Local guide

Planning your visit, from the southeast.

The practical guide to Olympic National Park from Olalla Bay: entrance fees, permits, seasons, what to bring, and where to stay. This covers the southeast side: Staircase, Lake Cushman, and Hoodsport. The honest pitch: Olalla is not a main gateway to the park. It is a quiet base camp for the southeast side, and this guide is for that side.

Fees, permits, seasons, gear, and logistics.

Written by Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

Entrance fees

Olympic National Park charges an entrance fee. The fee is per vehicle or per person, valid for 7 consecutive days.

• Private vehicle: $30. Covers all occupants of a private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less).
• Per person: $15. For hikers, bicyclists, and pedestrians entering without a vehicle. Individuals 15 years or younger are admitted free.
• Motorcycle: $25. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
• Annual park pass: $55. Good for entry into Olympic National Park for one year from the month of purchase. Available at visitor centers and entrance stations.
• America the Beautiful pass: $80. Valid for one year at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country, including all national parks.

Fee-free days 2026: The park waives entrance fees on select days. Remaining 2026 fee-free days: October 27 (Theodore Roosevelt's birthday), November 11 (Veterans Day). Check nps.gov/olym for the current list.

Where to pay: At the Staircase entrance station, or at any visitor center. Bring a credit card; some stations may not accept cash.

Permits: Day hikes vs. overnight

Day hikes: No permit required beyond the entrance fee. Hike the Staircase Rapids Loop, Shady Lane Trail, or any other day hike with just your park pass.

Overnight backcountry camping: Every overnight trip into the park's wilderness requires a Wilderness Camping Permit. Permits are booked through Recreation.gov. The permit identifies where you intend to camp; have your itinerary planned before reserving.

Quota areas: In high-use areas, called Quota Areas, permits are limited and reservations are required for all sites from May 1 to September 30. The park accepts reservations starting March 15 for the whole season. Popular quota areas include Seven Lakes Basin and High Divide loop, Royal Basin, Grand Valley, Enchanted Valley, and the coastal strip. Summer dates for those can fill up to six months ahead.

Non-quota areas: For backcountry sites outside Quota Areas, permits are not limited and can be picked up at a Wilderness Information Center (WIC) on or before the day you start your hike.

First-come, first-served: In some Quota Areas, 50 percent of permits are available first-come, first-served at a WIC up to 24 hours in advance. The Port Angeles center is open year-round; the Quinault center and Staircase Ranger Station are open during summer months.

Bear canisters: Along with a permit, you need a bear canister any time you stay overnight in the backcountry. All scented items (food, trash, sunscreen, chapstick) go inside when you hunker down for the night. You can rent bear canisters for a nominal fee at a WIC.

Staircase note: As of 2026, wilderness trails beyond the Rapids Loop at Staircase remain closed due to Bear Gulch Fire damage. The Rapids Loop itself is open. Check nps.gov/olym before planning any overnight trip from Staircase.

Seasons: When to go

Summer (July to September): Best weather, open roads, all trails accessible. Also the busiest season. Staircase is popular in summer; arrive early for parking. Mount Ellinor is best July through October. Lake Cushman is warmest for swimming in late July and August.

Spring (April to June): Fewer crowds, blooming rhododendrons, waterfalls at full flow. Snow lingers at elevation into June and July. Some high trails may be impassable. Roads can be muddy.

Fall (October to November): Fall color in the lowlands, fewer crowds, cooler temperatures. Rain increases. Some campgrounds close in late October or November. Skokomish Park season ends November 1, 2026.

Winter (December to March): Storm watching on the coast, snow in the mountains. Staircase access road can close in winter. Many high trails are snow-covered. Hurricane Ridge Road closes seasonally. Lake Cushman campgrounds are closed. The house is a good winter base for storm watching and cozy days, but the park is limited.

What to bring

Ten Essentials (for any hike): Navigation (map, compass, GPS), headlamp, sun protection, first aid, knife, fire starter, shelter, extra food, extra water, extra clothes.

