Note: This article contains affiliate links where I make a super small percentage that helps support this platform. With that, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Olympic National Park is beautiful area with a land of extreme diversity. What makes it most unique is that it features three distinct ecosystems: glacier-capped mountains, temperate rainforests, and wild coastline within one park. A fun fact is that it contains some of the quietest spots in America, like the "One Square Inch of Silence" and has lush, temperate rain forests like the famous Hoh rainforest.

The park is nearly one million acres, specifically around 922,651 acres (373,397 hectares) or about 1,442 square miles. There is so much to see and explore that a few days isn’t enough (I am already planning to go back) but here is a mini itinerary with some must dos if you’re planning to visit.

Best time to go visit Olympic National Park

This is dependent on what your preference is but late summer I find is most ideal. I went in mid-September and the weather was perfect. It was sunny and not too hot which made it ideal for hiking. Though in the evenings and especially at night, it did get rather cold that jackets were necessary.

Here are some pros and cons depending on the season:

Summer (June-September) offers warm, dry weather for accessing all areas. Making it best for alpine hikes.

Late spring (May-June) and early fall (September-October) provide lush rainforests and fewer crowds. In the spring you can see vibrant wildflowers and in the fall, you’ll get beautiful, fall foliage.

Where to stay at Olympic National Park

With Olympic National Park being such a vast area. Driving to all the different spots did take on average 30 minutes to an hour. So that is something to keep in mind when planning where you’d like to stay.

I stayed at the Owl’s Nest in Sequim, Washington. This was a beautiful and unique stay in the trees but with all the luxuries of a home. The location was idyllic, making it easy to go everywhere that I wanted to go.

I stayed in this beautiful tree house. Photo by Vegan Ventures

I also loved that Owl’s Nest is part of Oly Coast NW, a woman-owned business in the national park area. They have many other properties in the area to choose from that are cozy and make the perfect place to relax after a long day of exploring.

The inside of the Owl’s Nest was a fully furnished studio. Along with a bathroom, kitchentte, seating area, and balcony.

Day 1

Breakfast at Atomic Bagels in Port Angeles.

Vegan breakfast sandwich at Atomic Bagels was super tasty! It’s their Sun in my Mouth sandwich.

This is a cool spot in the city center that has great vegan options and is woman-owned. Perfect way to fuel yourself before your big hike at Klahane Ridge Trail. Also note, I found Port Angeles to be the most vegan friendly city in the national park.

Check out all the places I ate at in Port Angeles on Youtube.

Hike Klahane Ridge Trail

I was in awe of the views once reaching the top.

This is an intense hike as once you reach the summit, it is at around 6,050 feet but it is 100% worth it for the view! I did the shortest and most direct route which is Switchback Trail. This trail has you gaining 1,500 feet in 1.5 miles. Once you reach the top, you get 360-degree views of the Olympic Mountains, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and even Vancouver Island. There’s many spots at the top to sit and take it all in.

If you’re feeling adventurous and if you are capable, you can continue. In the summer, you can see wildflowers and this trail is a great site to see wildlife if you’re lucky. So beware of your surroundings and be sure to bring sunscreen!

You do need a National Park Pass or an America The Beautiful annual pass to park.

You get 360 views at the top of Klahane Ridge Trail via the Switchback trail.

Dinner in Port Townsend

Port Townsend could be its own getaway as it is a city that has preserved its stunning 19th-century architecture, making it one of three Victorian seaports in the U.S. with two National Historic Landmark Districts. It's known for its maritime focus and its arts scene. There’s a lot to explore that I found an evening there was not enough.

While I was there, the Port Townsend Film Festival was happening. Local theaters were showing films from the festival and there was even a free showing of the movie Grease in the streets. If you’re into cinema, I suggest to plan a trip around the festival.

For dinner, I highly recommend Tommyknocker's Cornish Pasty. They are very vegan friendly and have clearly marked vegan menu items. A Port Townsend staple!

Outside of Tommyknocker's Cornish Pasty — Tommyknocker’s in Port Townsend, they have a vegan friendly menu.

