Olympic National Park is a National Park in Washington. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 38 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Olympic
We matched 38 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Olympic. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (3)
Waterfalls (5)
Waterfall
Waterfall
Waterfall
WaterfallWaterfallNatural Arches (1)
Mountain Peaks (8)
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain Peak
Mountain PeakLakes (2)
Canyons (2)
Hot Springs (1)
Glaciers (7)
Glacier
Glacier
Glacier
Glacier
Glacier
Glacier
GlacierBeaches (4)
Mountain Passes (2)
Fire Lookouts (2)
Wilderness Areas (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Olympic the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 53° (NE) at the June solstice and 125° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 308° (NW) in June to 235° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 66° in summer but only 19° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:00 AM | 8:50 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:50 PM | 239° | 8h 50m |
| February | 7:22 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:38 PM | 252° | 10h 16m |
| March | 7:29 AM | 8:10 AM | 6:39 PM | 7:20 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:26 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:04 PM | 286° | 13h 38m |
| May | 5:37 AM | 6:23 AM | 8:01 PM | 8:46 PM | 300° | 15h 09m |
| June | 5:16 AM | 6:05 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:16 PM | 307° | 15h 59m |
| July | 5:32 AM | 6:19 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:10 PM | 304° | 15h 38m |
| August | 6:11 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:29 PM | 292° | 14h 18m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:29 PM | 275° | 12h 36m |
| October | 7:34 AM | 8:17 AM | 5:46 PM | 6:28 PM | 258° | 10h 54m |
| November | 7:21 AM | 8:09 AM | 3:51 PM | 4:39 PM | 243° | 9h 18m |
| December | 7:58 AM | 8:51 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:24 PM | 235° | 8h 26m |
Computed for the park's reference point (47.8039, -123.6664); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Olympic, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 1.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 13° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| April | 3:50 AM – 4:20 AM | 0.5 | 12° |
| May | 1:51 AM – 3:11 AM | 1.3 | 13° |
| June | 12:25 AM – 2:05 AM | 1.7 | 13° |
| July | 11:54 PM – 1:04 AM | 1.2 | 13° |
| August | 10:34 PM – 11:04 PM | 0.5 | 12° |
| September | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Summers tend to be fair and warm, with high temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees F. July, August and September are the driest months, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. While winters are mild at lower elevation, snowfall can be heavy in the mountains. It is common for different weather conditions to exist within the park at the same time. At any time of year, visitors should come prepared for a variety of conditions.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (80%). August is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $75.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
You can reach Olympic National Park via the I-5 corridor or by any one of the quieter state roadways. Once you arrive on the Olympic Peninsula connect to Hwy 101 to reach any destinations in and around Olympic National Park. From Olympia: take I-5 to Hwy 101 From Tacoma: take State Route 16 to Bremerton; take State Route 3 north from Bremerton to State Route 104. From Washington/Oregon Coast connect to Hwy 101 in Aberdeen.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
Nearby parks
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WA
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OR/WA
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