National Park · Washington

Trails in Olympic National Park

201 named trails · 598 miles · 90 trailheads · 3 with the Park Service's own write-up. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks mapEvery park with trailsPark on nps.gov

201 trails, A to Z.

ALDWELL NATURE TRAIL

0.6 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 239 ft–348 ft · hiking

Picnic areas

336 ft 248 ft · 0.2 mi high 336 ft

Along the way Visitor Center

Trailhead Aldwell Nature Trail 350 ft Drive there

AURORA RIDGE TRAIL

11 mi one way · about 1,500 ft of climbing · 4,500 ft of descent · 1,252 ft–4,394 ft · native surface · hiking, horse

3,429 ft 2,585 ft · 2.5 mi high 3,465 ft

Trailhead Aurora Ridge 1,242 ft Drive there

CAPE ALAVA TRAIL

3.3 mi one way · about 300 ft of climbing · 19 ft–213 ft · hiking

Picnic areasRanger stations

148 ft 155 ft · 1.6 mi high 163 ft

Along the way Ozette Ozette

Trailhead Ozette Ranger Station 36 ft Drive there

DOSEWALLIPS CLOSED ROAD

1.7 mi one way · about 150 ft of climbing · 350 ft of descent · 1,373 ft–1,626 ft · hiking

Ranger stations

1,589 ft 1,382 ft · 1.7 mi high 1,625 ft

Along the way Dosewallips

Trailhead Dosewallips Ranger Station 1,584 ft Drive there

ELWHA RIVER TRAIL

27 mi one way · about 5,700 ft of climbing · 1,096 ft–3,638 ft · native surface · hiking, horse

Ranger stations

1,136 ft 1,575 ft · 1.7 mi high 1,640 ft

Along the way Elkhorn Hayes River

Trailhead Whiskey Bend 1,156 ft Drive there

See Madison Falls the Park Service's write-up

5-15 Minutes · dogs allowed

A waterfall rushes over mossy rocks to a pond below.
Madison Falls is at the end of one of the park's most accessible trails. Photo: NPS Photo / J. Burger

Madison Falls is a stunning 60-foot waterfall near the Elwha River. It's also one of the most accessible destinations at the park, making it a great stop for families and visitors of all abilities.

Stop at the parking area for a great view of the Elwha River. The Elwha is the Olympic Peninsula's largest watershed, and home to salmon and trout. For millenia, the Klallam people relied on fish nurtured by the Elwha River watershed. But two dams on the river constructed in 1913 and 1927 were built without fish passage, meaning that thousands of salmon could no longer reach the Elwha Valley. After careful planning, both dams were removed in 2014. Within months of the dams' removal, salmon were spawning in the park for the first time in 100 years! See this impressive river and hear its rushing waters to experience the success of this restoration project.

Then, continue beyond the parking lot on a 0.1-mile, paved, gently sloping trail leading to Madison Falls. A bench at the end of this short trail provides a perfect spot to rest in the shade and take it all in.

Accessibility A gravel parking lot is located near the trailhead. An accessible vault toilet is located at the trailhead. The trail distance is 0.1 miles, one way. The trail has a gentle slope. Elevation gain is minimal.

This hike on nps.gov

MARYMERE FALLS NATURE TRAIL

1.2 mi one way · about 250 ft of climbing · 594 ft–764 ft · hiking

Ranger stationsBoat launches

599 ft 703 ft · 0.5 mi high 703 ft

Along the way Storm King Storm King

Trailheads Marymere Falls Nature Trail 605 ft Drive there · Storm King Ranger Station 601 ft Drive there

MOMENTS IN TIME TRAIL

0.7 mi one way · 585 ft–597 ft · hiking

591 ft 585 ft · 0.1 mi high 591 ft

Walk the Moments in Time Trail the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · no dogs

A trail leads through an old growth forest surrounded by ferns.
Take an easy stroll through an old-growth forest on the Moments in Time Trail. Photo: NPS Photo

Take a peaceful stroll at Barnes Point on Lake Crescent on the Moments in Time Trail. This easy 0.8 mile loop trail begins near the historic Lake Crescent Lodge . The trail is surrounded by moss-covered trees and lush ferns. As you walk, look for fallen nurse logs that provide nutrients to young trees and "snags," the still-standing trunks of fallen trees that provide homes for many forest critters. Signs along the trail point out landmarks, like the remains of a Douglas fir that once measured 35 feet in circumference. The Moments in Time Trail also provides access to the shores of beautiful, blue Lake Crescent. Contemplate the connection between old-growth forest and lake in this amazing, glacier-carved landscape.

Accessibility The Moments in Time Trail has a hard-packed surface and some uneven surfaces from tree roots and other obstacles. It has an elevation gain of about 9 feet. Service animals are allowed. Service animals may accompany their owner to all park locations. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

This hike on nps.gov

OIL CITY TRAIL

0.7 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 40 ft of descent · 18 ft–48 ft · hiking

46 ft 25 ft · 0.6 mi high 48 ft

Trailhead Oil City (Hoh River Mouth) 45 ft Drive there

PEABODY CREEK TRAIL

2.6 mi one way · about 850 ft of climbing · 275 ft–1,111 ft · hiking

279 ft 772 ft · 1.6 mi high 772 ft

Take a Short Hike Near the Visitor Center the Park Service's write-up

15-30 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Start from the Visitor Center

A trailhead with a sign that reads "Peabody Creek Trail."
The Peabody Creek Trail begins at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center parking lot. Photo: NPS Photo

Near the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, two short loop hikes take visitors through peaceful, green lowland forests. Both trails are open year-round, and provide a great introduction to the forests of Olympic following a visit to the Visitor Center. Picnic benches located near the trailheads and amenities at the Visitor Center make this a great spot to stop for a post-hike lunch.

Peabody Creek Trail to Aldwell Nature Trail

This moderate-difficulty half-mile loop begins at the western edge of the Visitor Center parking lot. The trail descends through the forest to Peabody Creek. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the unique experience of walking under moss-covered trees that lean over the trail. Keep right (north) to join the Aldwell Nature Trail and return to the Visitor Center parking lot, or continue on the Peabody Creek Trail for a 5.2 mile out-and-back journey.

Living Forest Trail

This easy 0.4 mile loop starts beside the historic Beaumont cabin, behind the Visitor Center. Keep a lookout for banana slugs, interesting fungi, and the many birds of the forest!

Accessibility Peabody Creek Trail: This trail is not considered ADA accessible. Visitors should be aware that this trail involves sometimes-steep inclines and declines, steps, and wooden bridge crossings. There are some natural obstacles along the trail route, including tree roots. Living Forest Trail: This trail is considered accessible with assistance. The trail does not meet ADA standards, but may be accessible by visitors with sufficient upper body strength and balance, or a friend to help. Living Forest Trail has an elevation change of 82 feet.

This hike on nps.gov

SAM'S RIVER LOOP TRAIL

2.8 mi one way · about 30 ft of climbing · 60 ft of descent · 268 ft–319 ft · native surface · hiking

Ranger stations

286 ft 269 ft · 1.0 mi high 286 ft

Along the way Queets

Trailhead Queets 285 ft Drive there

More hikes the Park Service describes

Write-ups that name no single mapped trail, in the Service's words.

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.