• Olympic: Three Parks in One

    Olympic

    National Park Washington

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Olympic Hot Springs Road Closed

    The Elwha Valley's Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to public entry beyond the Altair Campground during removal of the Glines Canyon Dam. Olympic Hot Springs is not accessible from the Elwha.

  • Elwha River Closures

    Boating is prohibited on the Elwha River from Upper Lake Mills Trail downstream to the Highway 112 bridge, except for the stretch between Altair Campground and the Highway 101 bridge.

  • Changes to Visitor Services Due to Sequestration

    Due to mandatory, across the board budget cuts, some visitor services at Olympic National Park have changed. See the Plan Your Visit section for more information.

Traffic & Travel Tips

Despite its isolation, the Olympic Peninsula becomes a busy place in summer. We recommend planning ahead and leaving plenty of extra time to safely reach your destination. Below are some additional tips.

  • Highway 101 is the only access route to the Olympic Peninsula and is a two-lane highway for most of its length. In many areas, passing other vehicles is not possible. Patience and allowing extra time to reach your destination will make your trip safer and more fun!

  • If possible, plan to visit during the week, rather than Friday through Sunday.

  • Make lodging reservations early.

  • Park campgrounds are available first come, first served except for Kalaloch campground, which may be reserved for summer camping.

  • Winter brings its own special beauty, and travel challenges. Allow extra time and be sure to check your tires and the weather forecast before travelling.

  • Check the Washington Department of Transportation website for safety and traffic alerts on U.S. Highway 101.
 

Did You Know?

Mossy downed log in dense forest

The old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest produce three times the biomass (living or once living material) of tropical rain forests. More...