Olympic National Park

It Protects Nearly One Million Acres
Olympic National Park covers 922,651 acres on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.

Most of the Park Is Wilderness
Approximately 876,447 acres, or about 95 percent of Olympic National Park, are federally designated wilderness. This makes it one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 states.

Three Major Landscapes in One Park
Olympic National Park protects glacier-covered mountains, old-growth temperate rainforests and a rugged Pacific Ocean coastline. Very few national parks offer this much landscape variety in one location.

It Protects 73 Miles of Wilderness Coastline
The park includes 73 miles of undeveloped Pacific coastline, featuring sea stacks, tide pools, driftwood-covered beaches and rocky headlands.

The Rainforests Receive Up to 14 Feet of Rain
Parts of Olympic National Park’s temperate rainforest receive approximately 140 to 167 inches of precipitation each year. This tremendous amount of moisture supports the area’s enormous trees, mosses and ferns.

The Hoh Is One of America’s Finest Temperate Rainforests
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the best remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States. The Hall of Mosses is its most famous hiking trail.

Hurricane Ridge Receives Enormous Snowfall
Hurricane Ridge commonly receives between 30 and 35 feet of snow each year, making it a completely different environment during the winter months.

The Park Has 32 Named Glaciers
Olympic National Park contains 32 named glaciers among its rugged mountain peaks and valleys.

The Olympic Mountains Began Beneath the Ocean
The rocks forming the Olympic Mountains were originally deposited offshore between approximately 18 and 57 million years ago. They were later uplifted, folded and eroded into the mountains we see today.

The Olympic Mountains Are Still Rising
Unlike some older mountain ranges that are gradually wearing down, the Olympic Mountains continue to rise because of ongoing geologic forces.

It Protects an Important Roosevelt Elk Herd
Olympic National Park is home to the largest fully wild herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest. Roosevelt elk are the largest variety of elk in North America, with mature bulls weighing as much as 1,100 pounds.

The Olympic Marmot Lives Nowhere Else
The Olympic marmot is found only on the Olympic Peninsula. These large ground squirrels are commonly seen in the mountain meadows around Hurricane Ridge.

More Than 1,200 Native Plant Types Grow Here
Olympic National Park supports more than 1,200 native plant taxa, ranging from rainforest mosses and giant conifers to alpine wildflowers.

Several Plants and Animals Are Found Only Here
The park contains at least 16 kinds of endemic animals and eight kinds of endemic plants, meaning they naturally occur in this region and nowhere else.

The Park Protects Land and Marine Wildlife
Olympic National Park is home to 56 mammal species, including 24 marine mammal species. Whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals and sea lions may be seen along the Pacific coastline.

Around 300 Bird Species Have Been Recorded
The park’s forests, mountains, rivers, wetlands and coastline provide habitat for approximately 300 bird species.

Its Waters Support 37 Native Fish Species
More than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams flow through Olympic National Park, supporting 37 native fish species.

The Hoh River Drops About 7,000 Feet
The Hoh River begins high in the glacier-covered Olympic Mountains and travels approximately 50 miles to the Pacific Ocean, descending about 7,000 feet along the way.

No Road Crosses the Center of the Park
Olympic National Park’s mountainous wilderness remains largely roadless. Visitors generally drive around the outside of the Olympic Peninsula to reach Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, the Hoh Rain Forest and the Pacific coastline.

It Is Internationally Recognized
Olympic National Park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its remarkable wilderness, biological diversity and outstanding natural landscapes.