The Ultimate Olympic National Park Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

It can definitely get a little overwhelming when trying to plan an Olympic National Park itinerary. There’s a lot of beautiful things to see and do, and you definitely will want to plan what you want to see before you leave. I went at the end of June, and it was definitely more popular than I expected. The best piece of advice I have is to get up as early as you can. You will avoid the crowds and the lines. Many places already had crowds as early as 8am. As I was leaving, there were long lines to enter.

Where To Stay While Visiting Olympic National Park

The first thing to figure out is where to stay in Olympic National Park. I recommend dividing your time between Port Angeles and Forks. This puts you in the closest areas to see the sites. If you are a kayaker like me, I’d also recommend a night at the Log Cabin Resort on Lake Crescent. Lake Crescent was one of my favorite things I got to experience at Olympic National Park. If you stay at the resort, you get to enjoy the lake in the morning  before the crowds come. While you can rent kayaks at Lake Crescent, the rentals didn’t start until 10am when I was there, which was a little disappointing. If you have your own to bring, I’d recommend it, so you can enjoy the early morning stillness. I stayed in Airbnb’s in both Port Angeles and Forks, so I’d recommend looking there far in advance for a place to stay.

The Olympic National Park Itinerary

Hoodsport

If you happen to be driving from Portland, OR like I did, definitely don’t drive through Hoodsport without stopping for oysters and clams. I went to the Fjord Oyster Bank for lunch, and I had an incredible lunch. The lemongrass, hoisin & garlic butter clams were phenomenal. After lunch, if you feel like going for a short hike, head up the road, and do the short 1.6 mile Ranger Hole trail which overlooks the beautiful turquoise Duckabush River. This trail was just as beautiful as anything that I saw in Olympic National Park, and I’m really glad I did it.

If you’re staying in Port Angeles and have time, you can always make stops in Port Townsend or at one of the lavender farms in Sequim. My advice for stocking up for groceries in Port Angeles is to make a stop at Country Aire Natural Foods. It was one of the best health food stores I’ve ever been in.

For dinner, don’t miss Yodelin. I went here twice because it was so good. They are known for their bone broth soups and healthy food. On my first visit, I had the yellow curry halibut bone broth bowl with bay shrimp added. The second, I had the hama hama clam chowder. Nothing in it came from a can, and it was some of the best clam chowder I’ve ever had.

Day 1 in Olympic National Park-Hurricane Ridge and Sol Duc Falls

Hurricane Ridge is absolutely not to be missed on your visit to Olympic National Park. It’s just outside of Port Angeles, and I definitely recommend going for sunrise. It was definitely crowded when I returned to my car at 8:30.  You can hike the 3.5 mile Hurricane Hill for the best views, although, you can also see stunning views from the parking lot. The elevation is at 5,242 feet, so I didn’t actually finish the hike, as the elevation made it hard. But I did about 3/4 of it, and saw some beautiful views that I didn’t see while parked. There are a few other hikes you can do as well. Definitely spend some time here enjoying the views.

After visiting, Hurricane Ridge, head to Sol Falls. On the way, you will get your first stunning views of Lake Crescent. I’d recommend bringing a picnic and pulling off into the La Poel day use area. There are plenty of picnic tables, and this early, you’ll probably have your own private lakefront table. It’s so serene, and the best time to see the lake is in the morning before the wind picks up.

Sol Duc Falls is an easy 2 mile hike through a beautiful rain forest. It gets crowded, but there is plenty of parking in the parking lot, and it’s worth seeing. The waterfall splits into several channels, and is unique from other waterfalls I’ve seen. You can also soak at Sol Duc hot springs after you’ve done, but I have to say, these hot springs weren’t my favorite. The “pools” are concrete swimming pools, and there were so many kids running around and screaming that it didn’t make for a relaxing soak. The drive back to Port Angeles is about 90 minutes, so head back and explore Port Angeles for the rest of your day.

For an idea of something to do in Port Angeles:

Enjoy Webster Woods Sculpture Park

I was delighted to discover Webster Woods Sculpture Park in Port Angeles. It’s free and open to the public year round. There are beautiful park trails through the woods and some nice views of Port Angeles as well.

Day 2 in Olympic National Park

Kayak Lake Crescent

If you stayed at Log Cabin resort, you will already be on Lake Crescent. If not, start out early, and rent a kayak from the Log Cabin resort on the north side. It’s less touristy and more serene. You will be astonished at all of the colors of the lake that you just won’t see from viewing the lake on land. I’d recommend spending a couple of hours on the lake, as it’s an easy paddle, and it’s pretty big.

In the afternoon, make the one hour drive to Forks, if you’ve decided to also stay here. This puts you closer to the Hoh Rain forest, another place you need to get up early for, if you don’t want to wait in line for hours.

Day 3 in Olympic National Park

Hoh Rain Forest and Rialto Beach

The Hoh Rain forest was definitely the most crowded of all, so you will want to arrive as early as possible. There are two trails, The Hall of Mosses trail and the Spruce Nature trail. Everyone flocks to the Hall of Mosses trail. Definitely worth seeing, but I enjoyed the Spruce Nature trail even more because there were fewer people, and I saw the most amazing heart shaped nurse log with so many other trees growing from it. It was the most incredible thing I saw on my visit to the forest. This is definitely an otherworldly place, and worth getting up early for.

Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall

Next, check the tides and possibly go to Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall. (Note, the road is currently closed until Oct 15 , 2026). What made Rialto Beach so special was that I went at low tide. You will want to plan to get there 2-3 hours before low tide, as everyone else will have the same idea as well. The tidepools and sea stars were just incredible, and I explored there for many hours. It’s quite the walk from the parking lot to Hole-in-the-Wall, so hiking shoes are a must. They are also a must if you plan to climb on the rocks to see the tide pools. Do not wear flip flops, or you will regret it. Take plenty of snacks and water, wear sunscreen, and enjoy your time at this special spot.

Day 4 in Olympic National Park

Cape Flattery, Neah Bay, and Ruby Beach

Cape Flattery is the furthest northwest tip of the contiguous United States and is absolutely stunning. Make sure to get the separate parking permit that’s required for parking in the area. It’s good for the year, and you can also use it for Shi Shi Beach. It’s about a 1.5 mile hike with many stairs. If it’s a cloudy day, I’d say skip it because you are going for the views. Neah Bay had a beautiful marina with many eagles soaring above. The drive to the area was also stunning. I left in the morning, just as the fog was lifting, and there are many coastal viewpoints you will want to stop at. I also make a stop at a beach I found along the way. I’m not sure of the name, but there were 4 parking spots, and I had it all to myself.

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is breathtakingly beautiful and has towering sea stacks and a reddish tint to the sand that comes from garnets. There’s lots of driftwood, and it’s an easy mile hike to the shore. Of course, it’s more interesting if you go at low tide, but it’s a beautiful beach no matter when you go. Wear hiking shoes!

Have you been to Olympic National Park? What was your favorite place that you saw?  And, if you’re headed to Portland next, make sure to read my article on the best things to see and do in Portland!