Olympic National Park is one of the most unique national parks in the United States because it’s home to a variety of diverse landscapes, including mountains, rainforests, lakes, and beaches. There’s truly something for everyone in this popular park with plenty of easy hiking trails to choose from.
Olympic National Park holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my husband and I got married and celebrated our honeymoon. We spent almost two weeks exploring the park and this guide shares my favorite easy hikes in Olympic National Park.
Be aware, getting around the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park requires quite a bit of driving. The majority of the park is designated Wilderness, so roads skirt the outside boundaries. It’s safe to say that driving between many of these hikes will take more time than the hikes themselves, so plan ahead!
Interested in guided hikes? Check out this tour that takes you from Seattle to see the best of Olympic National Park!
Table of Contents: Best Easy Hikes in Olympic National Park
- Marymere Falls
- Sol Duc Falls
- Hoh River Trail
- Spruce Railroad Trail
- Kalaloch 4th Beach Trail
- Second Beach
- Madison Falls
- Bonus: Big Cedar Tree
Recreating Responsibly in Olympic National Park
Leave No Trace
The seven Leave No Trace principles are a set of guidelines to help you make responsible choices while hiking. Always remember to practice Leave No Trace while hiking in Olympic National Park to help keep the park beautiful for future generations.
- Plan ahead and prepare. Research hikes ahead of time. Check the weather and tides if you’re hiking on the beach. Carry a map and make sure you have the proper gear (the park sees a lot of rain, so make sure to pack a rain jacket!).
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Stay on developed trails and other durable surfaces, like rocks, sand, or gravel. Respect restoration areas, and don’t hike through wildflower fields or meadows.
- Properly dispose of waste. Pack out all of your trash, as well as pet and human waste.
- Leave what you find. Don’t pick wildflowers or carve into rocks or trees. Taking natural objects, including seashells, is illegal in Olympic National Park.
- Minimize campfire impacts. Use existing fire rings and be sure to check for fire restrictions before having a campfire. Make sure that campfires are completely extinguished, which means the ashes are cool to the touch.
- Respect wildlife. Maintain a safe distance from wildlife. Never feed or harass wildlife.
- Be considerate of other visitors. Remember that uphill hikers have the right of way. Please don’t blast music on the trail.
The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. This copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Olympic National Park Fees
All visitors to Olympic National Park are required to have an entrance pass. Many of the trails in this guide don’t require going through an entrance booth to access, which means you should obtain your pass ahead of time.
A standard pass for private vehicles is $30, or you can use an America the Beautiful pass. If you frequent national parks and other federal recreation areas in the U.S., I recommend getting an America the Beautiful pass, which is valid at over 2,000 sites nationwide.
Best Easy Hikes in Olympic National Park
1. Marymere Falls
Marymere Falls is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in Olympic National Park and for good reason! The majority of the trail is relatively flat, but you do gain a bit of elevation and have to climb some steps as you approach the 90 ft. tall waterfall.
This was actually the hike that my husband and I did right before our wedding ceremony in Olympic National Park. It was easy enough to hike in my wedding dress! Please stay behind the fence once you reach Marymere Falls to help prevent erosion and other negative environmental impacts at this beautiful destination.
The trail to Marymere Falls is also the beginning of the hike to Mount Storm King. This is a much more difficult hike that requires a steep climb with ropes and exposure with sweeping view of Lake Crescent at the top.
Marymere Falls Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Moderate-difficult. There are a lot of parking spaces available, but this is a very popular area that provides access to multiple trails and Lake Crescent, so it can get crowded.
- Distance: 1.8 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 320 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (2-3/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: ~1 hour
- Dog-Friendly? No
- AllTrails Link
Marymere Falls Trail Map
2. Sol Duc Falls
Sol Duc Falls is another iconic waterfall hike in Olympic National Park. Most hikers just visit Sol Duc Falls, which is less than a mile from the trailhead, but the trail can also take you deeper into the park’s mountainous backcountry. It’s an easy hike through the forest to Sol Duc Falls. There are wooden guardrails overlooking the falls to help keep visitors safe.
I visited Sol Duc Falls at the end of a longer backpacking trip (I was exhausted and only snapped one quick photo). You can read my full trip report of backpacking the Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide Trail.
Sol Duc Falls Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Moderate-difficult. There’s a large parking lot, however this is a popular trailhead for day hikers and backpackers, so it can get crowded.
- Distance: 1.8 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 260 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (2-3/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: 1 hour
- Dog-Friendly? No
- AllTrails Link
Sol Duc Falls Trail Map
3. Hoh River Trail
The entire Hoh River Trail is 20 miles long one-way, however you don’t have to hike far to experience the magic of the Hoh Rainforest. Many hikers opt to hike to Mineral Creek Falls before turning around. This means that the trail can get crowded up to that point, but then the crowds tend to thin out. I recommend getting an early start here to help avoid the crowds in this popular area.
