Hiking the Elwha River, Olympic National Park
See dense forest and prehistoric ferns on this 45.2-mile jaunt.
Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres of Washington wilderness, making it a perfect choice for many backcountry adventures. The best Olympic National Park hikes showcase its four distinct environments: Pacific coastline, alpine tundra, temperate rainforest, and drier forest. All sit in the shadow if Mount Olympus, the snowcapped peak at the heart of it all.
If you plan on camping in Olympic National park, checking out Hart Lake (a BACKPACKER staff favorite) is an absolute must. And if you plan on hiking in Olympic National Park, look no further than the picturesque North Coast Route. It stands out as one of our top hikes in the whole parks system.
See dense forest and prehistoric ferns on this 45.2-mile jaunt.
Artist Dan Bell's dreamy maps show British and American national parks as landscapes from J.R.R. Tolkien's books. We asked him to draw six of our favorites.
Destinations Editor Maren Horjus shares four spooky, Halloween-ready tales from her new book, Haunted Hikes
Olympic National Park
Don't let the manicured paths trick you: Workers in Washington state's mountains wage an endless war to keep the trails open.
Go for solitude with a DIY holiday celebration outdoors (pack out your tinsel), or go luxe and enjoy one of these festive feasts before tackling some of the country’s finest trails.
Forget standing in line at the store. Spend the 27th on the trail with free admission and other perks from these parks.
Washington parks encourage visitors to get outside instead of shopping
Get wet in late summer when the Queets River is easily crossed to see a rainforest most hikers never knew existed in Olympic National Park, Washington.
These 15 miles of beachfront property are among the best 100 miles of trail in the whole national park system.
A 7.4-mile hike with nonstop views of the Olympics, leading to a summit on the eastern edge of Olympic National Park.
Explore old growth rain forest, ascend 5,474-foot Bogachiel Peak, and reap stunning views of Mt. Olympus from High Divide's ridgeline on this 17.5-mile loop around a breathtaking subalpine lake basin.
Link rainforest, old-growth cedar stands, and a rugged sea coast peppered with isolated rock columns on this 8.7-mile loop in Olympic National Park.
Trace the rugged coastline past dozens of sea-carved rock formations on this five-star weekend trip along the Olympic Peninsula.
Follow in the footsteps of one of the region's earliest explorers.
End your day with a splash on the Olympic Peninsula.
Link lush, mossy forests with alpine lakes and meadows on this 35.2-mile backpacking trip in Olympic National Park.
Pack a week's worth of classic Northwest scenery (coastal rainforest, glittering lakes, thundering falls, and toothy peaks) into just three days on this 23.1-mile loop.
On this climb from the Hoh River's silty riffles to high-country glacier views, you'll pass through a moss-hung rainforest that might be the lushest place in America.
Want low mileage and big views? Make a beeline to the Hurricane Ridge trailhead for this 5.6-mile out-and-back that rolls past far-reaching views on Sunrise Ridge.
Hike through temperate rain forest alongside the Hoh River to the tip of the Blue Glacier--the largest glacier in Olympic National Park--and 7,980-foot Mt. Olympus towering above the ice.
Climb up and over Appleton Pass--and past huckleberries, western red cedar, and hemlocks--to soak in this chain of natural hot springs.