Olympic National Park in Washington State received 2.95 million visitors in 2023. That was half a million more than in 2022, making it the 10th most popular national park in the US in 2023. If this year’s travel trends are anything to go by, Olympic National Park is set to hit the highest number of visitors post-COVID.
In this blog, we’re diving into ten incredible Olympic National Park facts that inspire millions of visitors to want to experience this breathtaking landscape firsthand.
Let’s kick-start these Olympic National Park fun facts with its major defining hallmark: three distinct ecosystems in one park. Its coastal ecosystem boasts a 73-mile wild and untamed coastline known for its offshore sea stacks, rocky headlands, and craggy beaches with tide pools.
Moving inland, Olympic National Park showcases the largest rainforest in the world. This forest comprises four distinct temperate rainforests: Hoh, Queets, Quinault, and Bogachiel.
The lush rainforest opens up to meadows and glacier-capped mountains at higher elevations. Mount Olympus, the highest peak in the park, is a popular rock climbing destination.
In short, if you want to experience everything that makes Northwest USA unique, Olympic National Park has it good.
We bet fun facts about the Olympic National Park don’t get any better than this! If you visit this park and feel like the earth is moving under your feet, you don’t have vertigo– it’s the Olympic Peninsula literally moving due to tectonic forces. This movement of the tectonic plates, in effect, pushes the Olympic Mountains higher. However, the mountains don’t appear to grow due to water and glacial erosion.
You probably won’t feel the peninsula move beneath you using your senses alone. But knowing that the mountains are constantly being lifted right before your eyes is mind-blowing.
The Hoh Rainforest is a bucket list destination in Washington for several reasons. But what makes it one of the unique things about Olympic National Park is that it’s the wettest forest in the contiguous US.
The Hoh Rainforest receives about 140 inches of rainfall each year. This amount of precipitation, coupled with a mild temperate climate, results in a tranquil nature escape comprising old-growth trees, lush greenery, and abundant wildlife.
Even better, you can access the Hoh Rainforest year-round in rain or sunshine. The Hoh Rainforest campground has 88 sites, most of them along the river.
Next is one of the most interesting facts about Olympic National Park for nature lovers. Olympic National Park spans 922,651 acres. Of these, 95%, about 876,447 acres, is designated wilderness area.
This is among the largest wilderness areas in the US mainland. It presents numerous opportunities for adventures, explorations, and connecting with nature.
The Olympic Peninsula wilderness area is also a place to encounter diverse wildlife species in their natural habitat. During the Fall months, Elwha River is a great spot to witness salmon swimming upstream while trying to evade bald eagles, otters, and black bears. Rialto Beach offers the best place for tide pooling, while Ediz Hook is the perfect place for birdwatching and spotting sea lions and harbor seals.
The Hoh Rainforest may be the wettest and quietest place in Olympic National Park. But when it comes to the largest members of the park, that title goes to the Quinault Rainforest.
The Quinault Forest is in the Quinault Valley, formed by the Quinault River. The valley is aptly nicknamed the Valley of the Rainforest Giants because it’s home to some of the largest trees of their species. One that can’t be missed is a 191’ tall Sitka spruce with a circumference of 55’7” and a diameter of 17.68’. What makes this behemoth part of the fun facts about Olympic National Park is that it’s 1000+ years old. Plus, it’s the third-largest tree in Washington.
Throughout its history, Olympic National Park has been a safe haven for hundreds of wildlife species, including at least 22 threatened or endangered species ranging from land-based animals to birds and marine life.
This park’s river system is home to five endangered fish species: Bull trout, Lake Ozette Sockeye salmon, Hood Canal Summer Chum salmon, Puget Sound Chinook salmon, and Puget Sound Steelhead. Endangered bird species in Olympic National Park include the Canada Jay, Northern Pygmy owl, and Rhinoceros auklet. Some endangered mammal species in this park include the Olympic marmot and the Pacific Fisher.
History shows Olympic National Park has lost over 50% of its glaciers since 1900. The park currently boasts around 266 glaciers and snowfields, although only 32 are named.
A joint study by Portland State University shows that Olympic National Park will lose all its glacier areas by 2070. Unfortunately, we can only do so much about it except visit and photograph them.
Blue Glacier is the most popular glacier in Olympic National Park. It can be accessed via the Hoh River Trail (18 miles, one way), which is mostly flat. Anderson Glacier is another popular option if you prefer a multi-day hike with a happy ending. This glacier is reached via the East Fork Quinault River Trail and West Fork Dosewallips River Trail.
