Olympic National Park (U. S. National Park Service) With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline Come explore!
Mountains - Olympic National Park (U. S. National Park Service) From the 7,980-foot (2,432-meter) summit of Mount Olympus, the Pacific Ocean shimmers in the distance, less than 33 miles west Between the highest of the Olympic Mountains and the sea is a jumble of rugged peaks, whose shoulders are decorated with meadows and lakes
Climbing Mount Olympus - U. S. National Park Service During winter months, travel above Elk Lake is not recommended due to steep avalanche chutes Ropes and anchors may be necessary to cross these safely Climbing Mount Olympus should only be attempted by experienced mountaineers who have glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills and gear
Basic Information - U. S. National Park Service From Olympia: take I-5 to Hwy 101 From Tacoma: take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104 From Washington Oregon Coast connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen
Geology of Olympic - U. S. National Park Service Mount Olympus Mountains are one of Olympic National Park’s most prominent geologic features, including Mt Olympus, the tallest of the Olympic range This giant reaches 7, 980 feet high at its summit The Olympic Mountains are still being uplifted as the plates continue to converge
Lodging - Olympic National Park (U. S. National Park Service) The larger cities of Shelton and Olympia are located further south on Highway 101 Visit local Chamber of Commerce websites for further details: Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce (Shelton and Hoodsport) North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce (Quilcene and Brinnon) Last updated: July 11, 2025
Plan Your Visit - U. S. National Park Service Welcome to Olympic National Park! At Olympic, forest, coastal, and mountain ecosystems combine to create a spectacular wilderness park Designated as both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, the park serves as a living laboratory for scientists and students, as well as an incredible natural playground for visitors Millions of people visit
History Culture - U. S. National Park Service Eight years later, in 1909, President Teddy Roosevelt designated a part of the reserve as Mount Olympus National Monument to protect the habitat of Roosevelt Elk, whose population was in steep decline
Visiting the Hoh Rain Forest - U. S. National Park Service The Hoh Rain Forest, pronounced "Hoe", earns its name from the ever-flowing Hoh River that carves its way from Mount Olympus towards the Pacific Coast However, where the name originates, is up for debate