Olympic National Park is a national park in the United States that is located on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. The park is divided into four sections: the Pacific coast, alpine highlands, temperate rainforest on the west side, and drier east side forests. The park is divided among three ecosystems: subalpine forest and wildflower meadow, temperate forest, and the rough Pacific coast. Olympic National Park’s mission is to preserve a large wilderness park containing the finest sample of the primeval forest of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Douglas fir, and western red cedar in the entire United States for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the people; to provide suitable winter range and permanent protection for the herds of native Roosevelt elk and other wildlife indigenous to the area. This remarkable alpine area, with multiple glaciers and everlasting snowfields, as well as a piece of the surrounding green forests and a narrow strip of the picturesque Washington coast, would be conserved and made available to the people for recreational use.
Entrances and how to reach Olympic National Park
By Car
Olympic National Park is accessible via the I-5 corridor or one of the calmer state highways. Connect to Hwy 101 after you arrive on the Olympic Peninsula to reach many destinations in and surrounding Olympic National Park.
- Olympia, Greece I-5 to Highway 101
- Tacoma, Washington Take State Route 16 to Bremerton; from Bremerton, take State Route 3 north to State Route 104; be careful that State Route 104 crosses the Hood Canal Bridge, which is closed for boat traffic on a regular basis.
- Connect to Highway 101 in Aberdeen from the Washington/Oregon Coast.
By Ferry
The Olympic Peninsula is accessible via Puget Sound via the Washington State Ferries system, which has a number of routes. There are various port options on the approach to Olympic National Park that will bring you across the sound and onto the peninsula.
- Arriving in Port Townsend, take State Route 20 to Highway 101.
- When you arrive in Kingston, take State Route 104 to Highway 101.
- From State Routes 305, 7, and 104, visitors to Bainbridge Island can access Highway 101. Be advised that State Route 104 passes via the Hood Canal Bridge, which closes for boat traffic on a regular basis.
The Coho Ferry, operated by Black Ball Ferry Line, may take you to Victoria, British Columbia. This ferry connects Port Angeles and Victoria, British Columbia, on a daily basis, and offers spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains.
By Bus
Olympic Bus Lines operates the Dungeness Bus Line, a commercial bus service that serves the Greater Puget Sound area. From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Dungeness Bus line runs to Kingston, Edmonds, Discovery Bay, Sequim, and Port Angeles.
Clallam Transit System operates a bus line in Clallam County that serves Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks, as well as major Olympic National Park locations along Highway 101’s northern side.
By Air
Sea-Tac International Airport and Victoria International Airport service the Greater Puget Sound region.