Park in Your Pocket: Olympic National Park

About Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park was the first park to utilize volunteer student conservation crews from SCA. As our founding park, it’s now the flagship park for youth conservation.

Located west of Seattle, WA, Olympic is home to rain forests, beaches, hot springs, and glaciated mountain ranges – each offers camping, hiking, and climbing for families and beginners to highly skilled mountaineers.

Plan Your Visit

Olympic National Park is open year-round, although winter weather or other conditions may force the closure of visitor facilities, roads, and campgrounds. SCA recommends calling the park’s visitor center for the most current information: 360-565-3130.

Park Highlights:

• Camping  
• Fishing  
• Hiking  
• Beaches  
• Mountain Climbing  
• Rain Forests  
• Hot Springs  
• Tide pools  
• Wildlife

Things To Do

• With over 73 miles of coastline, you can picnic, hike, swim, and camp near the water. Tip: arrive at least 30 minutes before low tide for optimal tide pool viewing at Ruby Beach located near Highway 101.
  

• Be sure to see the most significant dam removal/restoration project ever accomplished (worldwide!) in the Elwha Valley. Elwha Dam has been fully removed; the Glines Canyon Dam is almost gone and salmon are returning. SCA members played a key role in this restoration of a formerly inundated landscape.
  

• Olympic National Park sees over 130 inches of rain annually. Experience a rain forest firsthand by visiting the Hoh Rain Forest, site of the very first SCA crews.
  
  
• Experience extraordinary views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and British Columbia from Hurricane Ridge, named for its 75 mph winds during the winter months.
  
• Take the unique opportunity to experience Lake Ozette rain forest and Pacific beaches by hiking the Sand Point/Cape Alava triangle, which is off the beaten path for typical visitors. Two thirds of the way you’ll find a cedar-planked boardwalk originally built by SCA crews.
  
• The site of an archeological dig, take time to explore the museum at Neah Bay on the Makah Reservation to see the artifacts rediscovered at Cape Alava.
  

The National Park Service requests that you Leave No Trace of your stay when visiting the Mount Olympus area. This helps protect the wildlife and vegetation. Campfires are limited to certain areas to help protect sensitive vegetation and all food and garbage must be stored in bear-proof canisters when camping.

For more on Leave No Trace, visit the Olympic National Park site here.

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