Fall in Olympic National Park (11 BEST Things to Do!)
Planning a trip to Olympic National Park in October or November?
I explore the park year-round, and autumn is my favorite season because it’s when this extraordinary landscape undergoes its most remarkable transformation.
As summer fades into fall, bigleaf maple leaves and huckleberry shrubs turn to striking colors of amber and crimson. Coho salmon return to fight against mighty river currents, leaping through the air to fulfill their spawning journey. Mushrooms thrive on the moist forest floor, and the high-pitched calls of male elks signal that it’s mating season.
➥ This article highlights the pros and cons of an autumn visit, the eleven best Olympic National Park fall activities, top spots for fall foliage, easy hikes, and tips for a safe and unforgettable trip.
Grab your rain jacket, and let’s go!
Skip the guesswork, stress, and hours of research—plan the trip of a lifetime with a local travel expert!
Autumn in Olympic National Park: Pros & Cons
One crisp late October morning, I hiked the Sol Duc Falls Trail in solitude, enjoying the calm and quiet of my experience.
Fewer crowds is the number one reason why you should visit Olympic in the autumn.
Below is a short list of the benefits and drawbacks of a fall visit.
Pros:
- Fewer Crowds: Enjoy a quieter experience with less tourist traffic.
- Nature’s Transformation: Witness fall foliage, mushrooms proliferating, and salmon returning to spawn.
- Cooler Temperatures: Ideal for all-day hiking and outdoor activities.
- Wildlife Migration Viewing: Prime time to observe migratory birds and gray whales headed south.
- Unique Photography Opportunities: Fall colors, moody skies, and morning mist offer exceptional conditions.
Cons:
- Shorter Days: Less daylight for activities.
- Higher Chance of Rain: Increased precipitation, manageable with proper gear.
- Limited Access: Seasonal closures of roads and facilities like Hurricane Ridge Road and Sol Duc Resort.
- Unpredictable Weather: Heavy rains, storms, and snow at higher elevations can impact plans.
- Fewer Tour Options: As operators scale back for the off-season, some guided tours may be unavailable.
Best Olympic Day Tour
➥ Book this 5-star, small-group day tour from Seattle available all year!
11 Things to Do in Olympic National Park in Fall (Non-Hikers Too!)
This list of the best fall activities in Olympic includes many non-hiking attractions.
1. Watch salmon jump at Salmon Cascades.
The sight of coho salmon leaping up the Sol Duc River falls as they head to their spawning grounds is a spectacular display you’ll only see from late summer to early fall.
On a late October visit to the Salmon Cascades, I saw a few jump out of the water, but many were waiting and resting in the calm river pools. The water was clear enough to see their hook noses and spots.
On a late September visit, I watched them jump repeatedly!
Depending on the timing of your visit, you might need to be patient and hang out for at least twenty minutes to see salmon jump. Visit in late September to early October to see them at their most active time.
2. Rent an E-Bike and ride to the Elwha River.
Unlike hiking, you don’t have to be super fit to bike for hours on an e-bike!
Rent one from the friendly folks at Discover E-Bikes in Port Angeles, and they’ll provide a map, route recommendations, and helmets — everything you need for a three-hour roundtrip cruise to the Elwha River.
The Elwha River is one of the best places to see swaths of trees with gold and yellow foliage. At the bridge, soak in the sights of this ecological restoration success story, which you can learn about here.
3. Listen to Roosevelt elk bugling at the Hoh.
Visiting the Hoh Rain Forest provides the best opportunity for Roosevelt elk viewing, as herds roam the food-rich area year-round.
September is when you’ll start to hear the high-pitched screeching sound of male elk, known as bugling. This mating call asserts dominance and attracts females.
Click on the video below to listen to this haunting sound:
I love visiting the Hoh in autumn to see the lushness return to the rainforest after months of summer drought. Amber-colored maple leaves blanket the forest floor, strikingly contrasting evergreen conifers, swordferns, and draping moss.
4. Hunt for mushrooms while you hike.
Colorful fungi of varying sizes are everywhere in autumn, and it’s no wonder since Olympic National Park is home to at least 1400 species!
You’ll see them year-round in the park, but peak mushroom season starts when autumn rains begin and lasts until frost regularly blankets the ground.
On my October hike to Sol Duc Falls, while enjoying views of the falls, I looked around and, to my delight, saw mushrooms all around me! They were plentiful on my hike to Marymere Falls later that day.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
It’s best to admire fascinating fungi without disturbing them, especially if you cannot identify the mushrooms you encounter. Not only do they play a vital role in the park’s ecosystem, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients into the soil for use by plant life, but Galerina marginata, commonly known as funeral bell, grows in the park and is poisonous.
