🥾 Trails
Selected trails across Olympic National Park. All distances round-trip unless noted.
Easy Trails
Iconic old-growth maple grove draped in hanging moss. One of the most photographed spots in the Pacific Northwest. Accessible year-round. Trailhead: Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, 18113 Upper Hoh Rd, Forks.
Beautiful 90-foot waterfall through old-growth forest. Trailhead at Storm King Ranger Station near Lake Crescent Lodge. Well-maintained path.
Dramatic waterfall where the Sol Duc River splits around a basalt island. Trailhead at end of Sol Duc Rd. Can be combined with the Lovers Lane loop (6 mi).
Massive Sitka spruce, western red cedar, and Douglas fir — some of the largest trees in the world. World's largest Sitka spruce nearby (191 ft tall, 58 ft circumference). Trailhead: Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station.
Moderate Trails
Summit views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, and the Olympic peaks. Ridge walk above treeline with abundant wildflowers in July. Road to Hurricane Ridge closes in winter.
Remote wilderness beach with sea stacks and tide pools. Check tide charts before visiting — coastal access can be cut off at high tide. Ozette triangle day hike connects multiple beaches (9 mi loop).
Alpine lake in a glacially carved cirque. Old-growth forest transitions to subalpine meadows. Trailhead at Heart O' the Hills, 5 miles south of Port Angeles.
Remote and uncrowded rainforest loop near Quinault. Ancient big-leaf maples, giant ferns, and Calf Creek Falls. Trailhead: North Shore Rd, 10 miles east of Amanda Park.
Strenuous / Backcountry
One of the premier backcountry loops in Olympic National Park. Panoramic views of the Sol Duc Valley, Seven Lakes Basin, and Mt. Olympus. Wilderness permit required. Bear canisters required.
Connects Ozette Lake to Second and Third Beach via the wilderness coast. Boardwalk sections through old-growth, dramatic headlands, and tide pools. Check tides carefully. Cape Alava is the westernmost point in the contiguous US.
Trail Safety Rules
- 📋Sign in at wilderness permit stations — required for all overnight trips, free for day hikes.
- 🐻Bear canisters required in many backcountry zones. Check current regulations at the ranger station.
- 💧Filter all water. Giardia is present in park waterways.
- 🌊Coastal trails: never turn your back on the ocean. Sneaker waves are real and deadly.
- ☁️Weather changes fast at elevation. Bring rain gear year-round.