My Chill Spring Nature Itinerary for Olympic National Park
The first time we went to Olympic National Park was in the spring. We’ve visited the park multiple times, but this is our spring itinerary.
We went for three nights in May and were very lucky with lots of sunshine.
There were a few classic moody PNW mornings, but the fog usually lifted in the afternoons.
My Spring Olympic National Park Itinerary for Mindful Travel
As someone who values slow living + nature, I always want to see a lot, but don’t want to feel rushed.
And I like to have a quiet place to reflect which is why we loved staying at the family owned Miller Tree Inn.
Read my review of the Miller Tree Inn in Forks Washington.
Driving from Seattle to Olympic National Park
The drive from Seattle to the Miller Tree Inn is about three hours.
lake crescent in washington
On the way we stopped to admire Lake Crescent. This lake offers beautiful blues.
We then continued our journey for another hour to arrive in Forks, Washington where we were staying.
The Miller Tree in was so quiet, cozy, and centered around nature. It is centrally located to so many of the sights.
Day 1: Hoh Rainforest
The next morning we woke up early and headed to the Hoh rainforest. We drove about an hour to The Hoh.
Thankfully we were there early in the morning and on a weekday, so parking wasn’t bad when we arrived around 9:30 am, but when we were leaving a hours later parking was getting hectic.
The Hoh is such a special and amazing place. We did the Spruce Nature trail and Hall of Mosses loop which is so lush.
It’s an easy trail that allows you to see a lot of stunning trees and moss.
Then we did a couple miles of the Hoh River Trail.
We spent about five hours here exploring and not feeling rushed.
Then we stopped at the Hard Rain Cafe for a sandwich on the way back. The food is just okay, but it’s pretty much the only place near the Hoh Rainforest to eat.
Be sure to pack snacks when you go to the Hoh.
We then arrived back in Forks and watched the cows graze at the Miller Tree Inn while having some chill time.
Day 2: Beaches on Olympic National Park Coast
This day we explored a few different beaches. We drove about 40 minutres from the Miller Tree Inn to Ruby Beach. We got some moody weather this morning.
Be aware that there are some big driftwood piles you have to climb over to get to the beach area.
It was beautiful and I loved how you could smell the ocean and see the big tall trees. The beach did not feel crowded.
It was windy and chilly, so be sure you have a jacket.
There are many beaches along this stretch of the coast. We also stopped at Rialto Beach and some of the Kalaloch beaches.
After exploring the coast that morning, we returned to Forks to see that the sun had come out.
We explored some of the shops in town. Twilight fans are sure to love all the Twilight goods for purchase.
Then we went back to our peaceful room at the Miller Tree Inn for rest and reflection.
Day 3: Marymere Falls
This was the day we drove back to Seattle, but not without a few fun stops along the way! We drove to Marymere Falls. We were here on a Saturday and it was crazy busy.
Parts of the trail felt claustrophobic to me because there were so many people. But the waterfall was beautiful. I’d just recommend getting there early to avoid crowds and parking difficulty.
We stopped at Lake Crescent again to admire the stunning water.
Then we ended up at Granny’s for lunch. While their pie was really good. We felt their food was just average.
Then we started the drive back to Seattle.
This was a great trip for slowing down, appreciating nature, and exploring. I didn’t feel rushed, but I felt fulfilled and renewed.
If you have a few more days, I’d definitley recommend going to Cape Flattery and the Tree of Life.
Since we didn’t see Cape Flattery or the Tree of Life, we went back later in the fall! We were able to enjoy these attractions in the fall and not feel rushed.
The fall was a different vibe with stunning fall colors, elk, and moody PNW rain.
Be sure to read my review of the Miller Tree Inn when considering where to stay!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in the PNW where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, finding locally grown food at the farmer’s market, traveling & practicing slow living. Learn more about Emily’s journey starting The Honest Consumer.
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