- State: WA
- NPCA Region: Northwest
- Est. Date: 1938
Air & Climate Data
View the 2019 ReportVisibility
Moderate Concern
Health
Little to No Concern
Nature
Significant Concern
Climate
Significant Concern
Exploring Olympic’s dynamic landscape is like visiting three parks in one. The high mountains offer snow, glaciers, wilderness and — if you time it right — acres of wildflowers. The lush, verdant Hoh Rainforest is unlike anything else in the Lower 48, and home to Roosevelt elk, black bears and other charismatic wildlife. And the park’s stunning coast offers some of the country's wildest and most spectacular beaches, dotted with tide pools and sea stacks. Visitors can now see where park staff recently removed two large dams, letting the Elwha River flow freely again for the first time in more than 100 years.
Issues
A Natural Rush
With its lush climate and its 12 feet of rainfall each year, Olympic is one of the best national parks for seeing waterfalls, from the tall and elegant Marymere Falls to the powerful, rushing Sol Duc Falls (shown here).
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Blog Post
An 'Elk National Park'?
More than a century ago, conservationists set out to protect a large swath of land to save a fast-disappearing herd of Roosevelt elk — and nearly named a national park after them.
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Press Release
Parks Group Demands Information on Fighter Jet Noise over Olympic National Park
U.S. Navy fails to adequately respond to FOIA request, prompting litigation.
My Park Story
Greetings from Olympic National Park
I'd bend over backwards to visit Olympic again! Sam and I first visited this park in October 2012, our first real vacation together. We loved the many eco-systems represented at Olympic (shout-out to Hoh Rainforest!). Animal highlights included a herd of elk and a mama bear with two cubs! Thank…
More about Olympic
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Read more about Growler Tracker
Resource Growler Tracker Have you heard the Growlers while visiting Olympic National Park? Let us know about it using our Growler Tracker tool.
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Read more about Victorious!
Magazine Article Victorious! 21 conservation triumphs from the past 100 years.
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Read more about Where to See Waterfalls This Season
Blog Post Where to See Waterfalls This Season Early spring is one of the best times of the year to see waterfalls, and these 10 picture-perfect parks are great bets for a natural rush.
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Read more about The Ranger Project
Magazine Article The Ranger Project The stargazers, climbers, paddlers, teachers, naturalists, historians, scientists, rescuers, protectors and dreamers of the National Park Service.
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the beauty, history and peace they offer is unrivaled. — Chris
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Read more about Goats Go Home
Magazine Article Goats Go Home Olympic National Park’s nonnative mountain goats are being rounded up and shipped to the Cascade Mountains.
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Read more about Position on S. 483, S. 2809 & S. 2907
Policy Update Position on S. 483, S. 2809 & S. 2907 NPCA submitted the following positions to members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee ahead of a hearing scheduled for August 22, 2018.
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Read more about Fighting for Commonsense Protections for Washington’s National Parks
Press Release Fighting for Commonsense Protections for Washington’s National Parks Washington State Pollution Control Hearing Board decision to allow expansion of oil refinery in Puget Sound appealed
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Read more about Puget Sound Oil Refinery Permitted to Harm National Park Air Quality
Press Release Puget Sound Oil Refinery Permitted to Harm National Park Air Quality The refinery expansion will go ahead without stringent pollutant controls to protect Washington's parks
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Read more about 11 of America’s Best National Park Beaches
Blog Post 11 of America’s Best National Park Beaches Need some sun and surf in your travel plans? NPCA staff highlight top beach vacation spots at national parks around the country.
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Read more about The 17 Parks Where Entrance Fees Could Skyrocket — and What You Can Do
Blog Post The 17 Parks Where Entrance Fees Could Skyrocket — and What You Can Do A new Trump administration proposal could put popular national park vacations out of financial reach for some families. You can speak out against this plan.
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Read more about Forest Service Green Lights ‘Growler’ Jet Flights Over Olympic National Park
Press Release Forest Service Green Lights ‘Growler’ Jet Flights Over Olympic National Park In a move that endangers natural quiet in Olympic National Park, the U.S. Forest Service approved a permit for the U.S. Navy to use roads just outside the park in support of electronic warfare training for “Growler” fighter jets.
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Read more about Save the Wild Natural Sounds of the Olympic Peninsula
Advocacy in Action Save the Wild Natural Sounds of the Olympic Peninsula The Hear Our Olympics campaign seeks to protect the natural sounds of Olympic National Park, an ancient refuge from noise pollution in the Northwest.
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Read more about Hiking Olympic National Park
Land Based Trip Hiking Olympic National Park Washington’s Olympic National Park is extraordinary. More than 95 percent of it is designated as the Olympic Wilderness, meaning it’s undisturbed by buildings or roads. On a trail in this International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site, you might find yourself with black bears, elk or mountain goats as your only companions.
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Read more about Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands
Small Ship Cruise Explore! Olympic Wilderness & San Juan Islands Small Ship Journey: A wild world of natural wonder. Explore islands, hike in rainforests and up mountains in Olympic National Park, paddle in Puget Sound waterways and the San Juan Islands, and watch for birds, orca, and other marine life.
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Read more about Park on the Edge: Funding Shortfalls at Olympic National Park
Report Park on the Edge: Funding Shortfalls at Olympic National Park Olympic National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the country, currently receives only approximately 60% of the funds it needs to adequately serve visitors, maintain roads and trails, and protect internationally recognized natural resources.
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Read more about Center for State of the Parks: Olympic National Park
Report Center for State of the Parks: Olympic National Park Current overall conditions of Olympic’s known natural resources rated 81 out of a possible 100, indicating they are in marginally good condition, with viability of the ecosystem(s) estimated as vulnerable. Overall conditions of the park’s known cultural resources rated 65 out of a possible 100, indicating they are in fair condition.
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