One visit to the Olympic National Park and you’ll understand why so many people love it. It has lush rainforests, waterfalls that flow year-round, lakes to kayak on, mountains full of wildflowers, and the most stunning beaches and coastline. Although there is always the potential for rain, it’s the perfect place to explore and propose, any time of year.

Travel

Unbeknownst to most tourists, it takes about half a day to reach the Olympic National Park from Seattle. This includes taking a ferry across the Puget Sound (my favorite mode of transportation) and driving the remaining distance to the park.

Since the area is more rural, public transit isn’t very developed, so driving yourself is a must.

The park is vast

The Olympic National Park is very diverse, but it’s also a huge park. Highway 101 circumnavigates the park, with Port Angeles and Forks being the most convenient places to find lodging. From either of these locations, the most famous sights are 30 to 90 minutes away. Don’t worry, though, every drive here is scenic!

Before you book lodging (see recommendations here), talk with your photographer about what areas you may want to propose in. This could have a big impact on where you book lodging, if necessary.

Seasonal changes

There are seasonal road and trail closures throughout the park. The entire park is accessible between July and October, although it’s worthwhile to visit in any season.

Weather

The Pacific Northwest has a mild Mediterranean climate. The temperature ranges between lows of 40s in the winter and highs of 70s in the summer.

Although you’ll find snow in the mountains between December and June, the lowlands generally receive rain instead. You can expect to have a chance of rain year-round, but the area has the most sun between July and September. Bring waterproof shoes and a jacket and you’ll be fit to explore any time of year.

Privacy

Since the Olympic National Park takes a bit of effort to reach, it’s generally less crowded than Washington’s other national parks. If you visit a popular location on a weekday at sunrise, you’ll surely have the place to yourself. Visit on a weekday at sunset and you’ll have fewer people around then, too.

Pet-friendly

There are some areas where dogs are allowed in the Olypmpic National Park, but not all of it is dog friendly. You can find a list of dog friendly places here.

Many of the locations listed are some of the park's best lakes and beaches, and dogs are also allowed in the nearby Olympic National Forest.

Please follow B.A.R.K. rules wherever you choose to explore.

B: Bag your poop

A: Always wear a leash

R: Respect Wildlife

K: Know where to go

Sustainable practices

You’ll need to practice the leave no trace principles wherever you choose to propose. This means staying on trails, picking up after yourselves, and respecting park rules. Doing so helps keep Washington beautiful!

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