Day 2

Breakfast at your stay before heading off to…

Hoh Rainforest

A trip to Olympic National Park wouldn’t be complete without going to the Hoh Rainforest. It is a world-renowned, lush temperate rainforest known for its massive old-growth trees like the Sitka Spruce and Red Cedar. There’s also an abundance of mosses, ferns, as well as frequent rain (that goes up to 140+ inches/year). Though I did not experience rain when I went in mid-September. The Hoh Rainforest is one of the best-preserved examples of its kind and is must!

Because I was staying in Sequim, this was about an hour drive east to get to.

You do need tickets to enter the Hoh Rainforest. You can do so online in advance, which is highly recommended. Especially if you’re going during peak season (summer season). But you can also purchase in-person at the gate (no cash), which is what I did. I got very lucky that I only waited about 20 -30 minutes in line (yes, in my car) before being able to enter and especially since I didn’t arrive early as it’s recommended. It is recommended to arrive before 10am in the summer to avoid the long line as much as possible.

Tickets per vehicle is $30 and the pass will last you 7 days.

There’s also an option for walk/bike which is $15 per person. Or you can use an America The Beautiful annual pass.

**Note: If you buy your pass online, you HAVE to print it out and show the voucher at the gate.

Many of the trees reach over 200 feet tall, with some giants exceeding 300 feet!

Once you’ve entered the rainforest, there are many trails to explore. The most famous is the Hall of Mosses. It is a a short and easy loop. Only 0.8 miles (1.1 miles if you add in the mini trail) and has an elevation gain of about 100 feet. It is famous because of the massive old-growth trees that are completely draped in vibrant green mosses and ferns. While it is beautiful to see, it did feel a bit crowded walking through the trail since it is a popular trail with up to 2,500 people walking it EVERYDAY.

Another popular trail is the Spruce Nature Trail. A 1.2-mile loop that combines river views with rainforest ecology.

For food, there is a cafe just as you enter/exit the Hoh Rainforest. They had some vegan options like a grilled peanut & butter jelly sandwich (it was pretty good too but it’s hard to mess up a PBJ) and other snacks. I would advise to pack your own lunch as other options are slim if you’re looking to eat out.

Lake Crescent

This was another huge highlight from my trip as Lake Crescent is absolutely stunning! It is famous for its incredibly clear, deep blue water (up to 624 ft deep!), thanks to low nitrogen levels that prevent algae growth. This makes it perfect for snorkeling and swimming in spots like Devil's Punchbowl. It was also sculpted by glaciers, which makes it a valley filled with water and it is beautiful to look at.

To enjoy I brought up my paddle board. I stopped at the lake on the way back from the Hoh Rainforest (this made the most sense since I was staying in Sequim). I parked my car and took my paddle board to the shore. There was also a dock there as well.

While I was able to enjoy the lake, I would’ve loved another full day at Olympic National Park to enjoy Lake Crescent. It is over 11 miles long and is great place to enjoy water activities.

You do need a National Park Pass or you can use an America The Beautiful annual pass.

Dinner In Port Angeles

Before heading back to Sequim where I was staying, I went back to Port Angeles since it was on the way back. I went to Yodelin Broth Company. They had a few vegan options but the soup I got was absolutely delicious and perfect for a cold evening. I got their Hollywood broth soup which had a coconut carrot ginger lime broth, rice noodles roasted red pepper, peanuts, organic kale and topped with radish, Thai basil, and mint.

The vegan Hollywood soup bowl — The Hollywood soup broth.

For dessert, I went to wharf where you’ll find Well'y’s Real Fruit Ice Cream. It is New Zealand-style ice cream where they take vanilla ice cream as the base and blend it with your choice of frozen fruit. They have a vegan vanilla option and they even switched out the machine when I said I am vegan. Within the wharf, there is also an arcade, gallery, and other businesses to enjoy and its right on the port as well, which gives you views of the water.

Check out all the places I ate at in Port Angeles on Youtube.