- Destinations
How Many National Parks in Washington? A Guide to Each
There are technically THREE National Parks in Washington: Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park. However, that does not include the 24 National Historic Landmarks, 18 National Natural Landmarks, and 2 National Heritage Areas. So when you ask, “How many National Parks in Washington exist?” The answer is not as simple as three.
Washington State has some of the best national parks in the contiguous United States, and so many other notable historic landmarks and natural areas to explore. From areas shaped by ancient floods to active volcanoes you can summit, and alpine lakes you can swim in, there is truly an outdoor adventure for everything you seek.
In this comprehensive guide, I will share a condensed visitor guide to the three National Parks in Washington as well as some snippets of my favorite historical and natural sites in Washington. Let’s get into it!
Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Olympic National Park in Washington
If I had to pick a favorite National Park in Washington, it would be Olympic National Park. This park features mountains, temperate rainforests, and a coastal paradise. It is a park you can visit year-round making it the ultimate adventure destination. I cannot tell you how many weekends I have spent in the Olympics for a last-minute road trip. It is an incredible place. Here is how to make the most of your trip to Olympic…
Planning Your Visit
How Much Time to Spend in Olympic?
Depending on what you’re hoping to do in Olympic, a weekend is perfect. This gives you time to drive up to Hurricane Ridge, spend an afternoon at Lake Crescent, visit the coast, and explore the Hoh Rainforest.
However, you can spend just one day in Olympic if you’re looking for more of a scenic drive style of visit.
Best Time to Visit
What you’re hoping to see in Olympic National Park will determine the best time to visit. For hiking the best times to visit the major areas in Olympic National Park are as follows:
- Year-Round Areas: Hoh Rainforest & Hoh River Area, Pacific Coast
- Spring – Fall: Hurricane Ridge
- Summer: Olympic Mountains
Due to the proximity to Puget Sound, many of the sea-level areas do not experience snowfall. However, the higher elevation areas receive significant snowfall. If you do visit Hurricane Ridge in the winter months for snowshoeing, you will need to bring chains with you.
Park Entry Fees
All visitors to Olympic National Park are required to pay an entrance fee. Park fees vary from park to park but all parks can be accessed with the Interagency Pass which is $80.00 annually. You can purchase the pass here.
Olympic National Park Fees are as follows:
What to See in Olympic National Park
You can spend weeks in Olympic National Park and do something different every day. From backpacking to Enchanted Valley, going tidepooling on the coast, or joining a park ranger-led hike, the possibilities are endless.
Areas
With the immense size of the park, I’ve broken up the park into four distance areas that you can visit.
Temperate Rainforest
There are actually three temperate rain forests in Olympic National Park: Hoh Rain Forest, Queets Rain Forest, and Quinault Rain Forest. If you’re okay with a little rain and mud, this is the perfect area to visit in the winter. You’ll see lush ferns and a vibrant green canopy.
Lake Crescent
Lake Crescent area is surrounded by old-growth forest complete with a perfectly clear lake. In the summer months, I’ll jump in after a long day of hiking. This area has popular hikes like Mount Storm King and the Spruce Railroad Trail. You can also kayak, paddleboard or canoe on the lake!
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Ridge is the most accessible mountainous area in the Olympics. Visitors can drive up to the ridge and take in the sweeping vistas surrounding the park. Unfortunately, the Hurricane Ridge Lodge burned down in 2023, but there is the Quinault Lodge.
Pacific Coast
From viewing sea stacks, hiking amongst old-growth forests, or searching tide pools. The Pacific Coast is a diverse area with a wide variety of activities. If you’re visiting the Pacific Coast you need to stop at Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach.
Sol Duc
The Sol Duc area is a popular hiking area and relaxation area. Spend some time in the natural hot springs or treat yourself to a massage at Sol Duc Springs Resort. Hike on the popular Sol Duc Falls Trail or do an overnight backpacking trip on the High Divide Loop.
Hikes in Olympic
There are so many hiking trails in the Olympics, here are the best ones to visit!
Temperate Rainforest
Hall of Mosses Trail – This is an iconic 0.8-mile loop trail through moss, maple trees, and old-growth forest out of the Hoh Rainforest Area
Hoh River Trail – A popular backpacking trip to Blue Glacier at 18 miles one-way, you can also hike along the Hoh River to your content before turning around.
Enchanted Valley – Another popular backpacking trip to the historic Enchanted Chalet. This is a great multi-day beginner backpacking trip.
Oldest Spruce – About a 1.0-mile roundtrip, stop by the Oldest Sitka Spruce Tree in the world.
Lake Crescent
Mount Storm King – This short and spicy trail is known for its spectacular views overlooking Lake Crescent.
