Mt. Rainer vs. Olympic National Park
 

If we can only do one should we go to Olympic National Park or Mt. Rainer? Also, any ideas on where to stay while we are there?

First, where will you be coming from? And they're very different nat'l parks. Olympic NP isn't as easy to access as Mt. Rainier, as its spread throughout the Olympic Pennisula. But again, it depends where you're coming from and / or going.

To do it all in Olympic, we stayed in Port Townsend for two nights, a night in the NP at Crescent Lake Lodge and after we explored Hoh Rainforest, we stayed oceanfront at the Best Western Lighthouse Inn, Ocean Shores, Washington.

For us, two days /one night was enough at Mt. Rainier. We stayed in the park at the Paridise Inn.

Both are wonderful, but if i had to choose, it would be Olympic. MUCH more diverse!

I have been to both and preferred Olympic over Rainer. I loved the Hoh Rainforest, it's kind of spiritual there.

Olympic! You get mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, a rain forest, hot springs, and the ocean all in one park! Mount Rainier, although beautiful and impressive, is just a mountain...and it's WAYYY more crowded than Olympic.

I agree with most of the above information, but to me, Mt. Rainer is more than "just a mountain." I've seen lots of mountains and IMO Mt. Rainer is incredibly magical--especially The Grove of the Patriarchs (which, like the Ho,is old growth) and Falls Creek. It's true that it is more crowded,(I try to go in early Sept. after school starts but the weather is still usually good) but much has to do with how much time you have. What ever you decide, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Like your other poster, I stayed at Paradise Inn. One full day of hiking is probably sufficient for most people. I agree that Olympic NP is better than Mt. Rainer.

Olympic NP is a hiker's paradise. There is so much variety in terrain (3 different ecosystems). I highly recommend Hurricane Hill Trail, Spruce Nature Trail, and at least one of the beach trails at Mora-La Push (stay for sunset). http://www.nps.gov/olym/dayhike.htm. We spent two nights at a B&B in Port Angeles and another two nights at another B&B at another location near the park.

Try to get a room in the national park. Both of these parks have lodges. Mt. Ranier has the Paradise Lodge. Olympic has several. We stayed at two different lodges in Olympic. SolDuc Hot Springs Lodge is in the rain forest and is incredible. The other Klaloc(not sure of the spelling) is on the pacific ocean. Both have links via the national park website for these parks. Good Luck.

How long are you coming for? I think you can find lots to do at Rainier. Ohanapakosh, which artlover menions (Grove of the Patriarchs) is very impressive and there are lots of ranger and self-guided hikes possible that are fascinating and beautiful.
The Olympic Peninsula is beautiful, too, especially Hurricane Ridge.
The lodge on the coast freespirit is trying to remember is Kalaloch Lodge, and here is the web site:

http://visitkalaloch.com/index.htm

It's not right near the mountain part of the park, but is good access to the Hoh rain forest.
To add another element- the Northwest Cascades National Park is also beautiful and not as travelled as Mt. Rainier.
The Pacific Northwest does not lack for scenic wonders.

I'd say Olympic. We have stayed a variety of places. We did spend three days at Crescent Lake Lodge..which was rustic but fine. We hiked, ventrued into the Rain Forest and spent hours in chairs by the Lake devouring particularly good books. Personally, I preferred our two days at the Juan de Fuca Cottages in Sequim which also allowed us access to the Dungeness Spit.

Last summer we went to the Olympic Peninsula and spent 2 days on the north end and 2 days on the west side (to see the rain forest). We splurged and stayed in an incredibly beautiful B&B in Port Angeles called Collette's and from there drove up into the mountains each day.

We couldn't get into any place to stay in the Hoh rain forest area, which seems to be most visited, or the Queets area which is still sort of close to Hoh, so we wound up staying at Lake Quinalt and felt so lucky that we did! They have the rainforest there too and several specimens of "largest" trees. Some people say the rainforest is better at Quinault than Hoh.

We stayed at the Lake Quinault Resort, which is on the north side of the lake. It was really pretty with a lawn area, lots of flowers, and each room looked out over these and onto the lake just beyond. We drove down the road to the park and went on a couple of ranger-lead walks. I'd go there again.

Both are beautiful areas and have much to offer, but this is another vote for the Olympic Peninsula. The rainforest is "magical". Go in the summertime when it's not raining!

This thread brought back many memories - La Push, Quinalt... thanks for bringing back the smiles! :)

Jason