Dont forget water. Both ferries cost roughly the same, and take roughly the same amount of time. Part of this hike involves using ropes to climb a rocky slope to reach the summit, which might not be a good choice for people who are wary of heights. Use the Washington State ferry site for schedules and pricing. Trips Alerts Sign in. No, that description of Lake Angeles is not right. How to ride WA state ferries as a drive-on car passenger? We bring linens, plates, silverware and set up for lunch somewhere lovely. The good news is that its flat! The Olympic National Park is a notable UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecological diversity and wild expansion. The drive from Cape Flattery to the Shi Shi Beach trailhead will take you roughly twenty minutes. GET TICKETS. The total time for the ferry ride will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on weather and water conditions. If you dont want to take the southern loop to get home, head back along 101 from the Hoh Rainforest towards Port Angeles to make your way back to Seattle. It is not far from the eastern end of the Hood Canal Bridge, so it would save you almost an hour of driving as opposed to going on to Seattle. Olympic National Park is a The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". You seem to be very active in this forum. On the way back, stop by Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where youll find hot springs that you can take a soak after a long day of exploring. BEST Olympic National Park Day Tour from Seattle. We plan on spending a few days in Seattle before going to Olympic National Park for a few days. The park and surrounding peninsula is gigantic and you cant drive straight through the park. ), and a centralized pickup on Bainbridge Island and in Port Angeles. Estimated travel time: 2 hours. Lunch is usually included and your expert tour guide will be at your side throughout the day. 2022. Sierra blizzard conditions force highway shutdowns. We still have the morning of the last day before we have to fly out. The hike is more like 4 hours. You can see costs here, which varies depending on how many people are in the car, and what kind of vehicle you have. Start date | 2021-01-01 To get to Kalaloch, you have 2 options. Ten or fewer. Other considerations if youre staying outside of Seattle: Were happy to offer several centralized pickup options en route to the National Park upon request. The first is the Hall of Mosses, which is an easy 0.8 mile loop through the heart of the rainforest. Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty. At a high level, heres our recommendation in terms of where to stay: If you want to spend a night near the Hoh Rainforest, stay at the Hoh Valley Cabins, which will put you in prime position for beating the crowds out to the rainforest. Olympic National Park is open every day year-round. Youll have comfortable transport options and an itinerary made specifically for you. It is wonderful up at the lake, but there are a few mosquitoes. I just wanted to clear up the slight misconceptions in your post. A couple of things to remember when visiting: When youre coming from Seattle, youre going to take the Seattle to Bremerton ferry. There are a couple of trails in the Hoh Rainforest that are worth doing, and both are short and easy and they leave from the visitors center parking lot. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 1-Day Seattle/Renton to Mount Rainier National Park Tour $139.00. Before heading back to Seattle, this day trip to Olympic National Park includes one last hike, this time to the breathtaking Marymere Falls. This is a 1.2 mile round trip hike that takes you through similar ecosystems as the Hall of Mosses, but the highlight is the Hoh River, which is probably the best place to see wildlife in the area (aside from the backcountry). I love both the Lake Angeles hike and the Deer Lake hike. This can be done online or on-site when you arrive. From national parks to mountains peaks, here are 15 of the best day trips from Seattle. (search Rental cars + downtown Seattle.there are too many hits for me to include them in this post). A local, TripAdvisor Hall of Fame naturalist guide. This will take a little longer since youll be going on roads with slower speed limits. For efficiency on a Seattle day trip is to use the ferries to Olympic National Park. Instead, look at the area northwest of Port Angeles along the Strait of Juan de Fuca or Lake Sutherland where youll find plenty of rustic log cabins that make a perfect home base for exploring the area. No two trips are the same! We did the beach walk down to Hole in the Wall at sunset, saw two bald eagles, and I just about lost my tripod in the surf trying to get an epic sunset photo on the beach. It gets packed in August, and parking will be a problem. Olympic National Park webcam. Olympic National Park Tour From Seattle. However, the highlight here is the Hurricane Hill Trail, which is just a little bit further up the road past the Visitors Center. However, those summer months also are a double edged sword, because everyone is going to be trying