There is one river crossing and a few small stream crossings along the way. Headland Trails The well-maintained trail is lined with signage that will educate you about the delicate ecosystem of the temperate rainforest along the way. South Fork of the Hoh Whether it's heading deep into the rainforest or climbing to one of Olympic's glaciers, a few days will show you a side of Olympic National Park that not many get to see. This trek will take you through coastal wilderness, wetlands, lush forests and rugged beachscapes as you traverse between the Pacific Ocean and Ozette Lake in a triangle formation. Display this $10 pass in your windshield while enjoying the trails, beach and other activities in the area. Arriving at Enchanted Valley is truly a magical and awe-inspiring experience. Wilderness. Remote, picturesque, and full of wilderness wonder, trail running the Slap Camp, Deer Park, and Gray Wolf loop is considered to be one of the classic Olympic National Park trail runs. Thanks to its location on the Olympic Peninsula, the national park is a popular outdoor destination all year long. How to get there: Find the Hurricane Ridge trailhead from the parking lot at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road. Ten essentials for Olympic National Park hiking, especially for backpacking. Help keep your wilderness beaches clean by carrying out marine debris. The 26-mile multi-day through hike from the Sol Duc into the Hoh Rain Forest, features some of the most sought-after interior views and solitude within Olympic National Park. An extension of the Sol Duc Falls Nature Trail, this popular loop trail will have you continue your hike past the falls, using the Campground Trail on the return to make a loop. To visit Shi Shi Beach, you’ll need a Makah Recreation Pass which you can pick up at the Washburn General Store in Neah Bay or a number of other locations in the area. Found insideHis authoritative guide provides detailed, fun, and family-friendly activities, as well as expansive information, history, and geology. (If Captain Cook passed by where you are, this guide will tell you—and make the trip feel all the more ... With more than 500 miles of trails, it offers an almost unlimited potential for backcountry activities, group hikes and nature exploration. The area is highlighted by the Staircase Loop Trail, a 2.5 mile loop hike that travels though old-growth forests, alongside the cascading Skokomish River, and across a gorgeous cable bridge. Required fields are marked *. Sturdy waterproof shoes: We’re obsessed with. Plus, the views from the peak are unbeatable! Starting next to the stunning Sol Duc Falls, the trails rises to the . The trail is in great condition and well-designed to balance elevation gain with long flat stretches thru idyllic valleys. $1,249 for REI Members. The tide can trap you! The views of ocean, cliffs, headlands, islands and seastacks, coupled with the dramatic changing sea, provide a unique wilderness experience. Make your way past the sea stacks as you walk along the sandy and rocky shore of one of the most popular coasts in Olympic National Park. Best Easy Day Hikes Olympic National Park features concise descriptions and easy-to-follow maps for thirty-one short, manageable hikes. olympic national park guided backpacking trips There's no better way to experience Olympic National Park than a guided backpacking tour with Lasting Adventures! Just be ready for some serious elevation gain on this trek. Below are some of the best multi-day hikes for backcountry hiking and camping. To allow for the recovery of heavily-impacted coastal areas, only gather wood from the beach. CLICK HERE to download author Craig Romano's favorite hike from the book, Bogachiel Peak * More than 100 day hikes, with options for linking them to longer routes * Compact, easy-carry size * Two color maps, charts and elevation profiles ... Lakes, waterfalls, streams, rivers, alpine peaks, fields of wildflowers, and plenty of animals will appear within your sights so you'll want to have your camera ready at all times. It also requires a backcountry permit, even if you aren’t planning to camp overnight. For those interested in camping there are numerous spots along the route. Got permits the week before and wasn't too difficult. Headland trails are marked by red and black targets. Leashed pets are allowed on Rialto Beach 0.8 mile north to Ellen Creek during daylight hours (camping with pets is prohibited.) Was a hike of a mile past a creek to the backcountry approved area. Whether you're looking for an entry-level sight-seeing tour or a seasoned veteran looking for rugged adventure, we have options for all interests and abilities. The Wilderness Pass costs $45 per person. How to get there: The trailhead is just outside the Storm King Ranger Station off Hwy 101 on the eastside of Lake Crescent. It is needless to say, beautiful and secluded. Now fully updated and featuring full-color photography, the Day Hike! series was written for people who want to spend their days in the mountains and their nights at home. Ultimately, he writes, this is more their story than his, for whatever comes of our changing world, they are the ones who will live in it. The Hoh River Trail is well-maintained and flat for a good majority of the hike but ascends quickly from the Hoh River up to Glacier Meadow. Hello there! Note: Most people turn around when they reach the start of the Mount Angeles climb (where the trail