Fast, secure, risk-free booking guaranteed.
Year-round, but summer is the best season
Seattle, WA, is 4 hours away
4-5 days
Intermediate to advanced
Quench your thirst for a real challenge in the mountains by joining a backpacking trip through the primeval forests of Olympic NP. Several dozen trails meander through the Olympic Mountains, linking rushing rivers, glassy lakes, and thundering waterfalls, all protected by 280-foot trees and their sumptuous canopies. So pick a trail and spend 4 or 5 days backpacking through the park! With the food, equipment and camping covered by your guides, the only thing you’ve got to do is set up your camp under the stars and keep an eye out for the thriving wildlife—such as deer, marmots, or black bears.
Demanding trails that result in sweeping views of ancient forests, lakes, and waterfalls
Discover 1,100 species of plants and millennium-old trees sprinkled throughout nearly a million acres
Spot the roosevelt elk named after Teddy Roosevelt, who established the Olympic NP in 1938
This is the second trip we took with Lasting Adventures and our second trip was just as great as the first. We had an amazing Guide, Caber. He was a true expert. Knew his way around even off trail and was an expert in the geology and fauna of the area. He let us go at the pace we needed while giving us inspiration to push the boundaries in a safe way. He was really good with my teenage son. We really couldn’t have asked for more and would definitely book another trip again.
I had one of the best backpacking experience with Lasting Adventures. Our guides, Nicole and Marina, were outstanding. They explained the overall plan the first day and helped us at every step. They were highly professional and an excellent guide.
Second year in a row doing a trip with Lasting Adventures. It was fantastic, even better then last year, and last year was pretty amazing. The guides were great, and we were lucky enough to have Dyson AGAIN, as our guide this year. Love how much I learned, how fun it was and overall, gave me some amazing time in nature.
Incredible adventure with the most amazing guide, Maddie! She was patient, informative, helpful and a blast to be with from start to finish. Maddie made our time together one we will never forget. I highly recommend considering Lasting Adventures for your next adventure. This is the first off the grid experience for me and I was truly blown away!
This was my fifth guided backpacking trip in the wilderness and by far the best. It’s all about the guides and Halle and Felicity were perfect: competent, easy to work with, smart and trustworthy. They set a perfect pace and didn’t “over teach” as some guides do. And the food! Pretty crazy that we could eat so well in the wilderness!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
Joining backpacking trips in Olympic NP requires excellent physical fitness. Depending on the adventure you choose, you’ll have 3 or 4 hiking days in a row, covering anywhere between 4 and 11 miles daily. Since there are no porters on these trips, you also have to be comfortable carrying a backpack weighing at least 20-25% of your body weight. Keep in mind that weather can vary greatly throughout the park and that it can be unpredictable. Still, summer is the best season for hiking with mostly pleasant, mild temperatures.
If you’d like to explore a larger area, check out this guided hiking tour of Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Here’s a list of clothing we recommend you bring:
Backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, camp pillows, bowls, mugs and sporks are all included in the price of the trip. If you have gear that you are comfortable using, it is recommended that you use your own gear.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. Plan on additional warm layers for trips in May and late September-October trips, as the weather can fluctuate and may be below freezing at night.
Everything is included in the price of the trip! Backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, trekking poles, camp pillows, bowls, mugs and sporks—it’s all taken care of, just let us know on time that you need it. Insect repellant, toothpaste tablets, biodegradable soap, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and toilet paper are also included in the price of the trip.
If you have gear that you are comfortable using, it is recommended that you use your own gear. And if you require a unique type of toiletry items, bring only as much as you need for the trip.
Olympic National Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Raccoons, beaver, and mink live mostly in the lowlands, while deer, elk, cougars, and bears are to be found in valleys and mountain meadows. Despite their abundance, viewing wildlife is often a matter of luck and diligence.
Keep in mind that you’re a guest in the animals’ natural habitat, meaning that you must follow a set of rules—one of the Leave No Trace principles. You should observe wildlife from a distance, never feed them, never chase them, or disturb them for a better photo. As long as you respect them, no problems should arise. Carrying bear spray is not advised in Olympic NP—instead of it, make sure that you never leave food unattended and use a bear can if necessary.
