Best Times to Visit Olympic

BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR BACKPACKING

Summer is the best time of year for backpacking in the Olympic Peninsula—since it is the driest season of the year, and most of snow has melted from higher elevations. Trails are open to the high country since the snow has typically melted by May and June, and trails through the rainforest are even more lush after the wet spring. It is also ideal in the summer because it is warm during the day and mild in the evening—perfect weather for sleeping under the stars. Make sure you are familiar with how to obtain backcountry permits so you can get the sites you want.Since the weather is best this time of year, backpacking is a very popular activity. With many visitors vying for the same backcountry campsites, it may be more difficult to obtain the itinerary that you have in mind. By choosing to go on a guided backpacking trip with Wildland Trekking, you are choosing to let the company plan all the logistics, so you can fully enjoy the trip without any of the stress of planning it.

BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR FISHING

You can argue that Olympic National Park is actually three parks in one, with the mountains, rainforest and coastline. Each of these environments support a unique habitat for it’s fish populations. If you are looking to fish in the mountain region of Olympic National Park, you will be fishing some of the best rainbow trout in western Washington. Lake Crescent was isolated after a landslide thousands of year ago, so it supports an environment for two entirely unique species—the Crescenti and Beardslee trout. Fishing is ideal in these areas of the park in spring and summer.The Elwha River has recently been restored to it’s native state, both dams removed by 2004—now, it is home to a large Coho salmon population. The best time to catch a salmon is in the fall, when they use the river as a highway to reach the coast for spawning. Steelhead and trout also live in the Elwha River, and the summer is the best time for fishing these species.If you are looking to fish in the rainforest regions of the park, you will be fishing Winter steelhead. While they are called “Winter” steelhead, they are actually best catch in the spring. The rainforest can experience up to 50 inches of rain in the winter, so waiting until spring lets the water warm up, making the fish more aggressive and more likely for you to catch one.And lastly, if you are looking to fish along the coast, you will be trying to catch Cutthroat trout, Redtail surfperch and rockfish. Summer and fall are ideal for fishing along the coast. Make sure you are up-to-date on the park’s fishing regulations. You are not required to have a Washington State recreational fishing permit, unless you are fishing on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. However, you are required to carry a Washington State catch record card when fishing steelhead and salmon.

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BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR BOATING

Boating is a very popular activity in Olympic National Park—the rivers provide great opportunity for whitewater rafting or kayaking, and Lake Ozette and Lake Crescent provide excellent opportunities for stillwater kayaking, canoeing or paddleboarding. The best time for boating in the park is late-spring to early-fall. Typically, by the end of spring, the amount of precipitation has decreased, and the weather is warm during the day; this weather pattern typically lasts into the beginning of fall. The weather can change drastically and without warning, and the temperature can range 10 to 20 degrees between the coast and the mountains.Lake Ozette has many backcountry campsites along the shore, so if you are interested in a multi-day canoe or kayak trip, you can obtain backcountry permits and camp along the shore and beneath the mountains. Also, Lake Crescent offers kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals.

BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR SIGHTSEEING

The best time of year for sightseeing in Olympic National Park is spring through fall. This time of year is ideal because the rainforests can experience up to 50 inches of rain in the winter, and by late spring, the landscape is lush and vibrant with life. Also, the mountains can see a considerable amount of snow during the winter, and by late spring, most of it has melted from the high country, giving you access to incredible vistas of the Olympic Range. Late spring typically sees a decrease in overall precipitation, so you are able to enjoy all aspects of the park. And, the rainy season begins again in fall, but if you are there early enough in the season, it is still a wonderful time to sightsee in the park.

BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING

There are 56 species of mammals and over 300 species of birds in Olympic National Park. When you visit and where you are in the park determines which wildlife you will be able to watch. Below are the best times of year to view the most common wildlife in the Olympic Peninsula:

Migratory marine mammals: The Olympic Coast offers many great locations to view the whale migration in spring (April-May) and summer (October-November). Among the best whale-watching locations are Kalaloch, Rialto and Shi Shi Beach. The following are some of the whale species you may be lucky enough to see, and the best seasons to see their migration: Orca whale—best seen in summer and fall; Gray whale—spring and fall; Humpback whale—fall; Harbor porpoise—summer.