ends). Tip: For a double-whammy, start your hike on the Marymere Falls trail and continue on to summit Mount Storm King. Trail is 4.1 miles to Harrison Lake and 4.7 miles to the ridgetop. Once you reach the ocean, it is another 2 miles of walking on the sand to get to the dramatic sea stacks that characterize this stunning remote beach. There are two main parts to the falls – the first section you’ll walk past is smaller and filled with moss-covered rocks. Make your way through dense old-growth forest and lush greenery on this easy 4-mile loop through the Quinault Rainforest. Use this link to get 90 days of the Pro Membership totally free (no strings attached)! The permit is easily obtainable online from the U.S. National Park website. The hike starts on the High Ridge Nature Trail, a paved trail climbing up to a nice viewpoint on the ridge. Wilderness Information Center (WIC) at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center. Click the image to view a full size JPG (2 mb) or download the PDF (26!! Another great trail for hikers of all abilities through the Hoh Rainforest is the Spruce Nature Trail. Topped off by one of the most beautiful and accessible waterfalls in the backcountry, hiking to Royal Basin Falls is one of the best little-known gems in the park. On the coast, all food, garbage and scented items must be stored in bear canisters. We hike the Seven Lakes Basin Loop starting in the r. Best Backpacking Trails in Olympic National Park 7,325 Reviews Explore the most popular backpacking trails in Olympic National Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. This place is an excellent beach with glorious views of sea stacks, wildlife, and driftwood. The Nature Trail is an easy and relaxing walk through the temperate rainforest. How to get there: Find the trailhead for the High Ridge Nature Trail just outside the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center (a sight in and of itself with breathtaking views of the dramatic landscape). Olympic National Park has dozens of amazing backpacking trips, but one of the classics is High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin. > Plan your trip using WTA's Hiking Guide. Be cautious when traveling atop headlands. You can’t escape the feeling of magic as you trek through the lush moss-covered Hoh Rainforest. Make your way to the Quinault Ranger Station, which is located in the southwest region of the Olympic Peninsula. Backpacking the 17.5-mile southern stretch of Olympic National Park's 73-mile-long wilderness coastline, you will walk in the shadow of scores of sea stacks rising up to 200 feet out of the ocean and giant trees in one of Earth's largest virgin temperature rainforests. Experience breathtaking views on a 4-day backpacking trip along the iconic High Divide and Seven Lakes Basin Loop. With 611 miles of trails in the park, and nearly one million acres of wilderness to explore, backpacking in Olympic National Park gets you up close and personal to… Be sure to read our complete guide to understand the extra fees involved. , Dean looked up and asked inquisitively, "Where's Brian?" Fellow reporters Jim Casey and Raul Vasquez both stopped what they were doing, turned in unison to look at Brian's empty chair, turned back to Dean and said they didn't know. Wilderness Map - This map is similar to the park map, but also includes wilderness campsite information. Starting from the Sol Duc Trailhead, our Olympic Hiking Co. Lead Backcountry Guide will lead the group along the Sol Duc River, ascend into the Seven Lakes Basin, and . Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park. Sprawling across 1,406 square miles of rainforests, glacier-capped mountains and stunning beaches, Olympic National Park is a unique natural playground for adventure lovers. How to get there: Take Forest Road 2880 (a steep and winding gravel road) across the Dungeness River and past the Dungeness Forks Campground. Photo: Bala Sivakumar Why you should go: An interpretive walk from the visitor center with outstanding panoramic views. You also need two permits to visit: The Makah Recreation Pass and the Olympic National Park wilderness permit. Jordan Siemens/Getty. This scenic hike along the shores of Lake Crescent is mostly flat and family-friendly. Permits are limited for camping between Yellow Banks and Point of the Arches. Note that dogs are not allowed on trails in Olympic National Park, so if you hike with a pup, stick to Olympic National Forest and Washington State Parks. Olympic Hiking Co. employs a locally-based team of hiking guides that lead group tours, custom private tours, and guided backpacking trips throughout Olympic National Park. Now completely updated for a second edition, Backpacking Washington remains the only comprehensive guide to all of the Evergreen State's best extended backpacking trips. The views of ocean, cliffs, headlands, islands and seastacks, coupled with the dramatic changing sea, provide a unique wilderness experience. More than 95 percent of the park is backcountry, with habitats ranging from coastline to dense forests, to alpine grassland and glaciers. Alternatively, if you plan to camp for more than five nights in Olympic National Park over the course of the year, you can buy the Olympic Annual Wilderness Pass which covers one individual's camping fees for a 12 month period (permits and reservations are still required with the Wilderness Pass). If you’re up for a longer hike with an easy