9 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park You Need to Explore

Olympic National Park has some of the most varied hiking in Washington, with old-growth rainforests, alpine meadows, glacier-fed lakes, and miles of wild coastline all in one park. I’ve been hiking here multiple times a year for over a decade, and I keep coming back because there’s always another trail to try.

This guide covers the 9 best hikes in Olympic National Park that I’ve personally done, ranging from easy 1-mile waterfall walks to strenuous summit climbs. They’re all day hikes (no backpacking required) and most are accessible year-round depending on the weather. I’ve included real photos from my trips, what to expect on each trail, and which ones work for families.

There’s a bonus hike at the end on Cape Flattery, which is technically just outside the park on the Makah Reservation but worth knowing about if you’re already in the area.

For more trip planning, see my full guides to things to do in Olympic National Park and where to stay in Olympic National Park.

Tips for Hiking Olympic National Park

You’ll want to plan your Olympic hikes in advance, so in addition to checking the weather, here are some tips to help with your trip.

Best Time to Hike Olympic National Park

You can hike in Olympic National Park year-round, but the best window is May through October when most trails are snow-free, and the weather is generally drier. June and September are my favorites because the wildflowers (June) or fall colors (September) are at their best, and the crowds are lighter than peak summer.

Winter hiking is great if you’re prepared. Lower-elevation trails like Marymere Falls and the rainforest trails stay accessible, but Hurricane Hill and Mount Ellinor get snow and may require traction or snowshoes. Check the NPS road conditions page before driving up.

What to Pack for Olympic National Park Hikes

Olympic gets a lot of rain, so being prepared for wet weather even in summer makes a real difference. A few essentials I’d recommend:

• Waterproof rain jacket – The Hoh Rainforest can soak you in 5 minutes, even on a “clear” day.
• Hiking shoes with grip – Roots, mud, and wet boardwalks are everywhere.
• Layers – Hurricane Ridge can be 30 degrees cooler than the coast on the same day.
• Refillable water bottle – Most trailheads have water access.
• Bug spray – Especially for coastal hikes in summer.

For more, see my full road trip packing list.

Olympic National Park Permits and Fees

The entrance fee to Olympic National Park is $30 per vehicle (good for 7 days) or $15 per person if hiking or biking in. If you’re visiting multiple national parks in a year, the America the Beautiful annual pass is $80 and pays for itself after 3 park visits.

The park does NOT require timed entry reservations. Just drive in with your pass. Parking at popular trailheads (Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Hill, Lake Crescent) fills up by mid-morning in summer, so plan to arrive early.

9 Best Hikes in Olympic National Park

Here are the 9 hikes I’ve done in Olympic National Park, listed from easiest to most challenging.

1. Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail

• Distance: 0.5 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: South Shore Road, 0.8 miles south of Lake Quinault Lodge

The Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail is a short loop in the southern part of Olympic National Park that takes you through old-growth rainforest with some of the largest trees in the world. The Lake Quinault area is known as the “Valley of the Rainforest Giants” and is home to five of the largest conifers in the world, including champion trees recognized by the American Forests Association.

I did this trail on a rainy day in November, the same day I did the Hoh Rainforest hikes. It was very quiet, and I didn’t see a single other person on the trail, which was great. The trees are massive, and the rainforest setting is moody in a way that’s hard to describe.

Don’t miss the world’s largest Sitka spruce nearby. Just a few minutes’ drive from the Nature Trail (on South Shore Road past Lake Quinault Lodge), there’s a separate short trail that takes you to the world’s largest Sitka spruce. The tree is approximately 1,000 years old, stands 191 feet tall, and has a trunk circumference of nearly 59 feet. The trail is less than a quarter mile and flat, so it’s a quick add-on.

Since this is a pretty short hike, here are more to pair with it to extend your total mileage:

• Maple Glade Loop Trail (0.5 miles) – a short flat loop on the north side of Lake Quinault, accessed near the Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station. Boardwalks through bigleaf maples covered in moss.
• Quinault Loop Trail (4 miles) – extends from the Nature Trail and follows Willaby Creek through more old-growth forest. Good for a fuller half-day.

The Olympic Peninsula has some of the most beautiful hikes in the state, but if you’re looking for something more low-key, my guide on easy hikes in Washington includes Hall of Mosses, Marymere Falls, and Sol Duc Falls.