5. Soak in Sol Duc Resort’s hot springs before it closes for the year.
Cooler temperatures make soaking in the hot springs more inviting. Relaxing in these natural waters is the perfect way to end a day of hiking at Lake Crescent or Hurricane Ridge.
My timing of a trip to the Sol Duc Valley coincided with the last day of the year when the hot springs were open. Seeing steam rising from the building as I walked towards it, contrasted against the clear blue sky, made me regret not bringing my bathing suit!
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort is open from late March to late October / early November.
The exact dates vary yearly, so check the park lodge’s website before your trip.
6. Backpack the High Divide Trail.
This 20-mile adventure is for experienced hikers and backpackers, not for beginners without the proper gear or experience.
You’ll need a permit and park-approved bear canister to camp overnight unless you have the endurance to hike this trail as an epic, one-day thru-hike.
Your reward is seeing huckleberry shrubs lighting up the landscape with a fiery crimson color and incredible views of Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Olympic National Park.
7. Enjoy the last hot day of the year by dipping in the water.
Temperatures can spike in early October. If it does, it’s almost guaranteed to be the last time it happens that year.
The three places I frequent when I want to cool off in the water are East Beach on Lake Crescent, the Dosewallips River on the Hood Canal side of the park, and Lake Cushman on the way to Staircase, south of Dosewallips.
⚠️ I do not recommend swimming in Olympic National Park beach waters. Ocean currents are strong – often more powerful than people realize – and waves commonly catch people off guard.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Early October weather can be as good as summer. I hiked to Hole in the Wall on Rialto Beach on an unforgettable 80-degree, blue-sky early October day.
8. View migratory wildlife on the coast.
If you’re traveling to Olympic for wildlife, an autumn visit will not disappoint. In addition to spawning salmon and bugling elk, the coasts offer breathtaking opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Highway 112, known as the Strait of Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway, is ideal for an unhurried drive. Stop at Salt Creek or drive all the way to Neah Bay for prime birding locations.
On the Pacific Coast, keep an eye out for gray whales on their annual migration from Alaska to Mexico from October through January. Their southward migration route is closer to shore than their route heading north. (source)
La Push is a fantastic stop on the Whale Trail, a string of whale-watching sites along the Pacific Coast.
9. Storm watch from a cabin at La Push.
Storm watching on the coast begins in fall and lasts through winter.
La Push beaches are excellent for this experience. You can stay at Quileute Oceanside Resort and see dark, stormy skies and powerful waves crash against the shore from the comfort of a warm cabin.
We’ve stayed in their Deluxe Cabin, which has floor-to-ceiling windows that face the beach, providing an incredible view of nature’s intensity without the risks.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
When visiting Olympic National Park beaches, always check the tide schedule and be cautious of sneaker waves, especially in bad weather.
10. See the first snow of the season on the Olympic Mountains from Hurricane Ridge.
After months of looking at snow-free mountains, it’s quite a thrill to see snow covering the range’s highest peaks. Hurricane Ridge is the best place to witness the first snow of the season, which can happen as early as late September.
If the park closes Hurricane Ridge Road, you can see snow-covered mountains at sea level from Ediz Hook in Port Angeles.
As snow becomes more likely later in November and beyond, you can experience the transition to winter with activities like snowshoeing, skiing, and tubing at Hurricane Ridge.
⚠️ Call 360-565-3131 for road and weather information before your trip.
11. See fall foliage.
Our bigleaf maple trees are majestic, with leaves that can grow up to 12 inches wide and turn brilliant shades of amber. Vine maples, shrub-like trees with smaller leaves, take on hues of copper and crimson.
But it’s not just our maples that put on a show. The foliage of other native plants, like Oregon grape and huckleberry, turns striking colors, with the latter blanketing open areas of subalpine slopes in a vibrant crimson color.
See the section below on where to see fall colors, which includes a map.
TIDEPOOLING IN OLYMPIC:
You can explore tide pools year-round! My favorite places are Kalaloch Beach 4 and Second Beach. Remember to check the tide schedule so you don’t get trapped by the incoming tide.
Map: Where to See Fall Colors
Easy Fall Hikes
See the location of these trails on the map above.
Madison Falls Trail
This accessible trail is more of a short walk than a hike and leads to the picturesque Madison Falls. From the parking lot, you get excellent autumn scenery of the Elwha River. This hike is great for a quick visit.
Marymere Falls Trail to Barnes Creek
On this family-friendly hike through old-growth forest, enjoy colorful foliage along Barnes Creek before reaching Marymere Falls. Look for the grand maple tree next to Highway 101, whose leaves will put on a display.
