- State: WA
- NPCA Region: Northwest
- Est. Date: 1938
Air & Climate Data
View the Polluted Parks 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.
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
Haunted Parks: 6 Ghostly Getaways
Ghost stories might scare your campfire circle. They can also offer hyperlocal histories for travel destinations around the country. Learn about a few spectral park visitors — if you dare…
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Magazine Article
A Chilly Refuge
Rock glaciers, long neglected by science, may help creatures from pikas to stoneflies endure climate change.
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 Save the Wild Natural Sounds of the Olympic Peninsula
NPCA at Work 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 with Spoons
The Secret Lives of Parks Hiking with Spoons An advocate in the Pacific Northwest turned a frustrating hike into a mission to make parks more welcoming for the millions of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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Read more about Ancient Forests of the Olympic Peninsula
Land Based Trip Ancient Forests of the Olympic Peninsula Olympic National Park is where natural wonders, complex ecosystems and rich indigenous history come together to create a truly magnificent experience. NPCA experts and key local guides will show you a lesser-known side of the park as we explore pristine beaches, crystal-blue lakes and ancient rainforests.
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Read more about Grand Canyon and Santa Monica Mountains among beneficiaries of public lands act
Press Release Grand Canyon and Santa Monica Mountains among beneficiaries of public lands act The ambitious Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act will safeguard famous park sites while combatting climate change and addressing environmental justice priorities
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The preserved beauty of these places bring me joy, strength and peace. — Denise
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Read more about 10 Parks for Every Tree Lover’s List
Blog Post 10 Parks for Every Tree Lover’s List National parks are home to some of the country’s rarest and most remarkable trees. In many cases, these spectacular plants have stood watch over centuries of history. Here are just 10 places that are sure to wow tree lovers everywhere.
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Read more about New studies find Navy Growler jet noise around Olympic National Park harmful to humans and orcas
Press Release New studies find Navy Growler jet noise around Olympic National Park harmful to humans and orcas The first studies into Navy noise pollution finds jet noise exceeds safe levels for humans and is audible underwater at depths that affect ocean life
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Read more about US Navy analysis finds Growler jet noise in Olympic National Park exceeds 100 decibels
Press Release US Navy analysis finds Growler jet noise in Olympic National Park exceeds 100 decibels Navy's own analysis reveals that jet noise can be as loud as a handheld drill for visitors in the famously tranquil park, which is home to perhaps the quietest place in the United States
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Read more about House Approves 1.3 Million Acres of Wilderness, Adds Over 1,000 Miles into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
Press Release House Approves 1.3 Million Acres of Wilderness, Adds Over 1,000 Miles into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Lands package includes an expansion to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, over 600,000 acres of new wilderness in Colorado and expanded waterway and wilderness protections near Olympic National Park
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Read more about An 'Elk National Park'?
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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Read more about Position on H.R. 1708, H.R. 2546 & H.R. 2642
Policy Update Position on H.R. 1708, H.R. 2546 & H.R. 2642 NPCA submitted the following positions to members of the House Committee on Natural Resources ahead of a markup scheduled for November 20, 2019.
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Read more about Parks Group Demands Information on Fighter Jet Noise over Olympic National Park
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.
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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 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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