Where To Stay- Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is nearly 1 million square miles. Where the hell is the best place to secure nightly lodging?

First, decide where you want to focus most of your visit. ONP is mostly comprised of

-Mountains

-Ocean

-Rainforest

MOUNTAINS | HURRICANE RIDGE

Port Angeles is the most obvious selection as it is where you’ll find the entrance/Visitor Center to Olympic National Park. There is direct access to Hurricane Ridge, remember to double-check their website before your trip as they often close this access road due to weather, or construction. The Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge, built in 1950, was in the final stages of a 10 million rehabilitation project when it burned down on May 7, 2023. You’re still able to drive up to the top, there are bathrooms, parking, and trash bins. You can help support the rebuild by donating to the Washington National Park Fund to help support with Fire Relief. Port Angeles also is where you can stock up on some groceries for your trip. Walmart and Safeway are great options. There’s also Country Aire which is similar to Trader Joe’s for more unique shopping options.

Port Angeles lodging has a nicer resort Olympic Lodge.

Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles

Olympic Lodge in Port Angeles

along with more typical hotels like the Red Lion. or Airbnb’s for some character. Lake Crescent

Lake Angeles Trail

Sometimes you head out with a specific intentions. Take today for example, I had plans to get 30 minutes of leisure walking on my typical hiking trail on Hurricane Ridge. It recently snowed on the mountain, the road to Hurricane Hill was closed. On a whim we decided to swing into the Lake Angeles trailhead since we had to flip around at the ranger station anyway. Quite the uphill incline, it will get your heart rate pumping for sure. Not undoable. Just 15 minutes to a pretty cool boulder to serve as a rest stop or photo op, although this is a semi narrow trail, the entire way up is picturesque enough for a snap or two at any point you want. Especially the first little stream crossing. Moss covered logs and babbling water shallow enough to tip toe through (depending on the time of year and rainfall.)

Pushing through those inclines are 10/10 worth it. The magic of these trees will envelope you in a soft mossy hug. A little chilly and damp after a rainfall makes the air crisp to breath at this altitude, but the air is so pure it only invigorates you.

Hurricane Hill

Drive up to the top of Hurricane Ridge, go as far into the parking lot as possible. follow the road over to the trailhead parking lot for a climb upward across the ridge.

Always check out the live view webcam from Hurricane Ridge so you know current conditions. The road up is often closed:

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.