[HOH] Hoh parking can wait
Hoh Rain Forest parking can have waits up to two hours. Arrive before 8am or after 5pm when possible.
NP.GUIDE / FIELD GUIDE / FALL 2026
Olympic National Park
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Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.
Current conditions
Highway 101 at the Hoh River Bridge closes nightly 7 pm–5:30 am through the morning of Oct 20, with single-lane traffic otherwise and no detour; the Hoh Rain Forest stays reachable from Forks. Mora Road to Rialto Beach is open again. Overnight wilderness trips require a permit.
[GAS] Fill up before the long drives
No road crosses Olympic. Fill fuel and buy food in Port Angeles, Forks, or nearby towns before driving into the park.
[PERMIT] Wilderness permits are required
Overnight wilderness trips require a permit in advance. Some trailheads and campgrounds also use reservations.
NPS conditions (large page)
Services by place
Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.
- Port Angeles / Visitor Center
Food: Yes Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: Yes Signal: Strong - Lake Crescent
Food: Seasonal Water: Seasonal Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Weak - Hurricane Ridge
Food: Limited Water: No Toilets: Seasonal Fuel: No Signal: Weak - Hoh Rain Forest
Food: No Water: Seasonal Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: None - Mora / Rialto Beach
Food: No Water: No Toilets: Seasonal Fuel: No Signal: None - Ruby Beach / Kalaloch
Food: Seasonal Water: Seasonal Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Weak - Sol Duc
Food: Seasonal Water: Seasonal Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Weak
Port Angeles / Visitor Center ↑
Do this: Buy food, fuel, water, and supplies here before entering the park.
- Food, fuel: Yes in Port Angeles.
- Water: Yes in town and at the visitor center.
- Signal: Usually good in town.
The main north gateway and the best place to check conditions before a long drive.
Lake Crescent ↑
Do this: Fill water and buy food before leaving Port Angeles.
- Food: Lake Crescent Lodge is open. Fairholme Store and Log Cabin Resort are closed.
- Water: Seasonal at developed facilities.
- Toilets: Yes when facilities are open.
- Signal: Weak or unreliable.
Fairholme Campground, Fairholme Store, and Log Cabin Resort are closed for the season. Lake Crescent Lodge is open.
Hurricane Ridge ↑
Do this: Bring food, water, layers, and a full tank from Port Angeles.
- Food: Limited services. Bring what you need.
- Water: No drinking water in 2026 during construction. Bring water.
- Signal: Weak or unavailable.
The road is open but can close for weather or repairs. The area is staffed only intermittently.
Hoh Rain Forest ↑
Do this: Arrive early or late, carry food and water, and do not wait for signal.
- Water: Seasonal at the visitor center when open.
- Toilets: Yes when facilities are open.
Parking waits can reach two hours. Visitor center open daily 9 am–4:30 pm, intermittently in winter. Campground open all year.
Mora / Rialto Beach ↑
Do this: Do not drive here during the 2026 Mora Road closure. Use Ruby Beach.
- Water: No dependable drinking water.
- Toilets: Seasonal at developed facilities.
- Signal: None or very weak.
Mora Road is closed Jul 8–Oct 15, 2026, so Rialto Beach is inaccessible.
Ruby Beach / Kalaloch ↑
Do this: Use Kalaloch for seasonal food and water; carry supplies for the coast.
- Food: Seasonal food nearby at Kalaloch Lodge or the mercantile.
- Water: Seasonal at developed facilities.
- Toilets: Yes at developed stops.
- Fuel: No dependable fuel.
- Signal: Weak or unreliable.
Ruby Beach is the practical coast stop while Mora Road is closed.
Sol Duc ↑
Do this: Buy fuel and supplies in Port Angeles or Forks before the turnoff.
- Food: Seasonal resort restaurant and store.
- Water: Seasonal at developed facilities.
- Toilets: Yes when facilities are open.
- Signal: Weak or unavailable.
The hot springs resort and campground are seasonal.
