Olympic National Park is located in the northwestern corner of Washington and contains almost 900,000 acres(1,442 square-miles) of wilderness, including active glaciers,57 miles of scenic ocean shore, and a Pacific Northwest rain forest. Olympic was established on June 29, 1938.
Camping, bird and wildlife watching, picnicking, nature walks, hiking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, fishing, swimming, skiing, and snowshoeing are some activities you can enjoy here. During summer months, park rangers present evening campfire programs. Six hundred miles of trails wind throughout the park. Self-guided nature trails are available at Hoh, Ozette, Staircase, Elwha, and Quinault.
Olympic National Park has much to offer, such as a beach, rainforest, glaciers, and icebound summits. Check out the the wonderful ecosystem Olympic has become. Olympic has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.The park was set up to protect wildlife, such as the shy Roosevelt Elk.
The year-round climate is mild, but humid. The winter is wetter in Hoh Valley than in any other part of the nation outside Alaska. Rain, snow, and mist from western winds fall upon the peaks of the Olympic Mountains. The East side is quite dry. Overall, the climate is extremely unpredictable.
Some fun things to do at Olympic include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, swimming, boating,(boat rental), fishing,and cross-country skiing.
![[INFORMATION ICON]](../animations/info.gif)
Information:
![[FEES ICON]](../animations/dollar_sign.gif)
Fees:Entrance fee is required. No fishing license is required, but steelhead and salmon punchcards are required.
![[WHEEL CHAIR ICON]](../animations/wheel_chair.gif)
Accessibility:
Main access is by U.S. 101. Olympic also has many side roads, which penetrate the perimeter of the park. Special Facilities:
Handicap access is available in restrooms, campsites, and in visitor centers.
![[AN EASY TO USE IMAGE MAP]](../animations/medallions.gif)