Marymere Falls – Under 2.0 miles roundtrip, Marymere Falls is a family-friendly hike to a beautiful waterfall.
Hurricane Ridge
Hurricane Hill – A 3.0 mile paved trail with panoramic views of the mountains and ocean.
Klahhane Ridge – A 7.4 miles trail with breathtaking views of the Grand Valley.
Pacific Coast
Ozette Triangle – This is a popular longer-day hiker or easy backpacking trail. Experience old-growth forest and refreshing coastal breezes on this 9.2 mile loop trail.
Shi-Shi Beach – My favorite coastal trail is Shi-Shi Beach. This 8-mile trail has epic coastal forest and beautiful tidepooling.
For more Olympic Coast Trails, Read Here!
Sol Duc
Sol Duc Falls – An easy 2.0 mile trail brings hikers to the Sol Duc Falls overlook.
Mink Lake – This longer day hike is a high-reward trail to the beautiful Mink Lake.
Where to Stay
There are SO many places to stay on the Olympic Peninsula. For this post, I am sticking to the campgrounds and hotels inside of the park.
Campgrounds
All of these campgrounds can be booked at recreation.gov. Most can be booked 6-months out while others open for booking in April.
Graves Creek Campground(30 sites) – Located in the Quinault Valley.
Hoh Rain Forest Campground (72 sites) – Open year-round and can be booked 6 months in advance
Fairholme Campground(87 sites) – Located on the west end of Lake Crescent
Heart O’ the Hills (105 sites) – 5 miles south of Port Angeles
Sol Duc Campground (82 sites) – Situated along the Sol Duc River
Hotels
Each of the hotels linked below brings you to their booking page!
Mount Rainier National Park in Washington
Mount Rainier National Park is the pinnacle of the Pacific Northwest. Literally, it is the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest. It is also one of the most beautiful places to see wildflowers. If you’re looking for a breathtaking day trip to one of the three national parks in Washington, this is it. Here is a short and sweet guide to Mount Rainier National Park.
Planning Your Visit
If you truly want to make the most out of your trip to Mount Rainier National Park, here is the condensed planning information that you will need!
How Much Time to Spend?
If you’re open to seeing just one section of the park, a single day in Mount Rainier National Park is totally doable. If you’re hoping to visit the Paradise Area and Sunrise Area, it will be a little challenging to see both in the span of twenty-four hours.
To visit both sections of the park, a weekend trip or three days would be sufficient to see all of the major areas of the park and complete some of the iconic, must-do hiking trails.
How to Get There
Depending on if you’re visiting Paradise for popular hikes like Skyline Loop or want to start from Sunrise to hike to Mount Fremont Lookout will change the route you take to get to Mount Rainier.
Reference this NPS Page for details about getting to each of the major entrances.
Best Time to Visit
When it comes to visiting Mount Rainier, the best time to visit is between July and October.
While I do love diving up to Paradise in the winter to go snowshoeing, a majority of the park is inaccessible.
To get the most out of your visit, I recommend going in July when wildflowers are in full bloom or in Late September when fall colors are at their peak. Especially if it is your first time in the park.
Park Entry Fees
I always advocate for people to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass if they plan on visiting National Parks or Forests more than three times in one year. The annual pass is $80 for the year, but can be paid off in less than three uses. To purchase your own, click here!
What to See in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is a haven for hiking, camping, biking, and backpacking. It is a park that is accessible for every one of various outdoor experiences. There are a number of distinct areas for you to visit on your trip to Mt. Rainier National Park, Paradise and Sunrise being the two most popular areas.
Areas of INterest
For a breakdown of the five distinct areas to visit: Carbon River, Ohanapecosh, Paradise, Longmire, and Sunrise, you can visit this link. Here is a description of the three most popular areas in the park.
Paradise
Paradise is known for its gorgeous sub-alpine meadows. This area of the park is open year-round with some exceptions for temporary closures to plow snow. If you’re visiting in winter, always check the road status. Stop in the Paradise Visitors Center for a Park Ranger talk or stay at the Paradise Inn for a unique overnight stay!
Sunrise
Sunrise is the highest point visitors can reach by vehicle. The drive up to Sunrise is a scenic drive in itself. It is one of the best places to be in the summer months out of all of Washington’s national parks. There are spectacular views along the route that you can stop at. The road to Sunrise is usually open between July and early October depending on snow conditions.
Longmire
Longmire is the park’s headquarters and is also a designated National Historic District. This area is great for short trails, learning about the National Park and staying in the iconic The National Park Inn.
Hikes in Mount Rainier
There are over 260 miles of maintained trails in the ~370 square miles of Mount Rainier. Here are some of my favorites:
Paradise
Pinnacle Peak – On the way up to Paradise, you pass by Reflection Lake where the trailhead to Pinnacle Peak is. This is a short and spicy trail in the Tatoosh Range with epic views.
