Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

During low tides, the Pacific Ocean retreats from the beaches and exposes pools of water in rocky crevices that team with sea life.

73 miles of coastline turn into a wave crashing show in the winter. From Nov through Feb, storms coming in from the Pacific have wind gusts up to 60 mph.

With crystal-clear lakes, cobalt rivers, and the Pacific Ocean all within a few miles of each other, Olympic NP offers plenty of opportunities for water fun.

Iconic rock posts and arches jutting up from the sand along the Washington coast are what define the national park's beaches. Here's where to see them.

Got 24 hours? Get the most out of them with this guide.

Olympic National Park and the surrounding areas are a Things to Do Mecca! You’ll be hard-pressed to fit it all in a single vacation.

Circle the national park on this ultimate tour of the Olympic Peninsula with a stop at Cape Flattery the northwest-most point in the continental US.

Called the most beautiful falls in Olympic, the hike to the falls is a short and easy one. Walk one mile through old-growth forest to the overlook.

Ready to take your home away from home into the park? Olympic NP is an excellent place for RV camping, with options ranging from oceanfront to rainforest.

Visit two of Washington State’s premier national parks on this scenery-packed trip also passing through Seattle and Tacoma.

Locals call it The Mountain—and once you see it towering, it’s clear the 14,410-footer owns the title.

The largest wild herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest lives in Olympic, so your chances of spotting one are good.

Olympic National Park contains four distinct and remarkable ecosystems—and even better, it’s possible to see all four in one day.

Combine city culture with island life on this 5-10 day loop. Start in Canada then ferry to islands and the U.S. Olympic Peninsula.

Olympic has a reputation for rain—and true, parts of the peninsula receive 12 feet of rain every year, but summer brings warm, dry weather.

Olympic has 16 developed campgrounds with about 900 campsites throughout the park. Permits are required for all overnight stays in the wilderness.

These huge birds of prey—they can weigh more than 14 pounds, with a nearly 7-foot wingspan—are most frequently spotted roosting in trees along the Olympic coast.

These lovable marine mammals can be found on the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California, including Olympic National Park.

Count yourself very lucky if you spot one of these elusive big cats—shy and wide-ranging, the park’s mountain lions are rarely seen.

Black bears (but not grizzlies) live throughout Olympic, roaming far and wide in search of ripe berries, spawning salmon, tree bark, and insects.