Olympic has an almost endless network of backcountry trails and hiking routes. With very few exceptions, these are difficult multi-day adventures. The hikes we cover below are all of the dayhike variety. Hiking distances given below are total, roundtrip distances unless otherwise stated. Difficulties are only a general guideline, for an adult in good condition, and do not take into account trail length.
(click map to open very large locator map of the hikes below)
Ancient Groves Nature Trail
Length
0.6 miles
Difficulty
Easy
Trailhead
Ancient Groves parking area
This hike begins from the Ancient Groves parking area, located along the Sol Duc Road 8.7 miles from the park entrance. This is an easy loop trail that winds through old-growth forest. It is a good choice for those without the time to hike the more involved Sol Duc Trail at the road's end.
Beach Four
Length
0.4+ miles
Difficulty
Moderately Easy
Trailhead
Beach Four parking area
This hike begins from the Beach Four parking area along US-101, located just north of the Kalaloch area. Don't let the bland name discourage you; many of the park's beaches are named by simple numbers. It is a short descent of 0.2 miles to reach the shoreline. From there, this hike is as long or as short as you'd like it to be, walking up or down the coastline. Turn back if the shoreline becomes impassable, as the Pacific Ocean can be quite dangerous in this area.
Hall of Mosses
Length
0.8 miles
Difficulty
Easy
Trailhead
Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
This hike begins next to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, located near the end of the Hoh Road. This route is world-famous for its dramatic rain forest scenery. Green covers everything in sight, from the ground, to the tree branches, to the streambeds. It is perhaps the signature short hike in the park, and is one every visitor needs to see. The adjacent Spruce Nature Trail, listed further down the page, offers much of the same scenery, and also provides informal access to the Hoh River.
This hike begins from the end of the Hurricane Ridge Road. It climbs over 700 feet over a paved, but rough, trail surface to a point offering great panoramas of the entire area (providing its clear and not cloudy as it was in the picture to the left).
Hurricane Ridge Meadow Trails
Length
0.3+ miles
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Trailhead
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
These hikes begin across from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, located near the end of the Hurricane Ridge Road. Rather than a single trail, this is a network of paved routes traversing the fragile alpine meadows. Panoramas of the area stretch in all directions. They are so impressive that even the local deer stop to take notice, as at left.
Madison Creek Falls
Length
0.2 miles
Difficulty
Very Easy
Trailhead
Madison Creek Falls parking area
This "hike" begins from the Madison Creek Falls parking area, located just past the entrance station on the Elwha Road. This very short paved route leads to a beautiful waterfall in the forest.
Marymere Falls
Length
1.8 miles
Difficulty
Moderately Easy
Trailhead
Storm King Ranger Station
This hike begins from the Storm King Ranger Station located along US-101 near the shore of Lake Crescent. The trail quickly goes under US-101 via a pedestrian tunnel and then heads through the forest to the falls. A short moderate ascent is necessary at the end in order to properly view the falls.
Rialto Beach
Length
Up to 3.0 miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Trailhead
Rialto Beach parking area
Access to Rialto Beach is at the end of Mora Road, which is off of WA-110, which in turn is off of US-101 just north of the town of Forks. The walk along the ocean shore can be up to 1.5 miles one-way to an area called Hole-in-the-Wall. Continuing north past this point is dangerous.
Ruby Beach
Length
0.4+ miles
Difficulty
Moderate
Trailhead
Ruby Beach parking area
Access to Ruby Beach is directly off of US-101 about 7 miles north of Kalaloch. It may be the most popular, and scenic, of the park's easily accessible beaches. The route down to the beach is short but relatively steep. Just to the north of where the route reaches the beach, a stream enters the ocean and presents a challenge for anyone not wanting to get their feet wet.
Sol Duc Falls
Length
1.6 miles
Difficulty
Moderately Easy
Trailhead
Sol Duc parking area
The Sol Duc Trailhead begins from the end of the Sol Duc Road. It is spelled Soleduck on the trail sign, and this corruption of the name is used interchangeably all over the region. This trail goes deep into the Olympic backcountry. For the purposes of this hike, it leads for 0.8 miles to a bridge over the Sol Duc River. The falls are just upstream of the bridge, and are one of the most unique and beautiful falls to be seen anywhere. Anyone fond of waterfalls should put this hike to the top of their list.
Spruce Nature Trail
Length
1.2 miles
Difficulty
Easy
Trailhead
Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
This hike begins next to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center, located near the end of the Hoh Road. It presents scenery similar to the famed Hall of Mosses Trail further up this page, but is a bit longer and more varied. It also provides easy, although informal, access to the Hoh River. Elk are commonly seen all through this area.