Spruce Railroad Trail
This scenic trail follows an old railroad track along the northern shore of Lake Crescent. It offers easy walking past bigleaf maples turning color. Highlights include Devil’s Punchbowl, a popular summer swimming hole, and two tunnels.
Sol Duc Falls
This short hike leads you through a mossy forest to one of the most iconic waterfalls in Olympic National Park. You’ll reach a viewing bridge where you’ll see autumn colors lining the Sol Duc River as it cascades down in multiple streams.
Hall of Mosses Trail
Walk this short loop through the Hoh Rain Forest to see gold and amber maple leaves contrasted against vibrant, draping green moss that hangs from stately evergreen trees. This autumn hike might be the park’s most enchanting.
Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail
Impressive old-growth trees and views of Willaby Creek flowing through the forest make this easy loop trail a fantastic hike to do year-round. But just like at the Hoh, the rainforest’s lush moss and maidenhair ferns become more vibrant after the rains begin.
Staircase Rapids Loop Trail
This scenic loop trail follows the North Fork Skokomish River, offering serene views of rushing waters and river rock beds. Deciduous trees and moss-covered boulders line the river, making it a great hike for enjoying the season’s colors.
Fall Weather by Month
September
September is a transition month that starts with summer weather and temperatures that can reach 80 degrees. Sunny and warm days are typical and can last throughout the month during an El Nino year. Some years, rain begins in September, and snowfall occurs at higher mountain elevations.
Evenings are chilly, so bring layers and rain gear, just in case.
October
The weather during the first and last weeks of October varies tremendously. The year I visited Rialto Beach in 80-degree weather during the first weekend in October, the weather I experienced on the last weekend of October was a striking contrast. I explored the Sol Duc Valley wearing an insulated jacket on a morning when frost blanketed the ground.
October marks the start of the rainy season, so rain gear is necessary.
November
November is our region’s rainiest month. Cold, wet, and gray days are the norm, and it’s not uncommon for parts of the peninsula to receive over an inch of rain in just one day! Snow and freezing temperatures become more frequent at higher elevations, while rain and wind are common at lower elevations, like the coast.
November is cold and wet, so bring rain gear and insulated layers.
Tips: Visiting Olympic in the Fall
General Travel & Safety Tips
- Check park alerts.
- Stay updated on weather conditions.
- Know which areas are closed before you head out the door.
- Bring tire chains if you’re headed to the Heart O’ the Hills entrance after November 1st.
- Always tell a friend or family member which trail you plan to hike and when they can expect you to return.
- Look up driving routes in advance in case you lose cell service.
EDITOR’S TIP:
I download trail maps using AllTrails. When I lose cell service and can’t rely on Google Maps, I open up my downloaded map on the AllTrails app. Even though I can’t plug in the address to where I’m headed, I can see where I am and easily figure out which direction to go.
Gear & Clothing
- Bring rain gear! A gore-tex rain jacket and rain pants are necessities.
- Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good traction.
- Use trekking poles when hiking. They’re helpful in wet conditions.
- Bring all ten essentials in your backpack.
- Bring a portable cell phone charger and cord.
- Dress in layers instead of, for example, wearing a parka-style jacket over a shirt.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DRESS IN LAYERS?
You’ll hear this advice often. For the upper half of your body, it means bringing at least three layers of clothing, with the final layer – the layer on top of the other two layers – being waterproof if needed.
My first layer is a synthetic long-sleeved shirt, my second layer is a lightweight yet incredibly warm softshell hooded jacket, and my third layer is a lightweight puffy jacket if it’s freezing or my gore-tex jacket if it’s raining. When it’s wet and cold, I’ll wear my gore-text jacket on top of my puffy.
Dressing this way is smart and versatile because you can add layers when you get cold and remove layers when you get hot.
Where to Stay on the Olympic Peninsula
You have many options for where to stay on the Olympic Peninsula, but the three places below offer fantastic views from your accommodations.
Lake Crescent Lodge
The decorative and native maples surrounding Lake Crescent Lodge put on a spectacular display. The lodge is within walking distance from the best Lake Crescent hikes.
Terra Vista Chalet
I stayed in the Pine Room at Terra Vista Chalet, where I enjoyed the sight of deciduous trees and forest views from my balcony. The sounds of the Elwha River lulled me to sleep.
Lake Quinault Lodge
Lake Quinault Lodge is my favorite place to stay on the peninsula. From our room, we could easily access hiking trails along the lake. Afterward, we warmed up by the grand lobby fireplace.
Wrap-Up: Fall in Olympic National Park
Fall is a magical, transformative time, and my favorite time to experience Olympic National Park.
From hiking, to mushroom hunting, to seeing migrating wildlife, and more, there’s so much to do here in autumn.
Just remember to bring your rain jacket!