Olympic National Park boasts over 650 archaeological sites, ranging from inland settlements to coastal villages. These sites, some dating back to early prehistoric times, shed light on the history of native American communities that inhabited the peninsula. They also paint a picture of how these tribes, particularly the Hoh, Quileute, Makah, and Coast Salish, adapted to the landscape.
One of the most significant archaeological sites in the park is a nearly 3000-year-old basket fragment preserved under a snowbank near Obstruction Point. This remnant suggests that early inhabitants of the peninsula went to the mountains. The Ozette site is another must-see if you’re fascinated by Native American history. The site is of an abandoned historic Makah Indian village buried by a mudslide around 1700.
The Olympic Peninsula has had a history of human development for thousands of years. In the 1800s, its spectacular ecosystems and biodiversity caught the attention of park advocates and naturalists, starting its journey towards becoming a national park.
President Grover Cleveland established it as the Olympic Forest Reserve in 1897 to preserve its threatened forests. The reserve later became Olympic National Forest in 1907 and a national park on June 29, 1938. In 1982, the World Heritage Convention designated the park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its exceptional beauty and ecological importance.
Let’s wind up these Olympic National Park facts with why anglers worldwide go to this park. Olympic National Park has more than 3500 miles of rivers flowing within its borders. That’s unsurprising for a place where water defines everything from the abundant rain and snow to the glaciers.
Olympic National Park has 15 rivers that give life to the park’s diversity. The rivers and waterways also serve as home to various fish, including the world-renowned steelhead and salmon of the Pacific Northwest. The Hoh River is the most popular among anglers thanks to its consistent depths and easy access. The Queets River is a relatively untouched waterway boasting some of the healthiest salmon. Fishing the Queets, especially during fall, offers an opportunity for a lifetime catch with some salmon weighing up to 50 lbs.
Plan your activities carefully
Olympic National Park is very easy to access. It’s a 2-hour drive from Seattle and about 3 hours from Tacoma, Washington.
The park is encircled by Highway 101, which is well-maintained. But keep in mind that no roads cut through the park. What you’ll find are paved roads that lead to popular parts of the park, like Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Sol Duc hot springs, and Lake Quinault. In other words, you’ll explore the park by driving from one section to the other. Plan your activities carefully so you don’t spend much time driving.
Where to stay
Where you stay when visiting Olympic National Park also matters a lot due to the amount of driving involved. It’s advisable to stay in at least two places if you wish to experience the park's different parts and ecosystems.
We recommend splitting your lodging between the towns near the park to minimize drive time. Port Angeles and Forks are the two major towns near the park. You can also stay in the smaller towns further away, but be ready for longer drive times. Olympic National Park rustic cabins and lodges are another excellent option if you want to stay inside the park. Campers also have a choice of 15 campgrounds, some with RV camping sites throughout the park.
Get an early start
Olympics National Park is huge, but it feels tiny due to its popularity and the nature of its roads. Summer (May to September) is the best time to visit Olympic National Park. This is when the weather is great for most activities, including hiking and beach combing. Also, this is when most of the facilities and ranger programs are available.
Note that summer, particularly from June through August, is the peak season in Olympic National Park. Choosing where to stay wisely can help you reach popular places before the crowds. Also, have several off-the-beaten destinations in your itinerary as alternatives when other parts of the park are overcrowded.
Olympic National Park is a true gem at the corner of the Pacific Northwest. Whether you’re interested in exploring the only temperate rainforest in the US or the rugged Pacific coast, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has it all.
There are more than 30 of the Olympic National Park's interesting facts that we could list here, but we only chose our favorites. Bear with us if we leave something out that stands out for you.
Featured image by: Galyna Andrushko.
Olympic National Park is unique because it combines three distinct ecosystems into one large park. Visitors can explore a rugged coastline, temperate rainforest, and glaciated mountains in one park. The park also boasts hundreds of animal species and a rich human history.
Olympic National Park covers 922,650 acres, making it the 13th biggest national park in the contiguous USA.
Hurricane Ridge, Kalaloch, Ruby, and Lake Crescent are the most popular places in Olympic National Park because they are easy to access.
Olympic National Park in Northwest Washington receives over two million visitors per year. The park received 2.9 million visitors in 2023 and has the potential to surpass the 3-million mark this year.
There are no grizzly bears in the Olympic Peninsula. Only black bears can be seen roaming throughout the park, particularly in the Hoh Rainforest and Olympic Mountains. There isn’t a single case of a bear attack in Olympic National Park’s history, but it’s still wise to exercise caution when encountering wildlife.
Get all the news right in your mail
Homemade electrolyte drinks are the unsung hero of today's fitness-conscious and health-centric society. These DIY drinks can…
Read More
How does someone testing robots in Antarctica to locate meteorites start making custom skis in Wyoming? It began on the ski…
Read More