Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park protects nearly one million acres of wilderness on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, encompassing three distinct ecosystems: temperate rainforest, wild Pacific coastline, and glaciated mountains. The park preserves the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States, with some trees exceeding 300 feet in height and 1,000 years in age. This incredible diversity within a single park creates unique opportunities to experience dramatically different environments within short distances. The park's isolation has led to the evolution of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, including the Olympic marmot, Olympic torrent salamander, and unique varieties of trout. The temperate rainforests receive up to 14 feet of rain annually, creating lush ecosystems dominated by Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and Douglas fir. Along 73 miles of wild coastline, sea stacks, tide pools, and beaches provide habitat for marine mammals, seabirds, and intertidal life. Olympic implements ecosystem-based management strategies including watershed protection, wildlife corridor preservation, and climate change monitoring. The park manages 3 million annual visitors through wilderness permits, campground reservations, and sustainable infrastructure. Research programs focus on glacier monitoring, rainforest ecology, and marine ecosystem health while restoration efforts target river systems and native species recovery.

Water Features

Pacific Ocean, Sol Duc River, Hoh River, Alpine lakes

Ecosystem

This destination features a coastal & marine ecosystem.