to go to Olympic National Park at that time making it much harder to get campsites, parking spots at trailheads, and backcountry permits. Its full of old growth trees, most of which are centuries old. Have you packed snacks, first aid, etc? Well set off down the mountain destined for another walkabout or two at lower elevations in other sections of the park (like the Elwha River Valley, Salt Creek, or Lake Crescent). Enjoy a more tailored and exclusive experience by booking a private day tour from Seattle to Olympic National Park. Show your support and donate to the tribes of that land, or to the. A Complete Olympic National Park Itinerary: A Long Weekend Guide (3 Days), Day 1: Drive from Seattle + Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge, Day 3: Two Rainforests and the Drive Home, Getting From Seattle to Olympic National Park, How to Hike the Twin Falls Trail in Washington State, 7 Incredible Hikes in Crater Lake National Park, 2 Days in Yosemite: How to Plan Your Yosemite Itinerary, The 8 Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park, 20 Unforgettable Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, How to Plan an Amazing Washington Road Trip Itinerary. It has a bad reputation, but I have not eaten there. From there, take 104 westand101 northtoNorth Race StreetinPort Angeles, a left on North Race Street then continue on Mt. I am tempted to at least attempt Klahhane Ridge for the views and if it proves to be too much for us, then we can always turn back and go to the other trail. With a long weekend lets call it 3 days in Olympic National Park you probably wont be able to make it to all of those regions. Keep an eye out for local plant species and rare birds. It is a 1650 ft. climb that takes a little under 4 hours without stops. Have you dressed appropriately for the weather and activity you want to do when you get there? WebAward-winning Hiking Tours: Olympic Inn-based Tour in Olympic National Park! Easily one of the most picturesque landscapes in Washington state, if not all of the United States of America, no visit to Seattle would be complete without a jaunt to Mount Rainier. Each stop is truly unique and offers a diverse range of sights and activities to experience. Dont miss the Big Cedar Trail and the Trail of the Giants, two other worthwhile short strolls in the area. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100367358', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle fees and taxes make it more economical to go almost anywhere else and save money. From there, youll cross the water before finally reaching the peninsula. Basket. Several roads lead to Olympic National Park from Seattle, and you can plan your journey depending on how much time you have for the drive. Head to the visitors center to use the restroom and prepare for an alpine walk before lunch. Its a short hike down from the parking lot, and is full of picturesque driftwood and sea stacks just off the coast. Private tours are available (including tours for larger groups). When we talk about highlights of our Washington road trip, sunset at Rialto Beach is always one of the first things we mention. WebOlympic National Park sprawls over 1,400 square miles (3,626 square kilometers) of green-soaked Washington wilderness. Web07:00: Pick-up at Seattle Chinatown. Have you planned out your route and made the necessary reservations (ferry, lodging, etc)? This national park offers almost a million acres, including mountains, rain forests, hiking trails, and coastline. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The distance from Seattle to Mt. Early morning is also the best time to catch a glimpse of the Roosevelt elk that call the Hoh Rainforest home. It has a 750 ft. elevation gain, so most people can do it. There are multiple options to drive from Seattle to the Olympic Peninsula. You can even go for a swim if youre ready to brave the cold water. 800-715-HIKE Another option for accessing Olympic National Park is to purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass. It rains A LOT. 07:25: Pick-up at Uwajimaya Renton (Address: 501 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057) 07:30: Proceed to Olympic National Park. However, there's not much there in terms of services or anything else. You might want to get dinner before you go. Join our adventure community. Tours to Olympic National Park are very nature-based with fun activities such as hiking or birdwatching. Its not in Forks, but it is along the way to the Hoh Rainforest, your first stop tomorrow morning, which will put you in prime position for getting to the rainforest before the crowds and maximize your chances of seeing elk! If sight seeing is something you want to do along the way, I recommend stopping to check out Scenic Beach on the Hood Canal off of 3 North (off the Newberry Hill Road exit). In winter, well likely opt for a comfortable spot inside if the weather is snowy or cold. You can make it as long or short as youd like weve done the 5 mile hike out to Mineral Creek Falls and back, and enjoyed it. Another great option would be to find a cozy cabin on the shores of Lake Sutherland. This page contains affiliate links. WebGlacial peaks, wildflower meadows, old growth forests, and crystal-clear lakes make an Olympic National Park tour a rewarding and must-do day trip from Seattle. You cannot buy / use the tickets on your own or use City Passes. If you frequently visit Olympic National Park, you might benefit from purchasing an annual pass. It has a beautiful shoreline along the Salish Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This is when some campsites might be fully booked and hiking trails will be more crowded. