Olympic National Park is a beautiful place to visit year round; however, some areas and trails may be inaccessible during the winter.
During the summer, everything should be open, but crowds will be at their highest. During the winter, the rainforest is more lush, but other areas of the park will not be open.
In order to best help you determine when is the best time to visit Olympic National Park, we will take you through the factors to consider when deciding the best time to visit Olympic National Park as well as the best time to visit each area of the park!
Psst, download offline trail maps with the AllTrails app and be sure to research and prepare if hiking.
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When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park to avoid crowds?
Winter, hands down! During the summer, certain areas of the park can become extremely crowded and parking lots can fill. Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest are two areas that are known for their parking lots filling early.
If the parking lots are full, rangers will stop your vehicle at the entrance station until another vehicle exits. Wait times at the entrance stations can be 1-2 hours during peak hours! You can also expect the most crowds on holidays.
In order of most popular to least popular seasons to visit Olympic National Park:
- Summer
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park for the best weather?
This really depends on what activities that interest you and the area of the park you are visiting!
Summers are warm with average high daily temperatures between 65-75°F.
Fall is known for rain and fog.
Winters typically have average high daily temperatures between 30-40°F and the highest amount of precipitation. The most rain occurs between November-April.
Spring stays rainy but becomes warmer. Heavy snow and rain can occur into June. Seasonal campgrounds begin to open.
No matter what time of year it is, don’t forget your rain jacket!
When is the best time to visit the waterfalls at Olympic National Park?
Spring runoff will result in the most gushing and roaring waterfalls and winter is a close second. During summer and fall, the waterfalls are still amazing but may be slightly less impressive.
When is the best time to visit Hoh Rainforest?
Winter!
During the summer, parking at the Hoh Rainforest can fill up early. During the winter, parking is usually not an issue.
The other advantage of visiting the Hoh Rainforest during the winter is how lush it is! The most rain occurs during the winter which results in the most lush and green forest. Also, it’s just a vibe when its’ raining in the rainforest.
When is the best time to visit Hurricane Ridge?
Hurricane Ridge is a great year-round destination!
During the summer, all trails are accessible at Hurricane Ridge so summer is the best time for hiking. During the winter, Hurricane Ridge is only open on the weekends and snow chains are required.
Activities during the summer: hiking, camping, biking
Activities during the winter: snowboarding, skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing
The National Park Service recommends taking a bus during the summer to avoid parking issues. Clallam Transit offers a bus route from downtown Port Angeles to and from Hurricane Ridge during the summer. Bus tickets and advanced National Park Pass purchase is required.
When is the best time to visit Sol Duc Falls?
Sol Duc Road is closed in winter, usually between December and late spring/early summer. The exact dates of closure vary every year due to snow levels, so be sure to check the park website for current road closures.
When is the best time to visit the beaches at Olympic National Park?
Winter allows for storm watching and the cold air adds to the moody vibes of the rugged coastline. There is still plenty to do at the beaches during the winter including hiking, tidepooling, birding, watching sunrises and sunsets, and camping.
During the summer, the beaches offer most of the same activities but with warmer weather!
Conclusion
As you can see, the best time to visit Olympic National Park will depend on each person’s interests and must-do activities! Olympic National Park is a wonderful national park to visit year round due to its accessibility year round.
If you’re looking for ideas for your trip, check out our post on 10 Epic Places to Visit in Olympic National Park.