grade, the Hoh River Trail to Five Mile Island is the perfect day hike. A much-loved route within the remote and unspoiled Olympic National Park, this trip boasts old-growth forests, high alpine lakes and endless views. Walk a bit further and you’ll reach the main part of the falls, which is larger. Ascends gradual at first with some steep sections before arriving at Royal Basin (6.0 miles) in the Park. Leave No Trace. Headland trails are typically steep and muddy and receive minimal maintenance. How to get there: Find the trailhead for the Klahhane Ridge Trail just outside the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Center. Soft-soled shoes, such as tennis shoes or lightweight hikers, grip the boardwalk better than stiff hiking boots with lug soles. This guide features only the most spectacular scenery and wildlife of a wide selection of routes from all over the peninsula. There is no water for roughly 5.5 miles along the High Divide section so please make sure to fill up prior! They may contain hazardous or explosive materials. Here are 5 of the least-traveled trails in Olympic National Park for you to discover. All living organisms found on the beach and in tide pools are protected—disturbing or collecting is not permitted. Note: There is also a short nature trail through a rainforest marsh that is wheelchair-accessible. 98362, Download the official NPS app before your next visit, We recommend boiling water, using a water filter, or using other treatment that kills or filters giardia and cryptosporidium. Backpacking along the coast in the Olympic National Park. Many people camp at Lower Lena and do a day hike up. Olympic National Park, for instance, offers hundreds of these corners throughout its 611 miles of trails, making it the ideal place to reconnect with true wilderness and find that increasingly elusive solitude. Wilderness Camping Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Olympic National Park wilderness (backcountry) year-round. The majority of the park's 611 miles of trails rarely get seen by the millions who visit the park each year. 600 E. Park Avenue This is one of the more popular hikes in Olympic National Park thanks to it’s easy access from Hwy 101. Olympic Hiking Co. provides a backpacker trailhead shuttle service throughout Olympic National Park. Unique features: Temperate rain forest, opportunites to view wildlife, views of Mount Olympus and Blue Glacier from the end of the trail. Ages 7 to 8 years. The variable hiking surfaces of the beach, combined with headland trails and tides, usually limit even strong hikers to between five and ten miles per day. Subtidal and Offshore Area Here you'll find a small visitor center, two short nature trails and a long trail following the Hoh River upstream through the forest. #1 - Marymere Falls Trail. There are seemingly endless hikes to choose from in this national park, but here are some of the top single-day trails to put on your itinerary for the OP. Do not decorate campsites with beach debris as this detracts from the wilderness character of the area. The trail follows South Fork Tunnel Creek for three miles through old-growth forest. Bear spray: Bear spray is another must if you go into the backcountry. Burial grounds and religious ceremonies are not open to the public. They are also part of Olympic National Park and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Your map should indicate areas where tides may be a problem, and the tidal height at which headlands become hazardous or impossible to round. DON'T GUESS! Hard lug-soled boots do not give traction on slick rocks. Thoroughly updated and revised, this fourth edition of Hiking Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks covers over fifty hikes in the two featured parks as well as the surrounding areas--Cedar Breaks National Monument, the Markagunt high ... *All backpacking permits are currently available through Recreation.gov* Tip: Come during low tide or make sure you have decent waterproof hiking shoes like our favorite: Chacos. Bring leather gloves for headland trail ropes. Shi Shi Beach is known to be one of the best backpacking spots in Olympic National Park. Top trails ( 45) Marymere Falls Trail. Madison Falls parking area is open, parking is limited (trail has been changed to reflect this route. Psst! These sites offer less shelter from wind, sun, and precipitation than the forested sites, but reduce resource damage. The climb to the summit of Mount Angeles is an unmarked Class 3 scramble and should not be attempted without proper experience and climbing equipment. The best hike to take is the three-mile round trip trek to Hurricane Hill. Building driftwood shelters or furniture is discouraged, as it diminishes the coast's wilderness character. Tunnel Creek Shelter is at 2.7 miles. Coastal Camping Avoid walking on or picking up tidepool animals. Camping Permits. They are not allowed on the route beyond that point. The 3 mi trail to the lower lake is wide, well maintained and easy to moderate. How to get there: Follow the Sol Duc Road to its end just beyond the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where you’ll find a parking lot and the trailhead for Sol Duc Falls aka Lover’s Lane Trail. All hikes require paying the Olympic National Park entry fee. Look over your map for the route you will follow. Go Wander Wild are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 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