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you plan to go to Hoh Rainforest, I suggest you also try to knock out everything else on that side of the park. Move on to the Elwha Dam Removal Site, where your guide will tell you why this has become the largest dam removal project in the world. It might be too much for us to attempt at this point. The best time of year for this trip would be spring through fall where you can see everything from snow, to wildflowers, and the beautiful changing of the leaves. As youll see in the itinerary below, because the park is so big youll probably want to spend each night in a different place. By creating an account you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. In this itinerary, well make the alpine our primary goal, enter the National Park in Port Angeles, and drive up to famed Hurricane Ridge. Bear canisters are also required in the park you can either rent one from the visitors center, or bring your own. 800-715-HIKE (4453) (9-4:30 Every Day) If you follow all the advice in this article, you are sure to have an amazing time! Project code | LISBOA-02-0752-FEDER-047612 Its family-friendly, mostly flat, and is well worth the minimal effort. Olympic National Park. Learn More 3-Day Bird Watchers Itinerary Some of the higher elevation hiking trails are covered in snow making them inaccessible, but you can still explore some of the beaches and the rainforests. If you want a hotel, there are three great options in and around Forks that we think youll love. WebSeattle Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge (75 mins) Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent (45 mins) Seattle . Its particularly pretty in the early morning when the sun rays pierce through the dense canopy of trees and illuminate the mist that is floating throughout the rainforest. The fastest way will be to drive along Highway 305 to Bainbridge Island and then onto Highway 3 to Port Gamble. Review. Hole-in-the-Wall is a natural sea arch carved by the dynamic waves of Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. From there, you can see the Olympic Range, including Mt. The blizzard conditions in the Sierra forced Caltrans to shutdown roadways in upper elevations, including Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50. Olympic National Park is located about 2 1/2 hours west of Seattle. Its quite a popular natural attraction in the area and one of the best places to visit in Washington State. The majority of your day today will be spent on the Makah tribes land you can learn about the Makah here, and its worth taking some time to acknowledge that you are on their land while youre enjoying this amazing part of the world. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-100355252', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hurricane Ridge is twofold. If youre staying in downtown Seattle (hotel, Airbnb, etc. Complete. 2022. Before you hit the ground running *literally*, be sure you are prepared for your trip before you go. Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty. Rainier and Olympic National Parks Road Trip Explore two national parks, the Hood Canal and Puget Sound on this water-skirting road trip. The drive here from Port Angeles will take you two full hours, so head out early to give yourself plenty of time. The Hoh Rainforest is a temperate rainforest, which means mild temperatures and tons of precipitation. Weve got a guide to the best hikes in Olympic National Park, and the best places to stay in Olympic National Park to help you plan an unforgettable adventure out on the Olympic Peninsula. Winter in Olympic National Park looks beautiful, but its going to be stormy and wet. $ 139.00 if the weather is snowy or cold an America the beautiful Annual Pass its family-friendly, flat... Wild expansion to find a cozy cabin on the shores of Lake Angeles is not right this.. City Passes Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from to! Acres, including Mt dressed appropriately for the website to function properly in upper,. Easy 0.8 mile loop through the Park and surrounding peninsula is gigantic and you drive... 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That description of Lake Sutherland private tours are available ( including tours for larger groups ) 3,626! Visitors interact with the website of Lake Angeles is not right drive-on car passenger square. Two National parks, the Hood Canal and Puget Sound on this water-skirting road,! And privacy policy ) Seattle Highway 3 to Port Gamble Park sprawls 1,400...