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Mountains Meet the Sea A visit to Olympic National Park places you at the unique intersection of the rugged Olympic mountains and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Thousands of miles of mighty rivers and streams cascade from mountains to the sea, shaping the landscape and nurturing a pristine habitat for Pacific salmon and countless other species.
Magenta Paintbrush, Fern, Rockweed
K. Campbell (Magenta Paintbrush); M. Campbell (Fern); B. Baccus (Rockweed)
The story of the Olympic mountains began deep beneath the ocean, as the collision of two massive tectonic plates forged the landscape we admire today. Towering glacier-clad peaks like Mount Queets, Deception, and Olympus rise dramatically from the lush, old-growth forests, separated from one another by river valleys.
Take a moment to breathe in the salty air on the coast and listen to the waves crashing against giant sea stacks. Witness dancing wildflowers as the wind sweeps through an alpine meadow, or watch fading sunlight glimmer on distant snow-covered peaks.
The steep mountains, wild rivers, and rocky coastline of Olympic National Park support diverse and abundant life. Today, an invitation awaits you to reconnect with nature and yourself. Discover your unique place on this unforgettable journey—it all starts here!
Trip Planner and Park Map
Check out these scenic destinations and experience the variety of Olympic National Park.
Planning your trip? Choose 1-2 locations from the same region per day for the best experience.
Stop by a visitor center for more maps and information. Purchase detailed topographic maps for planning hikes.
Tide pooling
NPS Photo / D. Sullivan
Reading the Tides
The rugged coastline of Olympic offers excellent opportunities for hiking the beach, tide pooling, viewing sea-stack formations, photography and bird watching. Knowing how to read a tide chart can help you plan the best time of day to visit the coast, but it also helps to keep you safe. Some sections of the beach are dangerous or impassable during high tides.
Looking for tide pools?
Tides change every day. The best tide pooling is when there is a negative tide, or a tide that is lower than normal. You’ll need at least a 2 ft. tide or less to see most tide pools.
Going hiking?
Check detailed topographic maps or ask a ranger to determine how low the tide needs to be to hike safely. Aim for a 5 ft. tide or less in most locations. Some areas may be completely impassable during high tide, and some sections are always impassable.
Step 1: Get a Tide Chart.
Visit tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov or stop by a visitor center to get a copy of a tide chart. You can also find them posted on area bulletin boards at Kalaloch, Mora and Ozette.
Step 2: Find the Low Tides.
Each day has two high tides and two low tides. Find the lowest tide during daylight hours on the day of your visit to determine if you’ll have a tide that is low enough for your activity.
Step 3: Check the Map.
Use a topographic map to find areas that may be impassable. Avoid these areas or hike only during a low enough tide.
Tide-Pooling Destinations
Easy
Beach 4: From the parking area on Hwy 101, walk a 0.1 mile trail to the beach. Ruby Beach: Hike a 0.25-mile trail from the parking area to the beach for views of a large sea-stack formation.
Moderate
Second Beach: From La Push Road, descend 0.7 miles on a winding trail through forest to the beach. Hole-in-the-Wall: Hike 1.5 miles one way on the beach to views of a unique, arch-like sea stack. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the lowest tide. Third Beach: From La Push Road, hike a trail 1.4 miles one way through forest to the beach.
Minnie the Mule
Trail Crew
With Mules and Miracles—We’re Just Keeping the Trails Open
How does Olympic National Park maintain over 600 miles of trails? With the help of 32 mules and a horse, of course!
These smart, strong pack animals play a powerful role carrying tools, lumber, concrete, fuel, and supplies, including their own dehydrated alfalfa, to backcountry trail crew camps. On average, they travel a total of 1,000 miles and pack 51,000 pounds each season.
“Our mules are often named in honor of historical figures. Charlie celebrates Boston Charlie, the last medicine man of the Klallam People. Minnie is the namesake of Minnie Peterson, who packed backcountry trips in the Olympics from 1927-1978, until the age of 80.”
—Heidi Brill, Lead Packer
Trail work on the Madison Falls trail to improve accessibility.
Trail Crew
If you see the diligent mules along your route, safely step off the trail and listen for the handler’s instructions. Please don’t pet or feed mules.
Park trail crews work eight days at a time. Volunteers, conservation corps, and other service groups add to the mix, enhanced by the packers and stock animals. Thanks to this arduous teamwork, hikers can access 876,669 acres of wilderness, mountains to sea.
“The first job in spring is clearing trails covered with huge trees and branches. Other projects include constructing foot bridges and backcountry privies, and creating accessible trails for visitors of all abilities,” noted Nathan Forrest, Trails Program Manager.
“I work in the backcountry because of the wilderness values— natural, untamed, inspiring,” he added. “It is beautiful. I feel most comfortable when underneath canopies of old-growth forest.”
“Mule strings are our lifelines, with each mule carrying 120 pounds into the backcountry. Their arrival at our camps is one of my favorite sights.”
Nathan Forrest, Trails Program Manager