For Staircase day hikes: Park pass, water (no drinking water on the trail), lunch, layers, sunscreen, map downloaded to phone, bear spray (black bears live in the park).

For Mount Ellinor: Ten Essentials, headlamp, extra food and water, layers, map and compass, Northwest Forest Pass (if using upper trailhead), microspikes or crampons if early-season snow.

For Lake Cushman: Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, life jackets for children, cooler for picnic, kayak or paddleboard (or rent at Skokomish Park), water shoes for rocky shore.

For overnight backcountry: Wilderness permit, bear canister, tent, sleeping bag rated for mountain temperatures, stove, food, water filter or purification, and everything in the Ten Essentials.

Where to stay

Olalla Bay house: The base camp. Sleep at the house, drive to the park for day trips. About two hours each way to Staircase. Best for day trips, not for multi-day backcountry trips.

Skokomish Park: Campground at Lake Cushman, managed by the Skokomish Tribe. RV sites, tent sites, group sites. Season March 27 to November 1, 2026. Rates from $49 to $63 per night. Good for combining lake time with park hikes.

Staircase Campground: Inside Olympic National Park, at the base of the Staircase Rapids Trail. Tent and RV sites. Park entrance fee applies. Best for early starts on the trail.

Backcountry: Wilderness camping with a permit. See Permits section above.

Port Angeles / Forks: For Hurricane Ridge, Hoh, and the coast, stay in Port Angeles or Forks, not Olalla. Those areas are 3 to 5 hours from Olalla and not day trips.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on trails inside Olympic National Park, including the Staircase Rapids Loop. Dogs are allowed in developed campgrounds, on roads, and in parking areas, on leash. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails like Mount Ellinor, and at Lake Cushman. Leave dogs at the house for Staircase days.

Cell service and navigation

Cell service is sparse to nonexistent in most of the park and around Lake Cushman. Download maps and trail directions before you leave the house. Do not rely on phone GPS alone. Carry a paper map and compass for longer hikes. The park's website (nps.gov/olym) has current alerts, road closures, and trail conditions. Check before any trip.

Leave No Trace

Practice the seven principles: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. The park is a wilderness; your actions affect the next visitor and the wildlife.

What not to do from Olalla

Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rain Forest, and the Pacific coast are all in Olympic National Park, but they are not day trips from Olalla. Hurricane Ridge is a 3.5 to 4 hour drive each way. Hoh is 4 to 5 hours. The coast (Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, La Push) is 3 to 4 hours. Those are overnight trips, best done from Port Angeles or Forks. Do not try to cram them into a day from Olalla.

Note: Rialto Beach was cut off for much of the 2026 season. Mora Road closed beyond Mora Campground from July 8 to October 15, 2026 for road repairs, with no vehicle access to Rialto Beach during that window. Check nps.gov/olym for current status.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Olympic National Park?

Private vehicle $30 for 7 days. Per person $15 for 7 days. Motorcycle $25. Annual park pass $55. America the Beautiful pass $80. Children 15 and under free.

Do you need a permit to hike in Olympic National Park?

Day hikes: no permit beyond the entrance fee. Overnight backcountry camping: Wilderness Camping Permit required, booked through Recreation.gov. Quota areas require reservations May 1 to September 30.

Are dogs allowed in Olympic National Park?

Dogs are not allowed on trails inside the park. Dogs are allowed in developed campgrounds, on roads, and in parking areas, on leash. Dogs are allowed on National Forest trails like Mount Ellinor.

What is the best time to visit Olympic National Park's southeast side?

Summer (July to September) for best weather and open roads. Spring (April to June) for fewer crowds. Fall for color. Winter for storm watching, but expect closures.

Is there cell service in Olympic National Park?

Cell service is sparse to nonexistent in most of the park and around Lake Cushman. Download maps before you leave. Do not rely on phone GPS alone.