Olympic National Park takes in a wide range of landscapes on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, in the northwest of the United States. Within its boundaries you will find temperate rainforests, a rugged coastline and snow-capped mountains, so a single visit can move from damp, moss-covered forest to open shoreline and high peaks.
What the park offers
- Temperate rainforest, where the air is cool and green and the trees are draped in moss.
- Rugged coastline, a stretch of shore where the land meets the Pacific.
- Snow-capped mountains, which give the park its high country and its contrast with the lowland forest.
Planning a visit
The park suits visitors who enjoy being outdoors and want to see several kinds of terrain without travelling far between them. Because the ecosystems differ so much, it is worth deciding in advance which of them you most want to explore, then choosing your route and timing around that. The variety of the peninsula means you can build a trip around the forest, the coast or the mountains, or combine them.
The park sits on the Olympic Peninsula, so it is a destination in its own right rather than a stop on the way somewhere else. Think about how many days you can give it and whether you prefer short walks or longer routes before you set out.
