How to enjoy National Park Week in Olympic National Park

The Olympic Peninsula west of Seattle offers a wide variety of activities for all types of vacationers. April’s rain bring vivid green and flowing waterfalls to the park, making National Park Week from April 22-28 the perfect time to experience all that Olympic has to offer.

 There are three distinct ecosystems in Olympic National Park- rainforest, alpine and coastal, all a short drive from one another; it’s easy to explore these landscapes during a single vacation. The preferred method of exploration at Olympic is hiking. Numerous trails wind through the mountains and forests of the park. Sol Duc Hot Springs, located at the front of the Alpine backcountry on the north part of the park, is the perfect home base for a hiking-based vacation to the park. In the evenings, soak in the natural hot springs under a sea of stars. 

On the opposite side of Olympic National Park, Lake Quinault Lodge offers a very different experience from Sol Duc Hot Springs. The historic lodge built in grand National Park tradition sits on the shores of Lake Quinault in the depths of one of the park’s two temperate rainforests. Lake and forest views from the lodge take guests to a simpler time. Hiking is also popular in this part of the peninsula with trails leading directly from the lodge. For those looking for something different, kayak, canoe and rowboat rentals are available from the lodge.

If you cannot visit Olympic National Park during National Park Week, don’t fret! On May 2 the park’s oldest historic lodge Lake Crescent Lodge opens for the season. Located near Sol Duc, Lake Crescent Lodge provides guided walks, kayak tours and other interpretive programs for guests looking to learn more about the park’s ecology and history.

For more information on the activities available at Olympic National Park, visit our Play page.

Tags: