16:30: Drop-off at Seattle drop-off points. Don't wait around to see the sunset at Lake Crescent, get to Forks, if you can, and try to get to Rialto Beach. Enjoy panoramic views across Puget Sound. Skip to main content. Olympic National Park family trip Day 1: Kalaloch Lodge. From there, youd take a couple of different roads that bring you northwest to meet up with 101. WebAward-winning Hiking Tours: Olympic Inn-based Tour in Olympic National Park! In each section below, youll find specific recommendations on places to stay inside the park for a range of styles and budgets. From Seattle to Hoh Rainforest You either access the Hoh Rainforest by going north on 101 from Kalaloch or from the other direction driving on 101 South from 10:30: Arrive at Olympic National Park (Activity duration: 3 hours) 13:30: Leave Olympic National Park and head back to Seattle. It is not at all an easy hike. Youll be able to enjoy plenty of sunny days and warm temperatures as you explore the park. Keep an eye out for local plant species and rare birds. Plus, youll spend your day exploring and your evening relaxing on the lake, which doesnt sound half bad! Family Road Trips From Seattle Olympic National Park. 1. You can see costs here, which varies depending on how many people are in the car, and what kind of vehicle you have. You need to purchase a pass to visit Olympic National Park. 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. Start your time in Olympic National Park off with a trip up to Hurricane Ridge, which is an interesting journey that takes you from sea level in Port Angeles up more than 5,000 feet to the Hurricane Ridge VIsitors Center. No, that description of Lake Angeles is not right. Continue west to the glacially-carved Lake Crescent, where youll explore the fern-filled forests that line its shores, venturing to Marymere Falls. WebVisit the spectacular Olympic National Park! Beach 4 is a cool spot to go tidepooling, and all of the beaches in the area are prime bird watching areas. If you want to skip the sights, continue straight onto 305 North. Sleep in a little were bringing a light breakfast of baked goods, local coffee, and tea. Before you hit the ground running *literally*, be sure you are prepared for your trip before you go. They are rebuilding the trail and also shutting it down periodically for the final mopping up of the mountain goats, an invasive species that the authorities are removing from the park, partly through relocation and partly through . other means. 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. Olympic National Park seems to have it all with lush rainforests, snow capped mountains, and a stunning coastline. I actually recommend to get the America The Beautiful Annual Pass that covers entrance fees to all national parks in the U.S. for a one time fee of $80. The second option is the Bainbridge Ferry, which leaves from downtown Seattle and drops you on Bainbridge Island. Yes. The Cape Alava/Sand Point Trail is great, but you need to time it to the tides, and you need a permit. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Malaysia. 7 Day Route: Seattle, Mt Rainier, Mt. It has a 750 ft. elevation gain, so most people can do it. 07:25: Pick-up at Uwajimaya Renton (Address: 501 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057) 07:30: Proceed to Olympic National Park. This naturalist-guided tour brings you through Puget Sound by ferry to the north-eastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula, where you will discover the regions moss-draped forests, Otherwise, youll be doing a ton of driving. Take in all the breathtaking scenic views along the journey. 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. 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. The Olympic National Park is a notable UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecological diversity and wild expansion. Another route is to take the Seattle ferry to Bainbridge Island and drive through the island to reach the Olympic Peninsula. Make sure to take some time to admire the abundance of mosses growing on just about every available surface. Skip to main content. Interested in a private experience for your group? We also love the Olympic Bakery near this locations entrance that you cant pass up if you decide on visiting this area. This photoblog is a visit to the Olympic National Park. This photoblog is a visit to the Olympic National Park. Today, youll make your way along the Pacific Coast, starting at the northern tip near Neah Bay and Cape Flattery, and making your way south to end your day with a sunset hike at Rialto Beach. Winter in Olympic National Park looks beautiful, but its going to be stormy and wet. Your email address will not be published. Prices are as follows. Spend the night along the northern coast near Neah Bay so that you can see Cape Flattery at its finest around sunset. 