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Visitation

Visitor Impacts

In recent years, approximately four million visits annually. Most visitors come to the park from July through September; December and January are the quietest months.

The high country, with its thin soils and easily-damaged vegetation, is especially vulnerable to overuse. Please be careful to stay on established trails in developed areas and to use existing campsites when hiking in the wilderness.

Potentially hazardous wildlife interactions are often the result of well-meaning but uninformed visitors who feed or closely approach animals. Remember that all park wildlife, including deer and birds, are wild animals and should never be fed or approached. Deer that have been fed and are overly accustomed to people tend to linger near park roadways and are often hit and killed by passing vehicles. Sharp hooves and antlers, as well as disease-bearing ticks, present dangers to visitors who approach deer too closely.

Visitor Center

Visitor Centers are located in Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rain forest. Each of these provides exhibits and visitor information. The Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles is open and staffed year-round and serves as the park's primary information and orientation center. The Hurricane Ridge and Hoh Visitor Centers are open throughout the year (when road and weather conditions allow), but may be self-service during the winter months.

Exhibits are also located at the following ranger stations: Staircase, Storm King (at Lake Crescent), Ozette and Kalaloch.

Basic Visits

With Olympics nearly one million acres and three distinct ecosystems, plan on spending at least one very full day to get a feeling for the park's diversity. With this amount of time, visitors often drive to Hurricane Ridge for a taste of the park's high country and mountain vistas. From there, a three-hour drive to the west will bring you to the Hoh Rain Forest, where over 12 feet of rain per year creates a stunning world of huge trees and profuse greenery. Views of the Pacific Coast and Olympic's wilderness beaches can be seen by an additional 30-40 minute drive to Rialto or Ruby Beach.

Visitors interested in hiking or exploring some of the park's lesser-used areas should allow at least several days to see the park.

Basic orientation information, as well as exhibits and an introductory slide program are available at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles.

Climate

Olympic has a moderate marine climate with pleasant summers and mild, wet winters. Summers are generally fair and warm, with high temperatures usually between 65 and 75 degrees F. Summer is the driest season, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. Winters are mild, with temperatures at lower elevations in the 30's and 40's. At higher elevations, snowfall is generally heavy, with accumulations of up to 10 feet common. Closer to sea level, much of the precipitation comes as rain, with some infrequent snow fall.

At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions. Rain gear and layered clothing are a must.