The Olympic Peninsula, located in the northwest of Washington State, is one of my favorite places to visit in the entire United States! Where else can you experience incredible mountain scenery, miles upon miles of spectacular wild ocean views, a fantastic collection of stunning waterfalls, a brilliantly blue colored lake, explore fun tide pools, look for wild whales swimming by and discover completely breathtaking rainforests all within a few hours drive!
This is the Olympic Peninsula and I would love to share my favorite sites with you.
1. Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is a must-see destination when visiting the Olympic Peninsula. The spectacular mountain views here are simply breathtaking and definitely well worth the 17 mile drive up Hurricane Ridge Road from Port Angeles.
At Hurricane Ridge you can easily experience its extraordinary view right beside the visitor center (see top right photo), and then head out onto one of the many fantastic trails in this area. Unfortunately when we visited, Hurricane Hill Road (which continues on past the Visitor Center) was closed and so we were not able to see this well-rated panoramic view. Instead we chose to hike High Ridge Trail which goes out to Sunrise Point and connects to Cirque Rim Trail to form an approximate 1 mile loop. This is a great family-friendly trail and the scenery here completely blew us away! (The top left photo is the view from the trail to Sunrise Point.)
Hurricane Ridge is a spectacular site on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and we highly recommend visiting it!
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-hurricane-ridge.htm
2. Sol Duc Falls
Sol Duc Falls Trail is a wonderful 1.6 mile round trip hike through beautiful old-growth trees in the middle of a lush rainforest atmosphere. Our family absolutely loved the peacefulness of this trail with its moss covered rocks, soothing streams and picturesque scenery.
As you near the end of this out-&-back family friendly trail, you will begin to hear the roar of Sol Duc Falls as it cascades 48 feet down into a narrow rocky canyon.
This is quite a magnificent sight!
Sol Duc Falls
Our family really loved Sol Duc Falls and the unique perspective at which it is viewed. Here you view the falls from slightly above and directly across from its crest before watching the water tumble down into the canyon. This uncommon viewpoint makes Sol Duc Falls an even more special waterfall to visit.
To give you a perspective on the size of this beautiful waterfall, my three children are standing on the boardwalk, overlooking the falls, in the upper right of this photo. This falls is much bigger than it seems at first glance!
If you are able to visit Sol Duc Falls, please note that this is a relatively hard waterfall to photograph. As a helpful suggestion, I found that the best photographic viewpoint is from the angle that the photo above was taken (before you actually reach the falls). Once you get closer to the falls, although spectacular in person, it becomes much harder to photograph. From this photographic viewpoint as well, you may even be lucky enough to see, like we were, a beautiful rainbow filling the canyon below you.
3. Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach is a wild and completely stunning beach on the Olympic Peninsula. Picturesque driftwood lines this foggy shore. Water as still as glass lies in brilliantly colored tide pools. While waves crash dramatically against the rock formations all around. The scenery here completely took our breath away and we highly recommend visiting!
Here, at Rialto Beach, we chose to walk about 1.5 miles in the morning along its shore to the famous “Hole in the Wall.” (See our picture above.) And it was incredible! Aside from the spectacular scenery, here at “Hole in the Wall” you will also find a huge area of tide pools containing tons of starfish and sea anemones!
Tide Pools
Please note that the walk to the tide pools at Hole in the Wall takes about an hour. And you’ll want to time your arrival during the lowest tide (minus tides are best) or even 30 minutes prior so that you can access this area safely. By doing this you should have plenty of time to explore these incredible tide pools. And you should be able to observe lots of sea creatures before the tides start to rise again.
Our family had an absolute blast at Rialto Beach! The scenery here is unbelievable! And exploring the tide pools was a ton of fun! Overall, I have to say that Rialto Beach is by far my favorite wild and scenic beach walk in the entire United States!
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/rialto-beach.htm
4. Hoh Rainforest
Did you know that you can visit a beautiful temperate rainforest in the continental United States?
You can and it’s simply breathtaking! Discover the Hoh Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. Here, each year up to 12 feet of rain falls, making this area the wettest spot in the continental United States! It’s insanely green! Everywhere you turn, gorgeous moss drapes delicately over the trees. Lush ferns blanket the ground. And the sun seems to sparkle as it dances through the canopy. The scenery here is spectacular!
Hiking
While visiting the Hoh Rainforest, we chose to hike 2 of the 3 main trails here. We highly recommend them! The Hall of Mosses Trail is an easy 0.8 mile loop with spectacular scenery (see above right picture.) And the Spruce Nature Trail is an incredible 1.2 mile loop bursting with ferns and gorgeous views of the Hoh River. The third trail, that we were not able to hike. This is an 18 mile one way hike to Blue Glacier. This trail would definitely be an incredible adventure if you have the time.
If you are able to, we recommend visiting soon after the rainy season ends, around mid June. This will let you experience the rainforest when it is the most lush and green. We also recommend visiting early in the day so that you can beat the crowds and enjoy the silence of this beautiful rainforest.
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-the-hoh.htm
5. "Tree of Life"
The “Tree of Life” is a spectacular site to see on the Olympic Peninsula near the Kalaloch Lodge! Here a Sitka Spruce hangs in mid-air, with roots dangling and the ground beneath, completely eroded away! How in the world is this tree’s weight supported? And how does it continue to thrive?
This tree is a breathtaking site that will completely leave you speechless!
website: https://www.thekalalochlodge.com/explore/olympic-national-park/tree-of-life
6. Cape Flattery
Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point in the contiguous United States and it is insanely beautiful! I couldn’t believe how stunning each viewpoint along the trail was. It simply took our breath away. And the turquoise colored water here completely mesmerized us as we watched it continuously crash over the rocks and into the cliff-sides. We could have spent all day here! Even my 7 year old (see photo above) stood in this one spot for over 15 minutes just watching the waves! Cape Flattery is truly a stunning place and we highly recommend visiting!
To visit this site, please note that Cape Flattery sits on land owned by the Makah Tribe and that you need to purchase a Makah Recreation parking permit which costs $10. This permit can be found in several places in Neah Bay, like Washburn’s General Store. This is where we purchased ours. Once you have a permit, you may park at the trailhead and set off on the 1.4 mile round trip walk out to this spectacular point.
7. Quinault Rain Forest
The Quinault Rain Forest is a beautiful temperate rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula that is often referred to as the “Valley of Rain Forest Giants.” This is because of the number of record size species located here. Discover the World’s Largest Sitha Spruce, the largest specimens of Western Cedar, Western Hemlock, Alaskan Cedar, Mountain Hemlock and five of the ten largest Douglas-firs! This area is believed to hold the greatest number of record sized giant species in the smallest area in the world!
Our family loved visiting the Quinault Rain Forest and we really enjoyed how much less crowded it was here than the Hoh Rainforest. Now to be honest, there was a lot less moss and “rainforest feel” compared to the Hoh Rainforest, but the scenery was still stunning and we loved its remote feel.
Hiking
In the Quinault Rain Forest we chose to hike the Rain Forest Nature Trail (0.5 miles) which connected to Cedar Bog Trail (for 1.8 miles) and over to Cascade Falls Trail (0.9 miles) and than circled back along Lake Quinault. This was a beautiful and peaceful 4.2 mile walk and our family really enjoyed it. If you are looking for a shorter experience, you can just walk the 0.5 mile Rain Forest Nature Loop Trail. Then drive along the scenic loop drive, where you can find several other short trails that go out to some of the most impressive trees in this rainforest.
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-quinault.htm
8. Whale Watching
Whale Watching is a amazing experience to have on the Olympic Peninsula. Here, you may be able to catch a glimpse of humpbacks, minke, gray whales or orcas swimming past! If you are looking to view these magnificent creatures from land, try driving the “Whale Trail.” This designated driving trail lists 15 key locations along the northern Olympic Peninsula coast that mark specific spots where the pods often swim past. If you want to increase your chances at seeing these incredible creatures, and closer up, then you might want to join a whale watching cruise. There are many highly rated companies to choose from that depart from this area and most have extremely high sighting success rates.
Our family chose to take a whale watching cruise and we were ecstatic to see our first wild orca up close! This was definitely a bucket list experience for us and we highly recommend it!
Get Kids Excited with Books on Whales:
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by Sarah Thomson
How big are whales? How do they breathe in the ocean? Do they live alone or in groups? Find out questions like these and more in this great beginning reader that’s all about whales.
Ages 4-8 years
Whales: Amazing Pictures & Fun Facts on Animals in Nature (Our Amazing World Series Books)
by Kay de Silva
Stunning and captivating images along with simple text help children to learn about the anatomy, feeding habits and behavior of these beautiful creatures.
Ages 4 and up
by Sally Hodson
Follow this incredible true story of Granny, a 100 year old whale leader. Learn how she teaches young whales in her pod and helps her magnificent clan to survive.
Ages 4-10 years
Toob contains an Orca, Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, Gray Whale, Blue Whale, Beluga Whale, Dolphins and more.
Great for a Road Trip!
9. Tide Pooling
The Olympic Peninsula is a fantastic place to explore tide pools with your family! Here at low tide the Pacific Ocean retreats from the beaches and exposes hundreds of pools of water that are exploding with sea life among the rocky crevices. Discover starfish (purple, red, or yellow), spiny sea urchins, sea anemones and many types of crabs scuttling all around these rocks and pools.
The top tide pool spots on the Olympic Peninsula include “Hole in the Wall” at Rialto Beach (see #3 on this post), Kalaloch’s Beach 4 and beaches such as Ruby Beach, Second Beach and Third Beach. Tide pools are best explored at 30 minutes before the lowest tide and are exceptional at minus tides so check a tidal calendar before venturing out. Please remember to observe these creatures respectfully and watch where you step as you explore their incredible home.
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/tidepool-activities.htm
Great Books on Tide Pools:
Tide Pooling Gear:
National Geographic Readers: Tide Pools (Level 1)
by Laura Marsh
Packed with beautiful photos, this level 1 reader will teach kids how tide pools work, what kinds of animals live in them and even how to prepare for a tide pool visit of their own!
Tide Pools: An Augmented Reality Book
by Ernest King
Experience tide pools through augmented reality in this new and immersive take on the pop-up book. Just use a phone or tablet and the free Augmented Reality App and watch still images turn into videos and hear the actual ocean sounds.
Having zip-off pants is extremely useful when going tide pooling.
Available in 6 Colors
10. Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent is a stunning lake, known for its brilliant blue waters and exceptional clarity. It is located within Olympic National Park and is a popular recreational area with lodging, restaurants and several popular trails (including the trail to Marymere Falls).
We really enjoyed walking along this beautiful lake and we had a fantastic lunch at the restaurant here. On the day we visited it was surprisingly windy, but this did not detract from the absolute beauty of this lake and the surrounding area. Crescent Lake is a great spot to just sit, relax and enjoy the scenery of the Olympic Peninsula.
website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/visiting-lake-crescent.htm
I hope you enjoyed this list of 10 Top Things to Do while visiting the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. And I hope you found a few things that you would like to do with your family on your next vacation.
Have a Great Trip!
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TOP TOURS NEAR THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA
Our Favorite Hiking Gear for the Olympic Peninsula:
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