Olympic National Park itinerary 5 days

My wife and I have finally settled on making a trip to Olympic National Park from the 18th-22rd of October after hearing many good things about the beauty around this time. We know ONP is massive, and we love easy to moderate hikes, exploring and photography. We generally prefer to stay inside the park, if possible. So we are planning a couple of days at theLake Crescent Lodge and a couple of days at Kalaloch Lodge so we can cover at least a few areas of the park. Do you guys think 5 days would satisfy us?

Before ONP, we would be spending a couple of days in either Seattle or Portland. We're both laid back, musical, outdoorsy types - and basically enjoy hippie things without actually being stereotypical hippies. Would Seattle or Portland be better for us to stay in? Also - which drive is easier: Seattle - ONP or Portland - ONP? I have 14 years of driving experience in India (driving a manual) and can tackle most roads.

Thank you all for helping out with this decision, and we're really excited to do our bookings and get going now!

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glaciermeadows

Poulsbo, Washington

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1. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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Yes you can handle the driving. I would not say that driving from either city is easier, although in some waysPortland is easier, except that Seattle is closer. Neither City has much of a hippie vibe anymore. Most real hippies are my age and older and left the cities long ago for the countryside. Portland has a bit more of that feel, but again nothing like it used to have. Lake Crescent Lodge is a good choice. Bring rain gear as it could be wet and it will be cool. Personally I would choose Lake Quinault Lodge over Kalaloch. An historic Lodge with an historic feel. Also far more trails in a relatively small area into its gorgeous Rainforest. Far better and far more opportunities for photography than Kalaloch. I always bring my camera when in Olympic. We had a record high temperature yesterday at Hurricane Ridge and I took a ton of photos. Green Rainforests, waterfalls and taking shots of wildlife make Quinault the perfect place with a camera. Again keep in mind it can be wet and grey, but still great contrast with the green of forest. Make sure you visit the Hoh Rainforest also.

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kaleberg

Port Angeles, WA

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for Olympic National Park

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2. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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I agree thatLake Quinault Lodge is a much better choice than Kalaloch. I have stayed at Kalaloch Lodge twice and enjoyed it, but it is somewhat far from the best hiking trails, and you would be completely dependent on the lodge for all food and services. If you do decide on KL, book either the Marcy or the Overleigh cabin. They are far and away the best of the lot. Some of the other cabins are a bit dark and musty.

I think 5 days are plenty in late October. In the west and south of the park it will be cool to cold and quite wet, so bring wool and a waterproof shell along with a hat. In the north, especially east of Lake Crescent Lodge, you will be in a rain shadow, so your chances of dry weather are better. The driest areas are likely to be Hurricane Ridge and the Elwha Valley, both of which have great trails.

Days will be short, although, fortunately, it's still before the loss of Daylight Savings Time. Your greatest driving challenge will be the necessary, but awful, road construction around the park. The worst is the huge project on Lake Crescent. It has to be done, but, wow, is it a time sink for drivers.

I think Glaciermeadows has summed up Portland and Seattle's vanished hippiedom well. Seattle is now the antithesis of hippie. It is a city both benefiting from and struggling with a tidal wave of wealth creation and development. It's stimulating, and the city has become more cosmopolitan and intellectually sophisticated (the University of Washington is on a real tear), but the old days of Grunge are long, long gone. Portland is struggling in a different way, but it's not the bastion of the counterculture it used to be.

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Rishit T

Mumbai, India

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3. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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Thank you glaciermeadows and kaleberg for all this information.

So I take it that it would be good to stay atLake Crescent Lodge to see that area - including Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc and Elwha. And you have both suggested Lake Quinault Lodge instead of Kalaloch.

My only motivation for staying in Kalaloch Lodge was because it seemed closer to the Hoh Rainforest and the beaches. Am I mistaken, or is access to both these areas easy from Lake Quinault Lodge as well?

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glaciermeadows

Poulsbo, Washington

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4. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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People often want to stay at Kalaloch, because it is closer to the LaPush Beaches and the Hoh. I still think that Quinault is a better place to stay. It is surrounded by Rainforest. The Hoh is more isolated. The beaches ofRuby and Beach Four are only 30 miles North. I just do not see Kalaloch as Central even though it looks so in relation to the Hoh and The LaPush Beaches. If you want to be closer to the Hoh and the LaPush Beaches stay near Forks. Forget about staying in a National Park Lodge. Look at Oceanside Resort, Quilleyute River Resort or one of the two BandB's in Forks. Also look at a cabin with a kitchen at Huckleberry Lodge.

