Olympic National Park in 2 days!
 

I am planning a trip from Portland, OR, to Olympic National Park (stay in/near the Park 2 nights) then spend the last night in Seattle, WA. Agenda so far is:

Depart Portland on Day 1 (Tues) AM. Travel west to the coast and head up to Amanda Park (should take around 4 hrs?).

From here I need help! We'd like to do some hikes. We have an 8 year old, but she does great!

What do you recommend for Day 1 & 2 lodging/locations and basic driving route?

We enjoy nature and can skip the educational lectures, etc unless highly ; recommended. Lodging can be simple; we're not high maintenance!

We'd like to be in/near Seattle for the last night. Any recommendations on the ferry is appreciated as well!!

Thanks,
K (My handle name is for cycling vs. Harley:-)

If you can get accommodations at Lk Quinault and Lk Crescent lodges, then that'll be a nice (although very fast paced) circle trip around the peninsula.

Not sure what sort of into you're looking for on the ferry? You'd take the Bainbridge/Seattle route which runs every 50 minutes or so...the schedule's available on the WA state ferry website.

I haven't heard of someone refer to a username as a
"handle" since the CB radio days. just found it amusing.

You would probably enjoy tidepooling at Olympic, just check tide tables for when the low tide is to occur.

I'd like to jump on this thread if I could. We'll have one day to do Olympic. Will be leaving Olympia early, then returning that night. I know many say to stay on the Olympic Peninsula, but we just don't have the time.

So for ONE day, what would you suggest?

The only things I have for certain are going as far as Cresant Lake and then Hurricane Ridge coming back.

surely you would want to see the coast and the a rain forest

Thank you all for the responses...

Is there a particular rainforest hike that you recommend?

Also, if we spend time on the Pacific coast outside Olympic, should we take extra time to sightsee the upper Oregon coast? I'm leaning towards skipping the Oregon coast to have the extra couple hours at Olympic...

For the ferry - Am I correct in reading that it's first come; first serve? Or are reservations possible?

Last, would you expect Hurricane Ridge to a 'nice ride' mid-week in August? (I know Trail Ridge Road in CO can be bumper to bumper on a weekend)

If you are coming from Portland then yes, I'd head out to Cannon Beach first and up the coast from there.

My favorite rainforest hikes are in the Hoh. There are 2 short hikes from the visitors center (you can do both in about an hour) and a longer hike up the Hoh River Valley--you can go for as many miles as you like then turn around.

Sol Duc Falls is another good (short) hike in the rainforest, but if you have to pick one, I'd go for the Hoh.

You are correct--no reservations on the WA State ferry to Seattle.

I've never seen the Hurricane Ridge road bumper to bumper even in summer--but certainly it'll be less busy mid-week and the earlier or later in the day you go.

thanks all!

We like to visit Hurricane Ridge after dinner--it is quiet up there then and the deer are out feeding.

Our favorite easy hike is to Marymere Falls, starting from the parking lot at the ranger station on Lake Crescent. The walk will take you though a forest that gets 115+ inches of rain a year--just like a rain forest.

HTTY