By the Staff at Washington’s National Park Fund
With summer quickly approaching, we’re all making plans to get out into the parks and explore all that they have to offer. But with so many options, how can you possibly choose?
In honor of National Road Trip Day this Friday, the WNPF team compiled a few of our favorite road trips you can take through our three national parks here in Washington state: Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic.
Traveling up to Mount Rainier National Park? You have options!
Driving up to the iconic Paradise and Sunrise areas are the most popular and most traveled routes. Keep this in mind as you make your plans, as lines at the Nisqually entrance can be backed up – sometimes for miles – during sunny summer days.
Starting on May 24, 2024, the Paradise Corridor will require a timed entry reservation and the Sunrise Corridor timed entry reservations will start on July 4, 2024. Reservations are required until September 2, 2024. Learn more about timed entry here.
Another, lesser-known option? Travel southeast out of Seattle to Wilkeson instead. Fewer crowds, quieter roads, and the Carbon River and Mowich area (which doesn’t require a timed entry reservation) sings in the summertime. Take a lovely hike to Spray Park, an 8-mile round trip beauty. After hiking eight miles, a pizza back in Wilkeson at the Carlson Block will certainly hit the spot. Rated one of the best wood-fired pizzas in Washington, be sure to check their website as some days they’re open, some days they’re not.
Finally, if you’re traveling to the park from Eastern Washington, the Grove of the Patriarchs is fantastic, but… unfortunately, it’s currently closed due to severe damage resulting from flooding in November 2021. There’s no access to the grove, as the suspension bridge over the Ohanapecosh (spelled as áwxanapayk-ash in the language of the Yakima Nation and Cowlitz Tribe) was impacted. The Ohanapecosh River is named for a Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz) Indian habitation site along the river, meaning “standing at the edge-place”. Some say the name may also mean “clear stream… deep blue… or deep blue holes”. Quite fitting when you see it.
A word from the wise? Don’t try driving around the mountain in a day; instead, take your time. Pick a destination, identify a hike that suits you, take plenty of water, and pack a lunch. And getting out of the park before dark is also wise as roads after dark are windy and, well, dark.
A trip to the North Cascades National Park Service Complex isn’t complete without a drive down State Route 20 (SR 20), better known as the North Cascades Highway. It’s the state’s longest highway, spanning 436 miles across the northern areas of Washington, and follows one of the oldest state roads, which was created in 1896 as a wagon route.
After passing Marblemount, where one of the National Park Service’s backcountry ranger stations is located, the highway enters North Cascades National Park and passes through Newhalem, the company town for Seattle City Light. Newhalem is also home to the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center and gift shop – stop here to ask a ranger for tips on park experiences, watch the new park film premiering the summer of 2024, or take a stroll around back to the Visitor Center Observation Deck and the Sterling Munro Viewpoint for a gorgeous view of the Picket Range. The River Loop Trail is another great option; this 1.8-mile loop leads you through a variety of forest growth to a peaceful gravel bar with sweeping river views.
Back on the highway, you’ll pass through the narrow Diablo Canyon to the Diablo Dam and Diablo Lake – be sure to stop at Diablo Lake overlook, as the turquoise waters of the lake are absolutely breathtaking.
Follow the road as it curves around the southern part of the lake and continues northeast to Ross Lake, and then on to Ruby Creek and Canyon Creek; after that it heads southeast out of the park and back into Skagit County. Many visitors and road trippers from the Seattle area treat this highway as an out-and-back – you can turn back at plenty of turn-outs along the road.
Keep in mind, SR 20 closes for winter weather each year. Curious about conditions? The Washington State Department of Transportation is a great resource to see if the road is open, offering real-time traffic alerts and the ability to see the pass on a map.
Olympic National Park is by far the largest of the three national parks in Washington, featuring coastal beaches, alpine peaks, and lush forests. With all that it offers, it can be hard to choose just one adventure! If you are coming from the Seattle area and have limited time, consider choosing to focus on the northern border of the park. This road trip can be done year-round if road and weather conditions permit.
Start your trip by taking the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. You’ll be greeted by a panoramic view of the Olympic mountain range. Once you land, follow WA-104, which will eventually lead you to the iconic Washington Highway 101.
Your first stop will be in Port Angeles, where you can access the Port Angeles Visitors Center. From there you can explore the forested Peabody Creek Trail or head up to Hurricane Ridge and see the park at a higher vantage point.
Get back on Highway 101 and head west, stopping at Elwha to see one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects within the park service. This is the perfect stop for history buffs, anglers, and budding biologists to see one of the largest watersheds in the park come to life.
One final stop you won’t want to miss is Lake Crescent. Mount Storm King and Spruce Railroad Trails are popular, and for good reason! If you want a leg burner with a great payoff, Mount Storm King is the hike for you. If you’re looking for a mellow lake-side trail where even dogs are welcome, Spruce Railroad might be more your speed. When you are ready to head home, just take highway 101 back towards the ferry terminal in Kingston. The windy roads along Lake Crescent will have you wanting to come back and see more of the park.
In the spring and winter months, the road to Hurricane Ridge is open if conditions allow. Be sure to check the park’s alerts & conditions page before you head out. Another great resource to incorporate in your plans is our webcams page! Fun fact: The Hurricane Ridge webcams were restored after the tragic day lodge fire thanks to WNPF donors!
If you own a car, trailer, truck, or motorcycle, one of the most visible ways to show your support for our national parks is by purchasing a national park specialty license plate. For every national park license plate purchased, $28 is donated to Washington’s National Park Fund to support Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks.
Getting a plate is easy – you can apply through the Washington State Department of Licensing’s process, or in the dealership while purchasing your new vehicle. Don’t take our word for it – we asked some national park supporters how they went about getting their plates:
“I bought my most recent car out of state, so I needed to take care of the license and registration in person at the DMV. I picked my times carefully so as to not end up in the dreaded long DMV line, and everything was easy and straightforward… including purchasing my National Parks plates. When it came time to pick the plates themselves, the clerk shared her computer screen with me that offers all the choices for custom plates. We scrolled to the National Parks section and selected that option, and the plates arrived in the mail shortly thereafter. Super easy, and now my new Subaru is all decked out with this homage to our state’s three National Parks. It looks great AND supports the parks – win-win!” –John Meyer, WNPF Board Member
“I ended up ordering my National Parks license plate through the Washington State Department of Licensing, as we purchased our car through Carvana, an online car sale website, and didn’t end up needing to go to the DMV. All I had to do was go to the DOL website, print out the form, fill it out, and mail it in with a check. I even got a personalized plate—the website lets you check to see if the one you want is available, which is so helpful. The hardest part of the whole thing was finding a place with a printer I could use… and then trying to wait patiently for my plate to come in the mail!” – Alex Day, Marketing & Communications Manager at WNPF
So, what are you waiting for? Get your plate today and show off your national park love on one of these fantastic national park road trips! Be sure to tag us in your adventures so we can follow along.
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published on May 23, 2022 and was updated on May 9, 2024