Hiking: There are over 800 miles of trails that will take you through pristine old growth temperate rainforests, up mountain ridges and highland meadows where you can walk on 15,000 year old glaciers. Fish for trout in mountain lakes, then hike down to the Olympic or Sol Duc hot springs to ease your weary bones. The variety of ecosystems virtually boggles the mind. Go from ocean tide pools and sea stacks (there is whale watching in the spring and fall) into the rainforest along aqua green glacial rivers then up to mountain passes where sub alpine meadows and glaciers exist. In the rain shadow of the Olympic Range you will find desert-like conditions where cacti grow on mountain sides. Along the coast of Olympic National Park you will find 90 miles of pristine ocean beaches where you can hike, camp, fish and find solitude in the Olympic Coast Marine sanctuary.
Olympic National Park summer activities: Guided hikes and campfire talks are given daily at both the Hoh Rainforest and Kalaloch Beach areas. There are two hikes that range between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours given daily at 10 AM and 2 PM where interpretive rangers talk about the rain forest ecosystems at the Hoh Rainforest. At Beach number 4 an interpretive ranger meets people at low tide to talk about tide pools and the ecosystems of the coastal strip.
Note there is a $10.00 entrance fee (good for 7 days at all entrances) that is collected at some Olympic National Park locations from May to September. There is no entrance fee for the coastal strip.
Wildlife: Animals, birds and fish abound in the park. Along the coast you can spot whales moving to and from their calving grounds in the spring and fall. Sea otters, seals and a multitude of sea birds are often seen along the secluded beaches of the coastal strip. In the forest elk, deer, cougar, black bear, golden and bald eagles, woodpeckers and a multitude of creatures great and small abound.