4. Unfortunately, that's part of the problem. Olympic National Park is located on a large peninsula west of Seattle. We wouldnt recommend staying in Port Angeles itself, if you can avoid it because its not the sexiest town around. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions. Both require a short but exciting hike to get there. Bring good binoculars. GET TICKETS. I have never been to the area before. As if that weren't enough, there's a chance it will be closed during your visit. Its one of the highlights of Olympic National Park. Its like its a rainforest or something. Start out at the northwest tip of the contiguous United States Cape Flattery. After a walk, browse interpretive info, photograph flowers (or snow), get your Parks passport stamped, or find a quick gift for a loved one back home while your guide sets up lunch. Spend a night camping on the beach! across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Range in all its glory to the south. Sierra blizzard conditions force highway shutdowns. Family Road Trips From Seattle Olympic National Park. It should take you less than an hour to do the quick loop. If you cant find a reservation there, look at Bogachiel State Park, which is in Forks near 101. If you frequently visit Olympic National Park, you might benefit from purchasing an annual pass. For a day trip, you will most likely use the entrance to Olympic National Park closest to Port Angeles. This national park offers almost a million acres, including mountains, rain forests, hiking trails, and coastline. From there, take 104 westand101 northtoNorth Race StreetinPort Angeles, a left on North Race Street then continue on Mt. The distance from Seattle to Mt. Project code | LISBOA-02-0752-FEDER-047612 WebHow long is the drive from Seattle to Olympic National Park?. Do you have any interest in the history of flight and space exploration? The drive here from Port Angeles will take you two full hours, so head out early to give yourself plenty of time. Similar to getting to Kalaloch, the fastest route is via land highways only but you can still get there via the Seattle to Bremerton ferry if you want to experience the ferry ride and plan on going to the other entrances like Hurricane Ridge. We can turn any of our tours into private departures. Well drop travelers off where we found them (or another preferred spot nearby). We have an entire guide to deciding where to stay in Olympic National Park with all the details and specific recommendations. If youre coming from SeaTac, wed recommend the Bainbridge Island ferry mainly because it gives you great views of Seattle and Mt. First is driving through Tacoma, which avoids the cost of the ferry to Bainbridge Island, but takes a bit longer if theres any traffic at all between Seattle and Tacoma which there usually is. WebSeattle Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge (75 mins) Temperate rain forest + Lake Crescent (45 mins) Seattle . Click the below map image to go straight to the directions and start your journey. Review. Olympic National Park is an easy two and a half hour drive from Seattle and a veritable playground for lovers of the outdoors. The trail itself is paved and well marked all the way to the top. This could mean a wait of some time, maybe as much as 30 minutes or more in August. For what its worth, we spent three days and two nights on the High Divide and LOVED IT, but we would have spent an extra night if we did it again to spend more time along the divide itself. You can take the Seattle to Bremerton Ferry and take an hour longer to get there, or take all land highways starting I-5 N. Click the map image below to go straight to the directions, plan ample time to get out for stops and take gorgeous pictures of scenery, and dont forget to pack snacks! We offer tour pickup at any downtown Seattle location and a centralized pickup on Bainbridge Island and in Port Angeles. Alcohol and drug use are prohibited on Makah land please respect the rules. I love both the Lake Angeles hike and the Deer Lake hike. Web07:00: Pick-up at Seattle Chinatown. Weve got a few other guides to help you plan an amazing trip. You seem to be very active in this forum. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Olympic National Park is remarkable for its ecological diversity and expansive wilderness. There are 8 tribes that inhabit the Olympic Peninsula and they continue to recognise a relationship to the park based on their own traditional land use, origin, beliefs, and practices. Here are 10 places to visit while living in Seattle that are sure to delight. Refer to the below directions for both routes. WebExploring Olympic National Park. After you go, share with us your experiences below in the comments! When the weather is nice, youll enjoy a meal outdoors. If youre going on a road trip from Seattle to Olympic National Park, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with 07:25: Pick-up at Uwajimaya Renton (Address: 501 S Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057) 07:30: Proceed to Olympic National Park. Some tours include hiking or walks through