The Hoh River Trail itself is relatively flat and very well-maintained, which makes for easy hiking regardless of how far you go. It parallels the Hoh River, but there are only a few spots that provide river access.
Hoh River Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Difficult! The Hoh Rainforest is a very popular area to hike and parking is limited. The National Park Service does a good job at monitoring the number of vehicles entering and exiting, but this means that you may have to wait to get through the entrance gate. I recommend arriving early to hike here!
- Distance: 5.5 miles out-and-back to Mineral Creek Falls (you can hike further if you want!)
- Elevation Gain: 215 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (2.5-3.5/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: 1.5-2.5 hours+ depending on how far you hike
- Dog-Friendly? No
- AllTrails Link
Hoh River Trail Map (to Mineral Creek Falls)
4. Spruce Railroad Trail
Located along the shores of Lake Crescent, the Spruce Railroad Trail is a paved hiking and walking trail. The trail is very well maintained making it accessible for folks in wheelchairs or with strollers. It’s also one of the best dog-friendly trails in Olympic National Park.
The most popular spot along the Spruce Railroad Trail is Devil’s Punchbowl. Getting there requires taking a side dirt trail to a gorgeous blue lagoon on Lake Crescent where you can walk across a bridge. You may even see people scuba diving here!
Spruce Railroad Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Moderate. The parking lot isn’t large, but there’s overflow parking available along the road.
- Distance: 2.5 miles out-and-back to Devil’s Punchbowl, but you can hike further if you want
- Elevation Gain: 125 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (1-2/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: ~1 hour if hiking to Devil’s Punchbowl
- Dog-Friendly? Yes! Dogs must be leashed.
- AllTrails Link (to Devil’s Punchbowl)
Spruce Railroad Trail Map (to Devil’s Punchbowl)
5. Kalaloch 4th Beach Trail
If you’re looking for an easy and dog-friendly beach hike in Olympic National Park, then head down the Kalaloch 4th Beach Trail. The trail down to the beach involves climbing down well maintained stairs and an easy climb over rocks at the end of a wooden bridge. Once you’re on the beach you can walk as far as you’d like (make sure to check the tides ahead of time). This is a great area to explore tide pools!
If visiting the beach is on your agenda during your Olympic National Park trip, I recommend staying nearby at the Kalaloch Lodge. My husband and I stayed in a beachfront cabin during our Olympic National Park honeymoon and had a fantastic stay!
Kalaloch 4th Beach Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Easy. There are a lot of parking spaces available and since it’s a short hike people tend to regularly come and go.
- Distance: 1+ mile out-and-back (depends how far on the beach you hike)
- Elevation Gain: 100 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (1.5-2.5/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: 30-60 minutes unless you want to spend more time on the beach
- Dog-Friendly? Yes! Dogs must be leashed.
- AllTrails Link
Kalaloch Beach #4 Trail Map
6. Second Beach
Second Beach is an easy hike in Olympic National Park that borders the Quileute Reservation where you can find the famous La Push Beach (aka Third Beach) from Twilight. The hike down to Second Beach is a little longer than the hike to Kalaloch 4th Beach, but it’s a gorgeous trail that takes you through the forest.
If you head left once you’re down at Second Beach you can walk along the shore to a waterfall. You can also see unique rock formations from the beach. Like any beach hike in Olympic National Park, make sure to check and pay attention to the tides before hiking too far.
Second Beach Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Difficult! Parking is very limited here.
- Distance: ~2 miles out-and-back depending on how far you hike
- Elevation Gain: 290 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy (2-3/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: ~1 hour
- Dog-Friendly? No
- AllTrails Link
Second Beach Trail Map
7. Madison Falls
Located near the Elwha Valley, Madison Falls should be your first stop if you’re driving into Olympic National Park from Port Angeles. This is an extremely short, low-effort hike with a great payoff once you reach Madison Falls. This is a great option if you’re short on time or visiting Olympic National Park with young kids.
While the trail to Madison Falls is paved and technically accessible, wheelchairs and strollers may require assistance due to the grade and condition of the asphalt.
Madison Falls Trail Stats
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms? There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.
- Trailhead Parking Difficulty: Moderate. The parking lot is fairly small, but since it’s such a short hike people come and go regularly.
- Distance: 0.25 miles out-and-back
- Elevation Gain: 50 ft.
- Difficulty: Very easy (1/10)
- Estimated Hike Time: <30 minutes
- Dog-Friendly? Yes, dogs must be leashed!
- AllTrails Link
Madison Falls Trail Map
*BONUS* Big Cedar Tree
The trailhead to see the Big Cedar Tree is located right along Highway 101 near the town of Forks. Getting to the Big Cedar Tree is a short 1/4 mile walk along a flat, well maintained path. It’s an easy pit stop if you’re already driving by and provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of the old growth forest on the Olympic Peninsula.
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