
How to Spend the Weekend in the Olympic National Park
Are you ready for an incredible weekend with foggy scenes, moss covered trees, waterfalls and pristine lakes? I am here to share with you how to spend the weekend in the Olympic National Park.
If you’d rather spend more time playing and less time driving, keep reading for the best way to experience an adventurous winter weekend in the northern section of Olympic National Park. While you can’t see all of the park in just one weekend—especially in winter with the shorter days—there’s still so much to explore in this section alone.

This itinerary is a a la carte of things to do and see. The order in which you do them can vary depending on time, daylight, and accommodation location. Definitely mix and match to suit your needs!
Getting There
Seattle/ Puget Sound Area to Port Angeles
Getting to Port Angeles, the gateway to the northern Olympic National Park, usually means hopping on a ferry. But who doesn’t love a good ferry ride? It’s the perfect classic PNW start to your weekend and should definitely be on every adventurer’s bucket list.
You’ve got two options: take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge and drive up to the park, or catch the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston and drive from there.

The ferry schedules for Edmonds >> Kingston HERE or for Seattle >> Bainbridge HERE.
The crossing time from Seattle >> Bainbridge is 35 minutes with a drive time of 1 1/2 hours to Port Angeles. From Edmonds >> Kingston the crossing is 30 minutes with a drive time of 1 1/4 hours to Port Angeles.

First Day – How to Spend a weekend in the Olympic National Park
Arrive in Port Angeles
Port Angeles is the gateway to the northern section of the Olympic National Park where you will find the most accommodations. It’s a cute town with some tasty restaurants, a little shopping and a great place to pick up anything you might have forgotten.
Now that you are in Port Angeles your daylight hours might be limited, especially in the winter. But no worries! Here are two options for getting outside before the sun sets, so you can still enjoy some adventure before heading to Port Angeles for dinner.
Spruce Railroad Trail to the Devils Punchbowl
With a little more time, head over to Lake Crescent and definitely check out the Spruce Railroad Trail. It’s an easy, mostly paved trail that hugs the edge of the lake. While the entire trail is 11.2 miles, you’ll start getting beautiful lake views after just half a mile. If you have the time, I highly recommend making it all the way to Devil’s Punchbowl—it’s totally worth it, I promise!

Salt Creek Recreation Area
If you are short on time, there is a beautiful gem of a place right outside of Port Angeles worth checking out called Salt Creek Recreational Area. Although it isn’t a part of the Olympic National Park, it gives all the same feels. It is a scenic park offering stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, tide pools and lush forested trails.
Its much closer to reach and you can really walk as little as you like along the beach or even check out some tide pools. Since this itinerary doesn’t cover the coast of the Olympic National Park, this is a great more local substitute.



Grab Dinner In Port Angeles
If you are looking for a relaxed vibe, good food and some local beer check out The Nextdoor Gastro Pub in downtown Port Angeles. You can check them out HERE.
Second Day – How to Spend a weekend in the Olympic National Park
Go for a hike up Mt. Storm King.
This classic PNW hike is a mildly challenging 4 miles but so worth it for the views. This hike starts out in the most beautiful forest and eventually opens up to see mountains all around you. The trail officially ends before you get to the top, but you can continue. Just to note, there are a few sections that require holding on to existing ropes that require a bit of attention. And might seem scary but just go slow. For me the toughest spot is the final stretch to the lookout on what feels like a skinny ridge of rock.
But the views are 1000% worth it. The sweeping views over Lake Crescent and the surrounding mountains will leave you speechless. It’s an iconic hike that might even already be on your bucket list.


Hike to Marymere Falls
A beautiful 2-mile hike through lush rainforest leads you to Marymere Falls. The trail offers a similar vibe to the Hall of Mosses, with its moss-covered trees and rich rainforest atmosphere. This hike is pretty much accessible to all skill levels.
The hike shares the same trailhead as Mount Storm King, and I highly recommend doing both if you are up for it.


Visit the National Park Lodge on Lake Crescent
Check out Lake Crescent Lodge – Relax by the fire, grab a meal, a hot drink or just enjoy the view from the dock. Did you know that in the winter months, Lake Crescent Lodge has a 2 Nighs for the price of 1 deal? In fact, all of the National Park Lodges that are in the ONP do, including Lake Quinault.
Lake Crescent Lodge features quaint cabins, a cozy living room with stone fireplace, kayaks for rent and a stellar view of Lake Crescent.
They have an unusual winter schedule (both dining + lodging) so please be sure to sure to check their website before visiting. You can see it HERE.


Dinner in Port Angeles
Grab dinner in Port Angeles at dinner at Spruce in Port Angeles. (Or one of the many delicious restaurants) You can check out their menu HERE.
Third Day – How to Spend a weekend in the Olympic National Park
Visit Madison Falls
Grab coffee and head to Madison Falls – A quick .2-mile walk to a pretty waterfall. The entire valley and road to the falls is beautiful. Very quintessential Pacific Northwest!

Head up on Hurricane Ridge
For your last afternoon, I cant say enough about Hurricane Ridge. The scenic drive up to Hurricane Ridge alone is incredible. In the winter the road is only open Friday – Sunday and Holiday Mondays. They also open the road the two weeks around Christas and New Years. They will also close the road if there is too much snow. Be sure to check HERE before driving up.

Once you’re up there, the views are absolutely breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see for miles, with stunning vistas of the sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Check out the hike to Hurricane Hill for the perfect winter snowshoe or ski.
For those seeking more thrill, the ski area offers downhill skiing and snowboarding on its well-maintained slopes. If you’re looking for some lighter fun, you can also go tubing or sledding on the snow, making it a perfect destination for all kinds of winter adventures.


A few options for the last afternoon
Depending on how much time you have you here are a few options of things to do for your last afternoon:
Visit Salt Creek Recreation Area if you didn’t get a chance on the way in.
If you want to drive back into the park, you could check out Kloshe Nanitch lookout. If it’s clear, the views are outstanding and you can get to this lookout by car or hike.
Another popular spot that is on the far end of this trip (halfway to the coast) is Sol Duc Falls. Its amazingly beautiful but often the road closes in the winter turning it into a 14 mile hike. If you are early season winter, there is a chance it could still be open. If it is, I highly recommend you add it into this itinerary!
Are your bags packed?