Top 4 Best Day Hiking Trails In Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park packs rainforest, alpine ridges, coastal cliffs, and glacier-fed lakes into one peninsula. You could spend weeks here and barely scratch it. But if you only have a day, these four trails give you the best cross-section of what makes Olympic unique.

Last updated: February 2026. Road and trail conditions change fast here — always check the NPS road and trail status page before heading out.

What Are The Best Day Hiking Trails In Olympic National Park?

These four trails cover Olympic’s range — from a summit panorama to a rainforest waterfall, a lakeside rail trail, and a moss-draped river valley. Each one is doable in a day, starts from a well-marked trailhead, and shows you a completely different side of the park.

• Hurricane Hill Trail — 3.2 miles round trip, alpine views of Mount Olympus
• Sol Duc Falls Trail — 1.6 miles round trip, rainforest waterfall
• Spruce Railroad Trail — 4 miles round trip, Lake Crescent shoreline
• Hoh River Trail (Hall of Mosses loop) — 0.8 miles, old-growth rainforest

Hurricane Hill Trail

This is the one trail that makes people fall for Olympic. The 3.2-mile round trip starts at the end of Hurricane Ridge Road (elevation ~5,200 ft) and climbs steadily through wildflower meadows to a ridge where you can see Mount Olympus, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and on clear days, Mount Baker.

The trailhead parking lot at Hurricane Ridge fills by 10 a.m. on summer weekends. Get there before 8:30 or plan for a weekday visit. The Visitor Center at the base has restrooms and a small cafe. The road itself closes seasonally — typically open late May through October, weather permitting.

The trail is well-graded but fully exposed above treeline. Bring sunscreen, wind layers, and water. Snow can linger into July on the upper sections. Budget 2-3 hours round trip, more if you want to linger at the summit and pick out the glaciers on Olympus.

Sol Duc Falls Trail

Sol Duc Falls is a short hike with an outsized payoff. The 1.6-mile round trip follows the Sol Duc River through old-growth forest to a viewing platform where the river drops through a narrow basalt slot. After rain, the volume is impressive and mist soaks the boardwalk.

The trailhead is at the end of Sol Duc Road, about 40 minutes from Highway 101. There’s a day-use fee ($15/vehicle in 2026) or use your America the Beautiful pass. The trail is mostly flat with boardwalk sections — manageable for kids and casual hikers.

If you have extra time, the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is a mile back down the road and sells day passes for the mineral pools. Pair the waterfall hike with a soak and you’ve got a solid half-day without breaking a sweat.

Spruce Railroad Trail

This 4-mile out-and-back follows a converted rail grade along the north shore of Lake Crescent. The lake is absurdly blue — cold, deep, and clear enough to see the bottom 30 feet down. The trail is flat and wide, built on the old Spruce Railroad that hauled Sitka spruce for WWI airplane construction.

Park at the East Beach Trailhead (the west end trailhead has limited spots). The trail passes through the Devil’s Punch Bowl tunnel carved through rock, with views of Pyramid Peak across the water. No elevation gain to speak of — this is a walking trail, not a workout.

Best in the morning when the lake is glassy and Pyramid Peak reflects cleanly. Bring a swimsuit if you visit in August — there are a few access points to the water, though it stays cold year-round (low 40s F).

Hoh River Trail (Hall of Mosses)

The full Hoh River Trail runs 17 miles to Glacier Meadows — that’s a backpacking trip, not a day hike. But the Hall of Mosses loop at the trailhead is a 0.8-mile walk through some of the most photographed rainforest in North America. Big-leaf maples draped in club moss, nurse logs sprouting new growth, and Roosevelt elk browsing in the meadows.

The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is about 18 miles off Highway 101 on the Upper Hoh Road. The road is paved but narrow. The parking lot fills early in summer — before 9 a.m. is your safest bet. Ranger-led walks run daily in peak season and are worth catching if you time it right.

This is one of the wettest spots in the continental U.S. (12+ feet of rain per year). A rain jacket isn’t optional here, even in July. The upside: the rainforest looks best in mist and drizzle. Overcast days actually make for better photos than harsh sun.

Planning Your Olympic Day Hike

Olympic is big and the roads are slow. Don’t plan to hit all four of these in one day — pick two that are close to each other. Hurricane Hill and Spruce Railroad are both accessible from the north side. Sol Duc and Hoh are on the west side, roughly an hour apart.

Cell service is nonexistent in most of the park. Download your maps and trail info before you leave town. Port Angeles on the north side and Forks on the west have the closest services — gas, groceries, and lodging.

All trailheads require a national park entrance fee ($30/vehicle, valid 7 days) or an annual pass. Check the NPS Olympic planning page for current conditions, seasonal closures, and bear safety guidance.