Olympic Basecamp Tour
Seattle, WA
5.0 (2 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Pristine Rainforests
- Rugged Coastlines
- Waterfalls
- Wonderful Outdoor Cuisine
- Comfortable Beach Camping
- Fascinating Natural & Cultural History
Description
This Olympic National Park camping tour is an opportunity to hike and explore two lush, temperate rainforests and the exciting and rugged Pacific coastline of the Olympic Peninsula, while enjoying the comforts of a front-country basecamp right on the ocean. Each day brings new sights and adventures as we explore the old-growth forests, dramatic sea stacks, stunning blue-green rivers, ever-changing tide pools, and long stretches of sandy beach right at our campsite. You’ll be able to relax and let us take care of everything, so you can spend your time enjoying the sights of this unique region, photographing wild animals, searching for elusive banana slugs, identifying unique wild flowers, or simply relaxing on the beach.
Each morning we’ll set out on a variety of select day hikes to introduce you to several amazing ecosystems found in the Pacific Northwest, replete with cultural and natural history, endless views, and astounding biodiversity: glacier and snow-fed rivers and streams, towering western red cedar forests, steep sea cliffs carved by the ocean, whales, otters, bald eagles and more! In the afternoons, we’ll head back to our camp right along the Pacific Ocean to relax, enjoy a swim in the ocean, read a book on the beach, or go for a walk along the bluff. At night, we’ll enjoy a wonderful, outdoor meal as we watch the sun set over the ocean, and relax around a campfire as we recount our daily adventures.
$1455 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Our difficulty ratings are based on a scale of 1-5, tours with a rating of 1 being least difficult, tours with a rating of 5 being most difficult
- Backpack Weight:
- 10 pounds
- Daily Hiking Distances:
- 2-8 miles
- Most Elevation Loss:
- 1770 feet
- Most Elevation Gain:
- 1770 feet
- Quality of Trails:
- Well-maintained trails through the rainforests; the hikes along the beach are on soft, loose sand, hard-packed sand, or small rocks, depending on the tides; some rocks along the beach may be slippery as they are often wet and/or covered in algae or seaweed.
- Additional:
- Depending on the specific trails chosen by the guides, some short sections on the beach may require upper body strength for stabilizing or climbing over and around large boulders or climbing up and down steep headlands using fixed ropes. These sections are not required for any of the hikes, but are optional based on the interests and abilities of the group.
Participants should:
- be active and healthy
- exercise several times per week
- be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles per day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 10-pound backpack
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Olympic and Rainier hiking tour a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
The most common way to reach Olympia is by flying into Seattle and renting a vehicle or shuttling to Olympia (approximately 1 hour). SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma) Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Seattle.
The shuttle to Olympia is provided by Capital Aeroporter and costs $30-$45 per person each way. Go to www.capair.com/olympia or call 800-962-3579 to make reservations.
Washington State does not charge sales tax on services, so there is no sales tax for this trip.
All trips in Olympic National Park have a 3% fee required by the National Park Service. This fee is applied when your reservation is made and is passed through directly to the national park.
There are no other taxes or fees associated with this trip. Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
- 6-8 People: Rate x 1.25
- 9-12 People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to the trailhead: 3 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1770 feet
- Elevation Loss: 1770 feet
- Accommodations: Kalaloch Beach Campground
This multi-day Olympic National Park tour begins with pick up at your hotel in Olympia, and a scenic drive out to the Olympic Peninsula. We’ll head west through farmland and historic logging towns before reaching Lake Quinault and the amazing Quinault Rainforest, “Valley of the Giants.” This region is home to six conifer tress that are recognized as the largest living specimens of their species.
After following the East Fork Quinault River, we’ll leave the van behind to explore farther up the river valley on foot. We’ll gradually climb through towering Sitka Spruce trees, abundant moss, ferns, and wildflowers as we climb a small ridge. Here the trail quickly drops back down to rejoin the East Fork Quinault River where the blue-green waters cut through a narrow gorge. We’ll stop to enjoy the fantastic views as we cross Pony Bridge, eat a delicious picnic provided by your guide(s), and relax along this serene river.
Once we’ve had our fill exploring the rainforest, we’ll retrace our steps back to the van. We’ll continue our drive out to the Pacific Ocean and set up camp at our scenic campsite set on a small bluff overlooking the ocean.