Skyline Loop Trail – One of the most popular trails in the park, Skyline Loop brings hikers through alpine meadows, up to epic vistas, and across springs. The trail is 5.5 miles long and is a more moderate hike.
Nisqually Vista Trail – A family & stroller-friendly trail, the Nisqually Vista provides epic views of the Nisqually Glacier.
Sunrise
Sunrise Nature Trail – An easy 1.5-mile self-guided loop tour through subalpine meadows!
Mount Fremont Lookout Trail – This is one of my favorite trails for catching the sunset. As a 5.6-mile, low-elevation gain trail it is perfect for a late night in the park.
Burroughs Mountain Trail – If you’re up for a long day hike, this is it. Burroughs Mountain Loop is between 7 – 9 miles depending on how many of the three burroughs you want to hike to! The views are EPIC.
Longmire
Historic District Walking Tour – Walk around the Longmire Area and learn about the historic significance of the different buildings.
Narada Falls Trail – This 4.6-mile roundtrip trail brings you from the top to the base of Narada Falls. It is a popular snowshoeing trail in the winter months!
Naches Peak Loop Trail – An iconic trail just outside of the Mount Rainier Park Boundary in the William O Douglas Wilderness. It is 3.5 miles with minimal elevation gain.
Where to Stay
When visiting Mount Rainier, I highly recommend staying in or near the park. The campgrounds are all in the park as are the two inns. I did include the Historic Packwood Hotel because it is a phenomenal place to stay in Packwood just outside of the park.
Campgrounds
All of these campsites can be booked at recreation.gov. There are group site versions of these campgrounds as well for larger groups.
Cougar Rock (173 sites) – Near Paradise
Ohanapecosh (188 sites) – Near Ohanapecosh, southwest side of Mount Rainier
Hotels
North Cascades National Park in Washington
North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the contiguous United States. Due to its proximity to the Canadian border, it is one of the more challenging national parks to get to in Washington. However, nestled in the Cascade Range it is truly one of the best places to see beautiful things in Washington. Surrounded by public lands, you can even do an overnight stay in the area for cheap.
Planning Your Visit
North Cascades National Park has grown in popularity in recent years as people flock to the area to see mountain peaks covered in larches. Here is a condensed guide for planning your own trip to the third of three Washington’s National Parks.
How Much Time to Spend
If you’re up for a longer day trip you can do a hike or two in this beautiful area. Due to the rural nature of this area, many people opt for a day trip as there are very few facilities around.
To see all of the popular areas, an overnight trip would be great! Which would give you time to visit the North Cascades National Park complex, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and complete a popular trail or two.
How to Get There
To get to North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake Recreation Area you will need to take State Route 20 (North Cascades Highway) which closes in the winter time.
Best Time to Visit
The ultimate time to visit North Cascades National Park is at the end of September or Early October to catch a glimpse of the eye-catching and Instagram-worthy larches which are only a vibrant yellow color for a couple weeks out of the year.
Otherwise, North Cascades is accessible from April to November. In the summer months, you will likely still find areas with snow, but everything is accessible.
Park Entry Fees
There are no entry fees required to visit North Cascades National Park.
What to See in North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is surrounded by spectacular views, mountain ranges, and scenic drives. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails, places to go boating, and routes to bike. It is a sought-after destination for mountaineering and a popular backpacking area.
Hikes
I am a little biased but I believe every hike in the North Cascades is amazing. Here is a short list of my favorite hiking trails!
Blue Lake – Popular during larch season, this short trail is brimming with phenomenal views. If you’re brave enough, don’t hesitate to jump in!
Maple Pass Loop – The most hiked trail in North Cascades is the Maple Pass Loop. It is 7.2-miles long and if you’re lucky, you will see mountain goats.
Cutthroat Pass – This hike brings you over a beautiful pass. It is an excellent backpacking trail as well, but with the minimal elevation gain, even as a longer day hike it is rather moderate.
Backpacking
I would be remiss to not include backpacking trips on this list. Some of the most sought-after backpacking permits are in the North Cascades.
Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm – One of the most popular overnight stays in Washington is at Sahale Arm. It is as grueling as a day hike as it is a backpacking trip but it is so so worth it.
Chelan Lakeshore Trail – This is a spectacular backpacking route to get to Stehikin. You will be hiking along Lake Chelan towards the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area which is only accessible via foot, boot, or seaplane. You must add this backpacking trip to your bucket list.
Where to Stay
There are a handful of places to stay within the North Cascades National Park Complex. Places to stay overnight are rather limited compared to Washington’s other National Parks.
Campgrounds
Many of the campgrounds are reservable during the operational season from mid-May to early September on recreation.gov.
