National Park · NPS · WA · Roosevelt connection
Olympic National Park
Photo: NPS Photo/Jon Preston, Roosevelt Elk
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Hurricane Ridge Road Closed, Sunday 11/8, 9:00am
Hurricane Ridge Road is closed due to snow and ice.
Park Closure Some Roads and Campgrounds are Temporarily Closed due to Weather
Storm damage has temporarily closed the Mora, Hoh, and Sol Duc Campgrounds, as well as Hoh Road, Mora Road, and Sol Duc Road. High winds from yesterday's storm brought down several trees and large branches, creating hazardous conditions. Please check current conditions before traveling.
Caution Bat Tests Positive for Rabies, Visitors Urged to Report Potential Contact
A rabid bat was found at Olympic National Park near Staircase Bridge on August 9th. At approximately 2 p.m., the bat swooped down onto an unidentified woman and was temporarily caught in her hair. This individual is at risk for rabies and should seek healthcare immediately, as well as contact the Mason County Health Department at 360-427-9670, ext. 405. More at the link.
Caution Staircase Developed Area is Open, Use Caution in Burned Areas
The Staircase developed area is open. The surrounding wilderness areas will remain closed as repair and recovery efforts continue. Use extreme caution when entering burned areas. Burned landscapes may contain falling trees and branches, loose boulders, unstable ground, stump holes, landslides, and debris flows. Changing conditions such as wind, rain, or storms can rapidly trigger hazards. Learn more on our Fire Conditions and Updates page.
Caution Visitors to Rialto, Ruby Beach & Coastal Areas Cautioned Due to High Tides
Fall brings higher high tides, which can be dangerous and will cover some coastal routes completely. Always consult a tide chart and map. Be wary of sneaker waves and beach logs, which tides can move unexpectedly.
Overview
With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Come explore!
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
The Roosevelt connection
Protected by T.R.
- March 2, 1909: as President, Theodore Roosevelt set aside Mount Olympus National Monument. Proclaimed two days before Roosevelt left office, to protect glaciers and the summer range of the Olympic elk, named Cervus roosevelti in his honor. It became Olympic National Park in 1938.
presidency.ucsb.edu · web.archive.org · npshistory.com · Roosevelt’s Public Lands
His proclamations and orders
- March 2, 1909: Proclamation 869, “Setting Aside Mount Olympus National Monument, Washington.” Today’s site absorbed into it. Created in 1938 in place of the abolished monument; 922,650 acres today, home to the largest fully wild herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest.
Proclamation 869 in Theodore Roosevelt’s Executive Orders and Proclamations
What to see and do
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Arts and Crafts
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- Snow Tubing
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Downhill Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowshoeing
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Pool Swimming
- Freshwater Swimming
- Saltwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Plan your visit
Hours
Olympic National Park: Olympic National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round, although some roads, campgrounds and facilities are open seasonally.
Fees and passes
- Entrance - Private Vehicle — $30.00
- Entrance - Motorcycle — $25.00
- Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
- Commercial Entrance - Van — $75.00
- Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $100.00
- Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $200.00
- Annual Entrance - Park — $55.00
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.
Getting there
You can reach Olympic National Park via the I-5 corridor or by any one of the quieter state roadways. Once you arrive on the Olympic Peninsula connect to Hwy 101 to reach any destinations in and around Olympic National Park. From Olympia: take I-5 to Hwy 101 From Tacoma: take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104. From Washington/Oregon Coast connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen.
Visitor centers
- Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
- Olympic National Park Visitor Center
- Kalaloch Ranger Station
- Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station
- Hurricane Ridge Visitor Contact Station
Campgrounds
- Fairholme Campground (88 sites) — reserve
- Graves Creek Campground (30 sites)
- Hoh Campground (78 sites) — reserve
- Kalaloch Campround (170 sites) — reserve
- Heart O' the Hills Campground (97 sites)
- Staircase Campground (49 sites) — reserve
- South Beach Campground (55 sites)
- Mora Campground (94 sites) — reserve
- North Fork Campground (9 sites)
- Queets Campground (20 sites)
- Ozette Campground (15 sites)
- Deer Park Campground (14 sites)
Weather
Summers tend to be fair and warm, with high temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F. July, August and September are the driest months, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. While winters are mild at lower elevation, snowfall can be heavy in the mountains. It is common for different weather conditions to exist within the park at the same time. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions.
Phone: 3605653130
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Olympic National Forest USFS · 21 miles
- Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 35 miles
- Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 40 miles
- Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 43 miles
- Copalis National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 45 miles
- Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve NPS · 53 miles