divide), Sol Duc/Seven Lakes Basin/Mink Lake area, and Hoh Lake and C.B. Flats have a 50% reservation, 50% first come, first served. At Hoh River Trail reservations are available for group sites (sites for 7-12 persons) and stock sites only by calling the WIC.

Permits for Grand Valley, Badger Valley and all Hurricane Ridge area trips must be obtained through the WIC in Port Angeles . Permits are not available at Hurricane Ridge. Camping is permitted only in designated sites within quota areas. Campsites are not individually assigned but are available to permit holders on a first come, first served basis. In quota areas, deviation from your permit itinerary is not allowed, except in cases of emergency. In other areas, permits are not limited.

Camping is permitted along the wilderness coast, except between the Quillayute River and Ellen Creek. Along the Kalaloch strip south of the Hoh River, camping is only allowed in developed front country campgrounds. Quotas are in affect for camping in the wilderness between Yellow Banks north to Duk Point 1.5 miles north of the Ozette River; reservations are required for trips between May 1 and September 30. Only a limited number of traditional forested campsites are located adjacent to the beach. Many visitors choose to camp on the beach itself, which can be done above the high tide line. These sites offer less shelter from wind, sun and weather than the forested sites, but reduce resource damage. Building a driftwood shelter or furniture is discouraged, as it takes away from the coast’s wild character.

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Forest, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Snoqualmie National Forest, Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Olympic Experimental State Forest, Tiger Mountain State Forest, Capitol Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, Quinault Indian Reservation and Makah Indian Reservation all surround and are nearby the park.

Kenmore Air offers daily flights between Port Angeles’ William R. Fairchild International Airport, and Seattle’s Boeing Field International Airport. Shuttle service between Boeing Field and Sea-Tac International is provided.

From the Seattle/Tacoma area, travelers may reach U.S. 101 by several different routes, either by crossing Puget Sound on one of the Washington State Ferries or by driving south around Puget Sound. Travel time along any of these routes is approximately two-and-a-half to three hours from the Seattle/Tacoma area to Port Angeles, where the main park visitor center and park headquarters are located. All major rental companies serve the SeaTac Airport. Rental cars are also available on the Olympic Peninsula in Port Angeles, Sequim and Grays Harbor. All park destinations can be reached from U.S. Highway 101, which circumnavigates the Olympic Peninsula.

Port Angeles is served daily from downtown Seattle and SeaTac Airport by Olympic Bus Lines and Tours. Reservations are recommended: call (360) 417-0700. The Clallam Transit System provides service within Port Angeles and commuter services to locations around the northern Olympic Peninsula. For more information, call (360) 452-4511.

Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Olympic National Park:

By Car:

Bremerton, WA – 76.81 miles

Bellevue, WA – 91.02 miles

Seattle, WA – 81.97 miles

Richland,WA – 337.18 miles

Portland, OR – 230.39 miles

By Plane:

William R Fairchild International Airport – 3.45 miles

Boeing Field/King County International Airport – 87.60 miles

Seatac Airport Taxi & Shuttle – 76.47 miles

Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue , Port Angeles , WA 98362-6798

Visitor Information Recorded Message (360) 565-3130 or (360) 565-3131

Visitor Information (TTY) 1-800-833-6388
By Fax (360) 565-3015

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