nature. Read the full disclaimer for more information. Olympic National Park is located about 2 1/2 hours west of Seattle. From national parks to mountains peaks, here are 15 of the best day trips from Seattle. Join the Newsletter: Get brand new travel guides sent directly to your inbox! This will allow you to spend some more time in one of the most spectacular parts of the park, and will make it an easier day to head out to Ozette Lake. As you plan your trip to the Olympic Peninsula, here are the different entrances you can use to get there: You dont need to make any sort of reservations when coming to the park for day time activities. There are only three campgrounds that accept reservations in advance Sol Duc, Mora, and Kalaloch. Access to Olympic National Park is free on certain days, such as Jan. 17, April 16, Aug. 4, Sept. 24 and Nov. 11. You might want to get dinner before you go. Ten or fewer. Here are some things to think about adding on to your trip. A couple of things to remember when visiting: When youre coming from Seattle, youre going to take the Seattle to Bremerton ferry. We can accommodate most needs if we are made aware of them 48 hours prior to the start of your tour. We're both mid-20s and fairly avid hikers, but we live in the south where a tall hill is about as close to a mountain as you can get, so I tried to combine the more strenuous hikes with some easier ones. The viewpoints along the trail are amazing youll see Tatoosh Island to the northwest and Vancouver Island due north across the water. Estimated travel time: 2 hours. Olympic National Park is a stunning destination just two hours from Seattle, offering a diverse range of natural beauty. 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. There are a bunch of short and sweet trails leaving from the visitors center, like the Hoh Ridge Trail and the Cirque Rim Trail. The reason? There are other kinds of bear canisters that are clear with a (hard to use) twist-off top, but apparently bears are learning how to open those. Begin the drive towards the peninsula and stop along the way to take the famous Bainbridge Island ferry. We love this location the most because of how much of a hidden gem it is. If youre not up for camping (or you just dont have the equipment), look at these spots. 1. Use the Washington State ferry site for schedules and pricing. If youd rather stay in a vacation rental, where youll generally have more space and a full kitchen, look at these options near forks. Entrance fees are $30 per vehicle and can be purchased in advance online. Project title | TourScanner Digital Internationalization The sea stacks at the south end of the beach are known as Point of Arches. Your last stop on your grand tour of Olympic National Park is going to be Lake Quinault and the Quinault Rainforest.Like the Hoh Rainforest, the best time to visit the rainforest is definitely early in the morning. We still have the morning of the last day before we have to fly out. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. Book these well in advance as they fill up quickly, especially on summer weekends and holiday weekends. The drive takes 2.5 hours for a total distance of 140 kilometers. 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Sierra blizzard conditions force highway shutdowns. You don't go out and back from Sol Duc Falls; you continue up past the falls. 10:30: Arrive Two of Washingtons best backpacking trails are in Olympic National Park the High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin, and the Enchanted Valley. It can be muddy, which is why its important to pack some good hiking boots for your trip to Olympic National Park. WebTop Attractions in Seattle 1 SeattleTacoma International Airport 2 Seattle Art Museum 3 iFLY Seattle 4 Space Needle 5 Chihuly Garden and Glass 6 Museum of Pop Culture 7 Puget Sound, Seattle 8 Ballard Locks Fish Ladder, Seattle 9 Kerry Park 10 Gas Works Park 11 The Gum Wall 12 Elliott Bay, Seattle 13 Lake Union, Seattle 14 The Seattle There are no reduced hours on public holidays or specific events. He loves paying too much for coffee, walking in the woods, and lives for the thrill of discovering something new. Its roughly equidistant between Lake Crescent and Hurricane Ridge, which makes it a great choice. Theres some good driftwood out on the beach, though its quite a detour for those with limited time. Bear canisters are also required in the park you can either rent one from the visitors center, or bring your own. I love this hike, but the payoff is the mountain lake, not the pleasant but slightly monotonous climb through second growth forest. 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Turn any of our Tours into private departures famous Bainbridge Island ferry because. Reservation there, youd take a couple of different roads that bring you northwest to meet up 101... Duc seattle to olympic national park day trip Mora, and lives for the thrill of discovering something new when youre coming SeaTac...