Olympic National Park packs in more landscapes than almost anywhere else, from whale watching off Anacortes, alpine hikes at Hurricane Ridge, mossy old-growth rainforests, and a sunset behind the sea stacks at Second Beach.
For an overview on the entire Washington trip, check out Hiker’s Paradise: 12-day Washington Road Trip.
Whale Watching Tour and Travel to Port Angeles
We left North Cascades early and headed towards Anacortes for our whale watching tour with Island Adventures.
The tour runs 4–5 hours and departs from Anacortes. We were hoping to spot orcas, but it wasn’t in the cards. We did see a minke whale, which the guides told us is actually a rarer sighting, though admittedly not quite as exciting.
The real highlight ended up being a massive congregation of bald eagles fighting over a washed-up whale carcass onshore.
Getting to Port Angeles from Anacortes requires a ferry crossing — the Coupeville to Port Townsend Ferry. We’d never taken our car on a ferry before, so we arrived pretty early.
As it turns out, once your car is in the queue you’re free to leave — and Fort Casey State Park is right there. We spent the extra time wandering the oceanfront park, checking out the old gun batteries and the trails along the bluff. A nice bonus we hadn’t planned for.
We rolled into Port Angeles late in the evening, checked in, and called it a night.
Travel tips
- Coupeville to Port Townsend Ferry takes your car — make reservations in advance at wsdot.com
- Drive from Anacortes to Coupeville is 1 hour; crossing is 35 min; Port Townsend to Port Angeles is 1 hour
- Once your car is in the ferry queue, you can go explore Fort Casey State Park right next door
- Arrive early at the ferry; it’s less stressful than cutting it close
Food
- Lunch: Anacortes (several options nearby)
- Dinner: Nothing special this day. Eat food on the ferry or grab-and-go snacks
Activities
- Island Adventures Whale Watching (Anacortes)
- Fort Casey State Park – a great way to kill time before your ferry
Overnight: Red Lion Inn, Port Angeles
A straightforward, comfortable hotel right in Port Angeles providing a solid base for an early start into Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge the next morning.
Olympic: Hurricane Ridge
We checked out and made the 45-minute drive up to Hurricane Ridge, arriving at the visitor center around 9am. The drive up alone is worth is beautiful, winding through dense forest before opening up to sweeping mountain views.
We did the Hurricane Hill Trail — a 3.4-mile out-and-back that starts directly from the visitor center. The views of the Olympic Mountain range are absolutely incredible the entire way, and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and wildflowers along the trail.
Honestly, every picture looks like a Bob Ross painting.
From there we drove down toward Lake Crescent for lunch at Lake Crescent Lodge — a beautiful old lodge right on the water.
After lunch, we hiked Marymere Falls Trail — an easy 1.7-mile walk through old-growth forest that ends at a tall, narrow waterfall tucked into a mossy canyon.
From there we drove 45 minutes to Sol Duc Falls, where the water pours through a narrow rock channel surrounded by forest, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
For the final leg of the day, we drove about an hour to La Push. We grabbed food and drinks for our sunset on the beach. There are a few beach options in the area, but make sure to check tide tables before you pick one.
We chose Second Beach, a 30-minute hike through the forest from the parking area. Watching the sun drop behind the sea stacks, through the arch, with the waves rolling in was one of the best moments of the trip.
We checked into the Forks Dew Drop Inn, just 20 minutes away, and wound down for the night.
Travel Tips
- Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center is a great first stop — grab maps and tide tables here
- Drive from Hurricane Ridge down to Lake Crescent is about 1 hour
- Stop in Port Angeles for groceries or lunch before heading to the lake — options thin out after that
Activities
- Hurricane Hill Trail — 3.4 mi out-and-back, trailhead at the visitor center
- Marymere Falls Trail — easy 1.7 mi, beautiful old-growth forest
- Sol Duc Falls — easy 1-hour hike, stunning falls in a lush canyon
- Second Beach, La Push — 30-minute hike to one of the most dramatic beaches on the coast; perfect for sunset
Travel Tips
- Lake Crescent Lodge — lunch on the lake, iconic setting
- Grocery run — sandwiches and canned wine for the sunset on Second Beach
Overnight: Forks Dew Drop Inn, Forks
A simple, no-frills spot in the small town of Forks — just 20 minutes from Second Beach and perfectly positioned for an early start into the Hoh Rainforest the next morning.
Olympic: Hoh Rainforest
We checked out and drove 45 minutes to the Hoh Rainforest — one of those places that has to be seen to be believed. We started with the Hall of Mosses loop, where massive maple trees draped in thick hanging moss create a canopy that feels straight out of a fairytale.
We tacked on the Spruce Nature Trail after, adding another 1.4 miles through old-growth Sitka spruce along the Hoh River. Do both back-to-back and truly immerse yourself in the forest.
From Hoh we drove south to Kalaloch Beach, stopping at the lodge for lunch before exploring the shoreline.
We wrapped up the trip with the drive to Tacoma, where we stayed the night before flying out the next morning.
Travel Tips
- Quinault was a bit underwhelming — if short on time or energy, skip it
- Tacoma is about an hour away and conveniently located for an early flight out of Seattle
Activities
- Hall of Mosses Loop + Spruce Nature Trail (Hoh Rainforest) — 2.4 mi, ~1.5 hrs; a great way to see
- Kalaloch Beach
Food
- Kalaloch Lodge
Overnight: Hilton Garden Inn, Tacoma Downtown
A convenient overnight before flying out the next morning, with paid on-site parking and restaurants and shops within walking distance.