Colonial Creek North Campground (41 sites) – Located on Diablo Lake
Goodell Creek Campground (19 sites) – Along the Skagit River
Harlequin (7 sites) – First Come, First Serve in Stehekin Valley
Hotels
Check out this guide on planning a Washington National Park Road Trip!
Washington National Historic Monuments/Landmarks
As mentioned, it is not just Washington’s National Parks that are spectacular to visit. Washington also has numerous historical landmarks and nature areas. This section is a condensed, complete guide to the spectacular historic sites around Washington State.
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Ebay’s Landing National Historical Reserve is part of Ebey’s Landing State Park. One of the most popular things to do at the reserve is to hike to Bluff Trail beginning at the state park or from the Prairie Overlook near Sunnyside Cemetery. For something a little more out of the ordinary, you can scuba dive to Fort Casey Underwater Reserve!
Things to Do At Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
- Visit the Admiralty Head Lighthouse
- Hike the Bluff Trail
- Birdwatch at Crockett Lake
- Mountain Bike the Island Country Trails
- Visit the Island County Historical Museum
Nez Perce National Historical Park
For an educational trip, visit the Nez Perce National Historical Park and learn about some of Washington’s native people, Nez Perce. The Nez Perce tribe helped Lewis & Clark, from the Lewis & Clark expedition, carve canoes that took them to the Pacific Ocean. This historical park includes things like educational films, trails to see petroglyphs, and battlefields. There are over 38 historical sites that make up the Nez Perce National Historical Park covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
Things to Do At Nez Perce National historical Park:
- Stop at Joseph Canyon Viewpoint
- Visit Chief Joseph’s Gravesite
- Visit Big Hole National Battlefield
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
The Whitman Mission National Historic Site is located in Walla Walla, Washington. This historical site is a commemorative area on how the increase in missionaries, like Narcissa Whitman, and people from the Oregon trail impacted the indigenous people of Washington, the Cayuse Nation. This historic site demonstrates the rapid change of life on the Columbia River Plateau.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
The Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is located along the Columbia River and highlights the transformation of the Pacific Northwest. There are four areas included in this historic site that highlight how military and flight transformed the area. With gardens and museums to walk through, this historic site is easy to visit for a couple hours or an entire day.
Manhattan Project National Historical Site
There are three sites of the Manhattan Project National Historical Site and one of them is in Hanford, WA. The Manhattan Project produces the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The area in Washington where the Manhattan Project took place covers about 600 square miles along the Columbia River.
While I haven’t visited the Manhattan Project National Historical Site, I did hike White Bluffs-Hanford Reach trail where you could see the historical site across the river.
San Juan Island National Historical Park
The San Juan Islands are one of my favorite areas in Washington during the summer months. The historical park in Friday Harbor commemorates the war between the United States and Great Britain over the possession of the islands.
Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail
I saved the best for last. One of my favorite areas in central Washington is the location of the Ice Age Floods that shaped Dry Falls and Steamboat Rock State Park. The Missoula Floods shaped the state from Missoula, Montana all the way down the Columbia River into Oregon.
I highly recommend going to Steamboat Rock State Park and Dry Falls to see the gravity of this flood. It is truly spectacular. Plus I am more a fan of Geologic and Natural Parks than I am of Historical Sites.
Pack It Up
There are Three National Parks in Washington and so many more historical sites, national forests, and state parks to visit. Each has its own draw to the area making Washington State one of the best places to visit in terms of landscape diversity.
While most of the parks can be seen in a day, maybe you plan a “Washington’s National Parks and Historical Sights Road Trip”!
If you have questions about any of these areas, please do not hesitate to ask!
Meet the Author -
Sarah Borgen
I am an Educator and outdoor Enthusiast based out of Seattle and writer of Exploren Borgen! My adventures consist of weekends spent in the woods, on a hike, car camping, and taking a deep breath of fresh air. When not on an adventure, you can find me in a classroom teaching high school science! I love having a job that allows me to the opportunity to discuss things like conservation, sustainability, and accessibility.
The Ultimate Washington Map
Endless adventures, all at your fingertips
If you’ve ever wished you could access my adventure journals to uncover notes about hundreds of Washington destinations, now’s your chance. I spend an entire year creating this interactive map to make adventure more accessible. You can sort, filter, and explore my notes on hundreds of trails, breweries, campgrounds, and more.
Have a question? Put it in a comment and I'll get back to ya!
Meet the author
Sarah Borgen, AKA your outdoor bestie
I’m an outdoorsy educator and adventure advocate, which is why I’m passionate about creating resources – like blogs, guides, and interactive maps – to simplify your travels. I’m eager to share some of Washington’s greatest destinations and hidden gems with you.