Other places
- Staircase — Bring food, water, and a full tank. Services are limited. Water: Seasonal at developed facilities. · Signal: Weak or unavailable. Staircase is a separate south-east section reached by a gravel road.
- Ozette — Bring food and water, check SR 112, and carry a tide chart for coastal hikes. Food: No dependable food in the park area. · Water: No dependable treated water. Bring water and treatment. · Toilets: Limited at the campground and ranger station area. · Fuel: No. Fill up before Hoko-Ozette Road. Ozette is remote; most other Olympic destinations are at least one hour away.
- Quinault Rain Forest — Use the Lake Quinault area for seasonal services and check road conditions before entering remote valleys. Food: Seasonal nearby at Lake Quinault. · Water: Seasonal at developed facilities; carry backup water. · Toilets: Yes at developed facilities when open. · Fuel: Limited nearby; fill up before remote roads. · Signal: Weak or unreliable. Quinault is a south-side rain-forest gateway separate from the Hoh corridor.
- Elwha Valley — Check road and trail access before leaving Port Angeles. Bring food and water. Food, fuel: No. Use Port Angeles. · Water: No dependable treated water beyond developed areas. · Toilets: Limited at accessible developed stops. · Signal: Weak or unavailable. Road damage can move the practical trailhead and add substantial walking.
Drive times
Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.
Port Angeles to Lake Crescent
Port Angeles → 30 min → Lake Crescent
Buy food, fuel, and supplies in Port Angeles before driving west.
Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge
Port Angeles → 45 min → Hurricane Ridge
The road is steep and weather can change quickly. It closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call 360-565-3131 before leaving town.
Port Angeles to Forks
Port Angeles → 2 hr → Forks
There is no cross-park road. Forks is the south-west service stop for food and fuel.
Forks to Hoh Rain Forest
Forks → 45 min → Hoh Rain Forest
Parking can be full for hours. Carry food and water; cell service is not dependable.
Forks to Ruby Beach
Forks → 20 min → Ruby Beach
Use Ruby Beach while Mora Road and Rialto Beach are closed.
Port Angeles to Staircase
Port Angeles → 2 hr → Staircase
This is a separate south-east section. Check road conditions and bring supplies.
Help
Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.
Park information: 360-565-3130
Road text alerts: text Road and weather conditions to 360-565-3131.
This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.
Permits
Hours and entrance fees
Olympic is open 24 hours a day, all year. From October through May some roads, campgrounds, and facilities close or have reduced hours. Visitor centers and Hurricane Ridge Road close on Thanksgiving and Christmas. 7-day pass: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bike (15 and under free). Olympic annual pass: $55. America the Beautiful pass: $80 for US residents, $250 for non-US residents. Card only; no cash. Buy a digital pass ahead on Recreation.gov to skip the wait.
Wilderness permit
Overnight wilderness trips require a permit. Reserve popular camps and carry the required food-storage equipment.
Camping
Summer reservation periods have ended at Hoh, Kalaloch, and Mora. Fairholme is closed for the season. Sol Duc takes reservations through Nov 1. Check campground status before driving.
Boating
Boats on park waters must follow current inspection, permit, and life-jacket rules.
Short hikes
Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.
- Lake Crescent / Marymere Falls: 1.8 mi round trip. Short forest trail with roots, stairs, and a narrow approach.
- Hurricane Ridge / Hurricane Hill: 3.2 mi round trip. Exposed trail with changing weather and limited shade.
- Hoh Rain Forest / Hall of Mosses: 1.1 mi loop. Easy forest loop that can be muddy and crowded.
- Ruby Beach / Ruby Beach: 1 mi round trip. Short coast walk over driftwood and uneven sand.
- Sol Duc / Sol Duc Falls: 1.6 mi round trip. Forest trail with roots and wet sections.
- Elwha / Madison Falls: 0.2 mi round trip. Short paved walk. The road beyond Madison Falls is closed to vehicles.
All park guides · Planning pages · Park statistics · Closures and alerts
Nearby guides: Mount Rainier · Glacier