2. Hall of Mosses

• Distance: 0.8 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center

The Hall of Mosses is the most iconic short hike in the Hoh Rainforest and one of the top stops on my Olympic Peninsula road trip. It’s a quick loop through old-growth Sitka spruce and bigleaf maples completely covered in club moss, and it’s also one of the best easy hikes in Washington because the trail is short, flat, and family-friendly.

I did this trail in the fall on a rainy day, and it was honestly perfect. The fog was rolling in, and the moss was dripping from the trees, making it feel completely otherworldly. Driving in on the Upper Hoh Road, I also saw three elk just hanging out on the side of the road, which I’d never seen that close before. Since the trail is at low elevation and accessible year-round, it also makes a great spring hike in Washington when higher trails are still under snow.

Heads up that the parking lot fills up fast in summer. Expect 1-2 hour waits at the entrance pay station between 9 am and 5 pm. Go early or late in the day to avoid the worst of it.

If you want to explore another remote corner of Washington, the things to do in Stehekin, at the top of Lake Chelan, offer a similar wilderness feel, with no road access at all.

3. Spruce Nature Trail

• Distance: 1.2 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center

The Spruce Nature Trail shares a starting point with Hall of Mosses, but it gives you a different perspective by following the Hoh River through old-growth forest. I did this one right after Hall of Mosses on the same fall trip, and it was peaceful with very few people there on a weekday. It was raining the whole time, but the trees protected me from getting soaked, and the open river views are a nice contrast to the more enclosed Hall of Mosses experience.

If you’re already at the Hoh Visitor Center for Hall of Mosses, do this one too. It only adds about 45 minutes, and the two trails together give you the full Hoh experience.

4. Sol Duc Falls

• Distance: 1.6 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Sol Duc Hot Springs (end of Sol Duc Road)

Sol Duc Falls is one of the most unique waterfalls in Washington because the trail crosses a wooden bridge directly over the top of the falls. Most waterfall hikes view the falls from below, but here you can stand on the bridge and look straight down into the gorge.

I did this trail on a rainy November day during a fall trip. We were the only people on the trail when we got to the falls, and it actually started snowing while we were there, which made it feel completely magical. The whole hike takes about an hour, and the trail is well-maintained and family-friendly.

This is also one of the best waterfall hikes near Seattle if you’re looking for a day trip from the city.

5. Marymere Falls

• Distance: 1.8 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: Storm King Ranger Station, near Lake Crescent Lodge

Marymere Falls is one of my favorite easy hikes in Olympic National Park, and it was the first hike my kids completed start to finish when they were little. The trail is mostly flat, with a short uphill stretch at the end to reach the 90-foot waterfall, and the entire walk is shaded by old-growth trees, making it feel like a different world.

I’ve done this trail three times now (once with my kids, once on a guided tour, and once solo when I was already in the area), and it holds up every time. The falls are most dramatic in spring after the snowmelt, but they’re worth seeing year-round.

6. Hurricane Hill

• Distance: 3.2 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead: End of Hurricane Ridge Road

Hurricane Hill was the first hike I ever did in Olympic National Park, and I’ve been back probably half a dozen times since. The trail starts at the top of Hurricane Ridge Road (5,242 feet of elevation) and climbs gradually to a viewpoint where you can see the Olympic Mountains in one direction and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island in the other.

I’ve seen deer almost every time I’ve done this hike, and marmots are practically guaranteed in the meadows along the trail. They’re the chunky alpine rodents that whistle when they spot you and aren’t particularly shy. The only downside of this hike is it’s really popular, so get here early.

7. Mount Ellinor

• Distance: 3.2 to 6.4 miles round-trip (depending on which trailhead)
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Trailhead: Upper Trailhead (shorter) or Lower Trailhead (longer)

Mount Ellinor was a rare hike my husband and I did without our kids. We left super early on the Washington ferry, made it to the summit by lunch, ate up there with other hikers for almost an hour, and took the long way home with a stop in Olympia for dinner at a brewery. The weather was perfect, which made the steep summit scramble much more enjoyable.

The trail climbs about 3,300 feet to the summit at 5,944 feet, and the last stretch involves scrambling over rocks. I didn’t see any mountain goats (which the trail is famous for), but I saw marmots in the meadows below the summit. The views from the top are some of the best in the southern Olympics, with Mount Rainier visible to the east on a clear day.