Regardless of the local laws and policies, Lasting Adventures DOES NOT ALLOW FIREARMS on any of their trips. Participants who bring firearms will not be allowed to participate while in possession of their firearm.
You can expect excellent food throughout your backpacking trip in Olympic NP! Typical breakfasts might include burritos, oatmeals, pancakes, dried fruit, bagels, etc. For dinner, your guides will prepare a variety of pastas, risottos, beans, couscous, meats, vegetables, etc. Lunch will consist of trail food with fruits, vegetables, pita, bagels, salami, cheeses, hummus, trail mix, energy bars, etc.
All special dietary requests (vegan, keto, gluten-free, vegetarian—you name it) can be easily accommodated, just let your guides know in advance!
Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A 50% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 1 month (30 days) prior to departure. If booking 45 or less days before departure, full amount is required upon booking. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
Depending on the tour you choose, the meeting point is either the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center or Sol Duc Campground within Olympic National Park. To get there, the nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). From there, renting a car is the easiest option to reach the meeting point and it will take you around 4 hours.
Regardless of which adventure you choose, you’ll meet your guide at the given point at 4 pm on Day 1.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Olympic NP, Washington, please refer to Washington’s COVID-19 travel status.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information
Meet your guide and your group at 4 pm at the Sol Duc Campground. Get acquainted with everyone and go over what to pack and what to leave behind. Settle in for the night under the forest canopy and get a good night’s sleep listening to the creek. Backpacking starts tomorrow.
Start your adventure by gaining a bit of elevation up to Deer Lake, passing by the famous Sol Duc Falls at the beginning of your hike.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 3.5 miles / 5.6 km
Elevation: +2,300 ft / +700 m
From Deer Lake, head to Heart Lake, and stop at Lunch Lake for lunch! This takes you along the High Divide Trail offering sweeping views of snow-capped mountains with carpets of wildflowers and an opportunity to spot the Olympic Marmot or even elk!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 miles / 12.9 km
Elevation: +3,700 ft / +1,130 m | -2,500 ft / -760 m
Wake up in a spectacular location on your last day, have a hearty breakfast before packing up and hiking the last miles downhill to the trailhead. If you’d like to stay longer, just ask your guides for some recommendations!
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 7.75 miles / 12.5 km
Elevation: +900 ft / +275 m | -3,600 ft / -1,100 m
Note: For a detailed map with elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here.
Meet your guide and your group at 4 pm at the Hoh Campground. Get acquainted with everyone and go over what to pack and what to leave behind. Settle in for the night under the forest canopy and get a good night’s sleep listening to the creek. Backpacking starts tomorrow.
On your first full day of adventure, hike 9 gradual miles to the Olympus Guard Station gaining 950 easy feet of elevation. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to take pictures of the Hoh’s ancient forest, which is one of the most pristine temperate rainforests in the United States.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 9 miles / 14.5 km
Elevation: +950 ft / +290 m
Today you hike from the Olympus Grand Station to Elk Lake Campground. From here, you have a decision to make: either hike to the glacier (another 6 miles roundtrip with 2,800 ft of elevation gain) in the afternoon, or hike the glacier on the morning of Day 4 before moving camp. Upon arrival at the Blue Glacier with Mount Olympus towering overhead, soak in the views and have a good meal.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 11 miles / 17.7 km
Elevation: +5,000 ft / +1,524 m | -2,800 ft / -853 m
Hike downhill back to the Olympus Guard Station, a beautiful campground where you’ll relax for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 5 miles / 8 km
Elevation: -2,200 ft / -670 m
Enjoy the easy hike of the last flat portion to the trailhead and take the last few photos. If you’d like to stay longer, ask your guides for some recommendations and keep on exploring!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 9 miles / 14.4 km
Note: For a detailed map with elevation profile of the tentative itinerary, click here.