If you had only one night to spend in Olympic National Park, what would you do? I was asking myself this question earlier in the week when I decided to take my kids on an overnight excursion. It's been about 20 years since I've visited this park in my home state, which means my kids have never been here. In spite of their protests about wanting to spend more time at home, they willingly grab their bags and get in the car.
I book a relatively cheap motel on Expedia (not a place I would stay again so I won't mention it here), and head towards the ferry that will take us to the Kitsap Peninsula. This is the fifth ferry my kids have been on this week, which is probably why they were lobbying for more time at home. Will they inherit my gypsy soul when they are grown or be so exhausted with all the traveling they did as kids and become home-bodies like my husband? We'll have to see.
The nearest town to Olympic National Park is Port Angeles. It takes roughly 2 1/2 hours from the Seattle area to get here depending on where you are coming from, if you are riding the ferry or driving around, and how busy the ferry might be. Booking a night in Port Angeles is a good idea unless you want to spend most of your time on the coast, in the rainforest, or camping in the park. Olympic National Park is HUGE, impossible to experience it all two days.
Hurricane Ridge has one of the most spectacular views in the state, and some good short trails. The visitors center for this area of the park is in Port Angeles and the rangers here have good suggestions for hiking and activities, along with ranger programs. Out front is this list of hikes that are in the area.
Hurricane Ridge offers 360 degree views of the Olympic Mountains, Cascades, Straight of Juan de Fuca, Vancouver Island, the Canadian Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. On a clear day like today, which is very rare, the view is spectacular! The paved paths offer accessible short walks around the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center, along with dirt trails that offer additional hiking opportunities.
While Hurricane Ridge was top on my list to show my kids, I am curious about the Elwha River and the two dams that were removed a few years ago. There is a half mile flat hike off Hwy 112 where you can see the river and where the dams use to be. There is barely any trace that the lower dam was ever there, nature has repaired itself fully. There are old growth stumps along the trail, along with tall cedars, ferns and some wild berries.
Lake Crescent is a short drive from Port Angeles and definitely worth it. Instead of booking a room in Port Angeles next time, I would try to stay at Lake Crescent Lodge (which has super cute small white cabins as well). It wasn't available for this trip but anyone can have lunch here or use the lake beach access. We grab some food to go from the lodge restaurant and sit on the beach while my kids dive in to the crystal clear water. Lake Crescent has little or no algae and is a beautiful turquoise color but cold enough that 30 minutes of swimming is enough, even on this warm July day.
If I only had time to spend one night in Olympic National Park, I would stay at Lake Crescent and explore the lake, Hurricane Ridge, and hike to the waterfalls around Elwha, Sol Duc and Lake Crescent. If I had two or three nights, I would add hiking out to Cape Flattery (the most northwestern point in the continental U.S.), spending time on the coast and hiking in the Hoh Rainforest.
Do you have any favorite spots in Olympic National Park? Recommendations on where to stay, hike or explore the next time we go? Please comment below, I would love to hear your ideas!