Roosevelt elk: Seen throughout the year, Roosevelt elk have very versatile habitats, living in montane forests and meadows, as well as rainforests. Hoh Rainforest is an especially common place to view elk, since there is a great source of food for them. September is when the mating season, known as the rut, begins for elk; this time of year is characterized by bull elk with spectacular antlers fighting to win or defend their harem of female elk, called cows.

Olympic marmot: This charismatic species of marmot is found nowhere else in the world besides the Olympic Peninsula. They are often seen on alpine trails, near Hurricane Ridge, nuzzling, chirping and playing together. Since marmots hibernate in the winter, the best time to see them is in the summer.

Mountain goats: Introduced to the Olympic Peninsula in the 1920s, mountain goats are often seen on alpine trails, along Hurricane Ridge. Their mating season goes from October to December, and they put on quite a show. Use caution around mountain goats; they have become accustomed to humans, so they will let you approach them, but then the can use their horns as a defense mechanism if they feel threatened.

Birds: There are over 300 species of birds that live in Olympic National Park. The Audubon Society is a great resource and contains a field guide of all the birds in Olympic. Here you can find out the habitat of each bird, as well as it’s behaviors and other characteristics, and seasonal patterns.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO AVOID THE CROWDS

Fall and winter are the best times of year to avoid the crowds. Summer is, by far, the busiest season, but as the weather starts to turn into the rainy time of year, the crowds begin to disappear. Although fall and winter may not hold the best weather, there are ways to enjoy the park even with all the precipitation:

– Fall colors come to life starting in October, bringing drastic reds, oranges and yellows to the usual green landscape.

– With over 3,500 miles of streams and rivers, and over 10,000 waterfalls, the massive amount of precipitation turns these into spectacles of rushing waterfalls and rapidly-flowing rivers.

– Even when the rain does fall, the thick canopy in the rainforest protects the ground and trails from getting drenched.

– The moody weather at the coast creates an idyllic environment—perfect for photography.

– Hit the slopes at Hurricane Ridge—where you can go from sea to summit in just seventeen miles.

– Enjoy the quiet of this incredible park without the crowds!

However, if you can only make it to Olympic National Park in the summer, you can still experience tranquility and be able to escape the crowds. Here are some tips for visiting in summer:

– Arrive early; the earlier you rise and hit the trail, the more of it you will have to yourself before others show up. And the earlier you are out and about, the better are your chances of seeing wildlife.

– Have an agenda, this way you are not crisscrossing through the park. You can look at the park’s mileage chart for distance and time between each area of the park.

– Be flexible; know that it may be crowded, parking lots may fill up and there may be long lines at entrance stations. You can check out the park’s webcams for it’s most popular destinations.

– Visit more off-the-beaten-path areas of the park like Deer Valley and the Quinault Valley.

Join a Guided Hiking Adventure

Olympic National Park is home to some of the most epic and amazing hiking vacations in the world. Wildland Trekking offers trips with the best of Olympic: the coast, the mountains, wildlife, solitude, adventure and fascinating natural and cultural interpretation.Guided Olympic National Park treks are all-inclusive which covers permits, local transportation (excluded on certain tours), meals, equipment, safety systems, and professional hiking/wilderness guides; all of which allows visitors to maximize their time in Olympic and focus entirely on enjoying the Park.

OLYMPIC ADVENTURE TOURS

• GUIDED BACKPACKING ADVENTURES: these are for people interested in an authentic Olympic National Park adventure away from the roads and crowds.
• INN-BASED HIKING PACKAGES: these tours are all-inclusive packages with lodging, amazing daily hikes, expert guides, meals, transportation and more!
• CAMPING-BASED HIKING PACKAGES: camping-based hiking packages provide all-around hiking experiences of the Olympic Coast on wonderful outdoor vacations.
• DAY HIKE TOURS: maximize your day in Olympic National Park on a fully guided, award-winning hiking tour on one of the Park’s best trails.