Getting There & Around

Getting There & Around

U.S. 101 essentially encircles the main section of Olympic National Park, and a number of roads lead from the highway into the park's mountains and toward its beaches. You can reach U.S. 101 via Interstate 5 at Olympia, via Route 12 at Aberdeen, or via Route 104 from the Washington State ferry terminals at Bainbridge or Kingston. The ferries are the most direct route to the Olympic area from Seattle; call Washington State Ferries (800/843-3779 or 206/464—6400, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) for information. You can enter the park at a number of points, though access roads do not penetrate far, since the park is 95% wilderness. The best way to get around and to see many of the park's key sites is on foot.

Grays Harbor Transit (360/532-2770 or 800/562-9730. www.ghtransit.com) runs free daily buses between Forks and Amanda Park, to the south on the west end of Lake Quinault. West Jefferson Transit (800/371-0497. www.jeffersontransit.com) also runs daily buses (50) between Forks and Amanda Park, as well as to the east side of Jefferson County.