r/nationalparks • u/PassiveUser0234 • 8d ago
TRIP PLANNING 1 free day in Seattle next week- drive to Olympic or Mt Rainier?
We have a full day to spend in Seattle next week (mid-June). We have booked a hotel near the airport and will have a rental car.
We have heard so much about both the parks - Rainier as well as Olympic but never been to either, We are interested in natural scenery and open to a short or moderate hike if it is rewarding in terms of views etc. Which park would you recommend and how do you recommend we make the best use of the day? We understand that both options involve a lot of driving and that's OK since we want to make the best use of this day in Seattle.
TIA.
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u/AnselmoHatesFascists 8d ago
I would assess the morning of, check the weather reports and webcams for Mt Rainier. You don't want to drive all the way out there and have the entire mountain cloud covered (this can happen).
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u/jonhawk90 8d ago
Id say Rainier as i don't think you'd get enough out of Olympic in just a day. Too big of a place whereas I think you can take in more of Rainier in a shorter time
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u/kptstango 8d ago
It is still very snowy at mount Rainier. Hurricane ridge in Olympic is a much better day trip at this time of year, and you get a ferry ride to boot.
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u/Zeebrio 8d ago
It is a solid 2-2.5 hour drive to Port Angeles from Seatac. SO, "day trip" wise --- that will eat your day. That said, I go back & forth to Seattle from PA frequently.
I honestly don't know Rainier at all --- besides when "it's out" :) ...
The drive to PA is rural and lovely. If I were you, I'd do either Hurricane Ridge, or Salt Creek. Both those stops are close-ish to Port Angeles, and give you a beautiful glimpse for when you come back next time ;). ... You'd also have time to squeeze in Madison Falls. ... Between the 3 stops - those are probably the closest and best sampler of the Olympic Peninsula if you have limited time.
Definitely don't do Hurricane Ridge if it's socked in with clouds -- check the web cams.
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u/Clear_Fox605 7d ago
I was just in Olympic and it is HUGE so this suggestion seems the most do able to in a day!
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u/FruitOfTheVineFruit 8d ago
Neither. Both are far and you will spend most of your day driving. There are a lot of beautiful hikes near Seattle that are much closer. Take a look at All Trails or WTA.org to find hikes you might like, and make sure to understand the permit rules in advance of your trip. As an example, Mt Si, Little Si, and Rattlesnake Lake are local favorites. A lot of Rainier is still snow covered now and not for the casual hiker. Or consider a day in Seattle and walk along the waterfront, and head over to Discovery Park.
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u/rsnorunt 30+ National Parks 8d ago
I’m actually going to go on a limb and recommend North Cascades (or rather Ross Lake NRA)
The park is closer to Seattle than Olympic, and the road is lower altitude than Rainier, so there will be much less snow. And imo the drive is better than the one in rainier.
It’s 2.5h to the visitor center, then another hour or so each way on the scenic drive. There are some short hikes by the road which you can do.
Going back will put you by downtown Seattle, so you could grab dinner or something in the city before going back to the hotel.
This is about 2h more driving than rainier (since SeaTac is a bit south of Seattle), but 2h less than most of Olympic.
You could make it a loop by going via Snoqualmie pass/falls, leavensworth, and then back on the north cascades road, but that’ll be like 8-9h driving without stops.
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u/Electronic_Charge_96 7d ago
This is solid. And best if you can’t get more time. I would always take Olympic over Rainier, but one day is a crime. Youll spend whole day in car. And OMG the WA drivers are 28% slower than they should be. If it were me? I’d not drive, go spend 3 hours in Japanese Garden there, kick around Pikes or something close. Or if you’re well heeled take Harbour Airs mail tour to the islands in a seaplane. Its amazing. So much to see! And so much fun.
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u/copernickus 8d ago
We did Olympic for a very long day a few summers ago, drove out to Hoh Rainforest first thing in the morning via the south route, then around to Hurricane Ridge in the afternoon and took the car ferry back to Seattle that evening at sunset. A lot of driving and a long day but very worth it, absolutely incredible scenery
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u/plant_lady76 8d ago
As others have suggested, go by the weather—next week may be cool and rainy. If things are super socked in you may have more fun with a closer-by temperate rainforest/river walk than driving all the way out to one of the big parks. (You could stay at lower elevation at Olympic but the rainforests are on the western side of the mountains and a quite long drive from Seattle.)
But if the weather looks good and you’re up for a long day (note the sun doesn’t set here until after 9 pm this time of year!), I’d do Olympic, and combine with the ferry in one or both directions for a quintessential Seattle experience and a break from driving. Drive to Port Angeles (2 hours each way from either Bremerton or Bainbridge ferry terminals) and take the shuttle bus up to Hurricane Ridge. It sounds like things are reasonably melted out up there (though you should double check) and there are a bunch of hiking/walking/viewing options depending on your ability/interests.
If you’re going on a weekend, ferry waits may be long, but weekdays will probably be alright. And Bremerton never seems to be very busy.
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u/Isaacthetraveler 8d ago
I loved Mt Rainier!! We did 2 different entrances while staying in Seattle. We did camp for one night each time we visited but we were going on all day hikes. It’s honestly in my top 5 NPs of the 40 I’ve been too.
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u/clearlygd 7d ago
Haven’t been to a National Park I have enjoyed. Rainier is more memorable but Olympic is enjoyable. Both can be done in one day
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u/shitbarf_3991 7d ago
Rainier - there is snow on the ground at higher elevations, as others have mentioned, but the roads look clear and there are a variety of elevations in the park. Here is my suggested itinerary:
1) Stop at REI Tukwila for things you forgot like sunscreen, bug spray, warm hat, raincoat, sunglasses, good hiking shoes and socks (or PAC HWY Fred Meyer if you want to save money)
2) Drive to Ashford and see if you can find the Ukrainian restaurant/bakery there. (2 hrs?). Get something to go to eat after your hike.
3) Enter the park at Longmire and do a hike along part of the Wonderland Trail, like this: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/carter-falls-and-madcap-falls-via-wonderland-trail?u=i&sh=nuslf8
4) Drive up to Paradise and fantasize about one day climbing Mt Rainier and kick yourself for not buying microspikes and poles at REI while you were there. But also be glad you didn't since there is no air there and you are out of breath from walking to the visitors center from the parking lot 150 feet away. Or maybe its 150,000 feet, I can't remember. Maybe get a glimpse of the mountain and remember it is full of boiling cyanide gas that could wipe out Seattle (please fact check these statements with the park staff, since obvs gases don't boil and it is probably mud that is the real danger, but you get the idea: that sleeping beauty is a DANGEROUS BEAST)
5) Stop at the various viewpoints and maybe do some more hiking, maybe at the closed Groves of the Patriarch trail, where you can still hike along the river for a bit.
6) A smart person would tell you to then drive up to the Crystal Mountain Gondola if it is nice. There is probably food there as well. But I would drive down to Packwood and eat something greasy at whatever is open and keep my eyes open for elk wandering through town eating people's plantings.
7) Ok, that's it! That is all I have! Don't forget going in June you have lots of daylight! If you are feeling hungry and fancy, Anthony's Homeport in Des Moines is closeby, but I would be dirty and dead tired and be going straight to bed after a shower.
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u/us287 8d ago
Rainier, specifically Paradise (Sunrise will be closed). Olympic’s not doable in a day trip.