Proceed north and allow at least three hours. Getting around Olympic is a wilderness park, and no roads run through it. Driving to the most accessible sites usually means going in and coming out on the same road, which most often will be a spur road off U.S. 101. On the way up, overlooks offer a fine aerial view of towns, farms and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which separates the U.S. from Canada. Up top, a clear day reveals the peaks of Mt. Olympus standing just slightly above the rest of the Bailey Range and a glorious vista.
Short walks lead to subalpine meadows.
Off-road, nearly 600 miles of trails beckon. Kayakers and boaters may want to explore Lake Sutherland and Lake Crescent. Mountaineers will claw their way up the walls and slopes. Visitor center hours vary according to the seasons. Winters tend to be mild and wet by Midwestern standards, but snow falls heavily in the high elevations.