Olympic Peninsula, Washington

The beauty of many of the north coast trails in the Olympic Peninsula is that your car does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.  This is certainly true of the Grand Valley Trail, which begins more than a vertical mile above the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the end of the Obstruction Point Road.  Six...

Hiking to Klahhane Ridge is a rewarding experience that provides you with sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains. Further access to overnight opportunities is possible if you venture beyond the summit trail. Here’s the scoop: Get an early start. There is a decent amount of parking available at ...

The trailhead is located right next to the Storm King ranger station adjacent to Lake Crescent right off Hwy 101 just past Port Angeles if heading West. It shares the same trail as, and breaks off left from the Marymere Falls trail (also worth seeing) about a quarter mile in (look for signage). ...

Marymere Falls (90 ft.) is located in Olympic National Park, near Lake Crescent. The falls can be accessed by a short, well-maintained dirt trail through old-growth lowland forest consisting of fir, cedar, hemlock, and alder trees. The creek descends from Aurora Ridge and tumbles over Marymere Fa...

Madison Falls is at the end of a 200 foot paved pathway. It is approximately 60 feet tall and lingers in the midst of incredible lush forest. Enjoy it from a viewing point of up close and personal where you can see the greenest of moss growing up along the rocks.

Located along FR-2270 (Google Maps calls it FR-2312) in Olympic National Forest, the trailhead is marked by a pullout and a pair of signposts but no sign. This area was formerly the Wynoochee Falls Campground. The trailhead is at the North end of the parking lot. This easy hike involves navigatin...

The campground is right at the very north end of Lake Crescent. It has bathroom and potable water, and for just $20 a night I think it is well worth it. Each campsite is equipped with a table and firepit (bring firewood). Open between May and October; first come first serve.  As for activities, t...

From the Log Cabin Resort located on the east shore of Lake Crescent, rent a kayak and spend the day on the water! My husband and I rented a kayak on our honeymoon for a day and explored half of the lake staying close to the east shore.You can see the bridge for the Spruce Railroad trail on the ...

This versatile trail can adapt to your needs. It's can be an out-and-back hike, so you can make it as long as you like. If you do full distance, you are looking at an 8 mile day... OR, if you have two cars, you can park a car at either end of the trail and make it a 4 mile one-way hike. This des...

This hike is a short, 4.0 mile round trip, half-day or less hike, located just past the Hurricane Ridge entrance into Olympic National Park. Being relatively level and the trail head just off loop E of the Heart O' the Hills Campground, the Heart O' the Forest hike offers those looking for a tast...

Lake Angeles is, rightfully, a popular day hike and overnight backpacking option, as its one of the larger, more accessible lakes in Olympic National Park. It can be done either as a moderate day hike with a refreshing swim and picnic lunch or a relaxing overnight with gorgeous views and reliable...

There are many different ways to reach 1000 Acre Meadows, but this guide will get you there starting at the Deer Park trailhead (5,400').Day 1: 14 miles You will start out by descending 2,400' and 4.3 miles to reach the Graywolf Camp. This is where the loop meets up with itself later on. Our goal...

The trail up to Lake of the Angels, known as the Putvin Trail, starts out pretty mellow with a gradual uphill climb. Your first marker will be an old roadbed at around 1.4 miles, but you'll need to cross two ravines before making it there. It's thick forest with gorgeous views in the clearings, s...

Hikers who reach the summit of Mount Ellinor are treated to a rarer view of Olympic National Park, one that is notably more immersive, rugged and dynamic than the common vista from Hurricane Ridge. Ellinor’s profile is, no doubt, familiar to most Seattleites, as it’s the Olympics’ southernmost p...

This county park is great for day use or overnight camping. Half the campsites are about 20 feet from the water, so you can hear waves crashing on the rocks as you sleep.A short walk from all the sites going east, you will end up at a large field with picnic tables and a playground for kids (visi...

You can stat this adventure at one of two trailheads. I suggest using the lower of the two. The start of the trail ascends through a forest of old growth pines with periodic views of Mt Washington. Eventually, at a fork in the trail, you will see a sign marking the start of the winter route. You ...