Staying at Kalaloch is not a bad idea, I just think that being close to Quinault's trails and in a classic Lodge makes more sense. Your decision. Again if it were me I would hit the Hoh Rainforest on my way to Quinault. By the 18th you could see more rain and cool weather. For that reason I would prefer to be in the forest and not on the Coast.

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vcv

Tennessee

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5. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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I'm just back from my first visit to ONP.

My first 2 nights were atLake Quinault Lodge and I loved it. The lodge is actually in the national forest rather than park but the trails were in near perfect shape and accessible from your doorstep. I had a fireplace room with a window view of the grounds and lake. It was the only type of room available when I booked and is in an annex rather than the main building, but I think I'd choose it over the busier main building. On my way to Port Angeles, I stopped at the Hoh rainforest area and walked the popular loop and part of the river trail. It's a lovely area, but I actually preferred Quinault. The receptionist at my P.A. hotel said she did too.If I could re-do my trip, I'd spend the time I took for Hoh in the Hurricane Ridge area, which is spectacular. Enjoy your trip.

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vcv

Tennessee

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6. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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I'm just back from my first visit to ONP.

My first 2 nights were atLake Quinault Lodge and I loved it. The lodge is actually in the national forest rather than park but the trails were in near perfect shape and accessible from your doorstep. I had a fireplace room with a window view of the grounds and lake. It was the only type of room available when I booked and is in an annex rather than the main building, but I think I'd choose it over the busier main building. On my way to Port Angeles, I stopped at the Hoh rainforest area and walked the popular loop and part of the river trail. It's a lovely area, but I actually preferred Quinault. The receptionist at my P.A. hotel said she did too.If I could re-do my trip, I'd spend the time I took for Hoh in the Hurricane Ridge area, which is spectacular. Enjoy your trip.

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glaciermeadows

Poulsbo, Washington

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7. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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The Hoh is far more remote and has a different feel than Lake Quinault. You really can not compare the two especially if you are only doing short nature trails. One should not only limit themselves to the National Forest if they have the time and truly want to hike in the Quinault Valley. The Quinault Rainforest within the National Park is much more wild like the Hoh and even more beautiful than the trails close to the Lake.

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vcv

Tennessee

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8. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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I guess I hiked 15 to 20 miles near Quinault Lodge, which was as much as I had time for. I was in arental car and the nearby areas I saw on my map for the national park appeared to have unpaved roads, which would have voided the rental agreement. I would have enjoyed walking farther on the Hoh River Trail if I'd had time, but the short tourist loop at Hoh didn't seem so different from Quinault. But I'm not a botanist--amateur or otherwise. I do wish I'd had more than a few hours at Hurricane Ridge. In retrospect, with only 3 days for the Olympic Peninsula, I should probably have stayed at Quinault. But it is very hard to know precisely what to plan for a totally new area. A second visit would be easy!

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glaciermeadows

Poulsbo, Washington

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9. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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Try it again. Both Rainforests do get far better the further in you get and of course Quinault's National Park Boundary is obviously designated National Park for a reason. The two Rainforests are very diffferent from each other. No visitor is of course going to notice a big difference in one visit. That is why the more time one has for a Park as huge and diversified as Olympic the better. We spent a full day just atHurricane Ridge last week, and oh what a day it was. Glorious. Same goes with a full day up the Hoh last week. saw lots of elk and walked aways to loose the crowds.

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Rishit T

Mumbai, India

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10. Re: 5 days in ONP

5 years ago

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Hi everyone!

Thank you for so much great advice. I think we finally have something planned out. Could I have some opinions on how this sounds? We are starting on the 18th of October and thinking of making the long drive fromPortland all the way up to Lake Crescent Lodge (4.5 - 5 hours) and then moving down the coast and ending at Lake Quinault Lodge so that the drive back on the 22nd would be just over 3 hours.

18th: Leave Portland very early morning to get to Lake Crescent Lodge. We can spend the day exploring around Lake Crescent and Sol Duc.

19th: Spend the day hiking at Hurricane Ridge (great idea to spend a lot of time here, as it looks stunning), and maybe whatever we missed around Lake Crescent and Sol Duc.

20th: Leave and visit Rialto Beach, Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach and Kalaloch beach all day - reach Lake Quinault Lodge by evening.

21st & 22nd: Explore Lake Quinault Area and Rainforest.

Please give me your thoughts on this itinerary, and any advice on some good trails - especially in the Quinault Rainforest - would be very helpful too.

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