Day 2
- Shuttle to Trailhead: varies (up to 1 hour each way)
- Hiking Mileage: 4-8 miles
- Elevation Gain: ~400 feet
- Elevation Loss: ~400 feet
- Accommodations: Kalaloch Beach Campground
On day 2, after a hearty breakfast at camp, we’ll set out for a day of exploration – this time of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. This stretch of protected coastline within Olympic National Park is home to some of the most pristine and untouched coastal areas in the U.S. Pounding waves, rugged cliffs, and towering sea stacks await, as well as tidal pools filled with marine life.
We’ll have time to play in the waves; hike along sandy and pebble-strewn beaches; soak up sweeping views; explore intimate tidal pools and keep a sharp eye out for large marine mammals. This area has something special for every taste!
Your guide will serve you a delicious lunch on the beach or trail, and we’ll round out our fun-filled day with a beach BBQ or gourmet dinner and a campfire while enjoying the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Day 3
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 1 hour
- Hiking Mileage: 4-6 miles
- Elevation Gain: minimal
- Elevation Loss: minimal
- Accommodations: Kalaloch Beach Campground
On Day 3, we’ll hop in the van after breakfast and head north towards the famous Hoh Rainforest. With over 140 inches of rain per year, this is one of the nation’s largest temperate rainforests, and includes ancient trees towering up to 300 feet in height, moss-draped nurse logs, incredible biodiversity, and abundant wildlife.
We’ll hike up the wild Hoh River and explore all that the rainforest has to offer. Elk, deer, black bears, bald eagles, fascinating banana slugs, and more await us as we investigate this incredible ecosystem. Immense cushions of moss absorb sounds, contributing to the Hoh River’s title as “The Quietest Place in the U.S.”
When we’ve had another gourmet trail lunch and our fill of hiking, we’ll make our way back to the trailhead and return to camp for our last dinner by the ocean.
Day 4
- Shuttle to Trailhead: 1 hour
- Hiking Mileage: 4+ miles
- Elevation Gain: minimal
- Elevation Loss: minimal
- Shuttle to Olympic: 3 hours
On our final day, we’ll pack up camp, and head north to the Quileute Indian Reservation and the village of La Push, WA. Just north of this tribal center and across the Quillayute River is Rialto Beach, where our hike takes us north along the ocean. We’ll keep our eyes out for whales, sea lions, otters, as well as eagles and other sea birds. Off-shore, waves crash against the beautiful sea stacks and small islands such as Gunsight Rock and James Island.
After a couple miles, we’ll reach the iconic Hole-in-the-Wall, a rocky arch carved out by the power of the waves crashing against the sea cliffs that once stood here. If the tide is low, we’ll be able to climb through the arch and explore the other side or use the overland trail to climb above the arch for sweeping views of the coastline.
We’ll enjoy a final picnic lunch, keep an eye out for any last wildlife sightings, and eventually arrive back to the car as we retrace our steps. A three hour drive will have us at your hotel in Olympia where we’ll say our goodbyes, knowing we’ve had an unforgettable 4 days!
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Olympic National Park hiking guide
- Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
- All entrance fees, permits and passes
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
- A Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and dependents to a discount of 10% off any Wildland hiking trip after your first one (must book directly with us to receive the discount)!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Olympia, WA.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry an emergency communication device. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on Olympic backpacking trips is 6 guests and 1 guide, with a maximum of 10 guests and 2 guides. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in Olympic National Park
This trip covers a diversity of terrain from seashores to rainforests. The weather will be largely dependent on which ecosystem you’re hiking in at the moment, so it’s best to be prepared for a range of temperatures and conditions. Read below for average high and low temperatures in different parts of the Pacific Northwest:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Coast
|
Rainforest
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
May
|
61°
|
44°
|
5.8 in
|
63°
|
45°
|
4.9 in
|
||
|
June
|
65°
|
49°
|
3.8 in
|
67°
|
48°
|
3.9 in
|
||
|
July
|
68°
|
52°
|
2.8 in
|
74°
|
51°
|
2.1 in
|
||
|
August
|
69°
|
52°
|
2.8 in
|
75°
|
52°
|
2.2 in
|
||
|
September
|
66°
|
49°
|
4.4 in
|
69°
|
49°
|
4.7 in
|
||
Accommodations
Premier Campgrounds
3 NIGHTS
On our signature camping tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
Fantastic Meals
11 MEALS
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
Comfortable Camping
CAMPING AMENITIES
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Reviews
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Yolanda H
Great experience!
My trip was a great experience! Knowledgeable, friendly guide and beautiful hikes.
Heather C
Phenomenal Experience!
Phenomenal! Bravo to Guy and Jen for guiding us on this beautiful tour. Food was five star every meal and area knowledge was encyclopedic. Guy and Jen (and Frankie!) come highly recommended!!
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