This is the most challenging hike on this list. Go in summer or early fall when the trail is snow-free, and bring more water than you think you need.

I love using AllTrails to download maps and stay on the trail during all my hikes.

8. Ozette Triangle

• Distance: 9.5 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Moderate (long but mostly flat)
• Trailhead: Ozette Ranger Station

The Ozette Triangle is one of my favorite hikes in Olympic National Park because it covers two completely different ecosystems in one loop: old-growth coastal forest on boardwalks and a stretch of wild Pacific coast you walk along the actual beach.

My friend and I did this hike in June 2018 as an overnight backpack and camped at Camp Alava right next to the Pacific Ocean. On the way back along the coastal section, we came around a corner and saw a black bear with two cubs blocking the trail. The tide was rising and we had limited time before that section flooded. We waited about an hour at a safe distance until the family moved off the trail, then hustled through before the tide cut us off.

You can do this as a day hike if you start early, but I’d recommend the overnight option for the experience. I also recommend checking the tide charts and forecast, so you don’t set yourself up for soggy boots.

9. Cape Flattery (Bonus)

• Distance: 1.5 miles round-trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Trailhead: End of Cape Loop Road, Neah Bay
• Note: Cape Flattery is NOT inside Olympic National Park. It sits on the Makah Reservation just north of the park. You’ll need a Makah Recreation Pass ($20 per vehicle, good for the calendar year), available at the Makah Cultural and Research Center, Makah Mini Mart, or Washburn’s General Store in Neah Bay.

I’m including Cape Flattery here because it’s a stunning hike most Olympic National Park visitors don’t know about, and it’s worth the detour if you’re already in the area. The trail is a 1.5-mile round-trip boardwalk through coastal rainforest that ends at four wooden viewing platforms perched on the cliffs at the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States.

I visited solo on a research trip for my guidebook. It was cold and rainy, but after I explored the small town of Neah Bay (which I’d never been to before), I picked up my Makah Recreation Pass at the Makah Cultural and Research Center and headed to the trail. There was nobody else on the trail and I absolutely loved the view. The combination of the rainforest boardwalk, the dramatic cliffs, and the empty Pacific stretching out forever was unforgettable.

Where to Stay for Olympic National Park Hikes

If you want to hike Olympic National Park over a weekend or longer, your best bet is to base out of either Port Angeles (for north-side hikes like Hurricane Hill and Marymere Falls) or Forks (for west-side hikes like Hall of Mosses, Spruce Nature Trail, and Sol Duc Falls). For a full breakdown, see my guide on where to stay in Olympic National Park.

Olympic National Park Hikes FAQ

What is the most popular hike in Olympic National Park?

The Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rainforest is the most popular short hike in Olympic National Park. It’s a 0.8-mile loop through old-growth rainforest covered in club moss, accessible to almost any skill level, and one of the most photographed trails in the park.

What is the hardest hike in Olympic National Park?

Mount Ellinor is one of the hardest day hikes in Olympic National Park, with about 3,300 feet of elevation gain over a steep summit scramble. For backpacking, the Mount Olympus traverse via the Hoh River Trail is the toughest multi-day option in the park.

Are there easy hikes in Olympic National Park for beginners?

Yes. The Quinault Rainforest Nature Trail (0.5 miles), Hall of Mosses (0.8 miles), Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles), Sol Duc Falls (1.6 miles), and Marymere Falls (1.8 miles) are all easy and family-friendly. They’re well-maintained trails with minimal elevation gain and great scenic payoffs.

Do you need a permit to hike Olympic National Park?

No special permit is needed for day hikes. You just need a valid park pass ($30 per vehicle for 7 days, or the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass). Backpacking trips DO require a wilderness permit from the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles.

That’s it for my list of the 9 best hikes in Olympic National Park. Whether you’re after an easy waterfall walk like Marymere Falls or a strenuous summit like Mount Ellinor, there’s something here for every skill level.

If you’re planning a longer trip, my Olympic Peninsula loop road trip guide covers the full drive around the park with all 13 of the best stops. And if you only have one day, my one day in Olympic National Park guide shows you how to fit the highlights into a single trip.

Which of these hikes is on your list? Let me know in the comments.