Pacific Northwest Road Trip: National Parks and Monuments

North Cascades Highway Scenic Drive – this scenic drive offers views of the different landscapes found in the park, from cascading waterfalls to mountain peaks and old-growth forests. The drive takes about an hour, though it can be longer depending on how many stops you make along the route. Possible stops include North Cascades Visitor Center, Gorge Creek Falls, and Diablo Lake Overlook.

Hidden Lake Trail – a more challenging 4.5-mile trek leading to an old fire lookout.

Pyramid Lake Trail – features diverse plants and wildlife, ending at a small mountain lake after a 2.1-mile hike.

Rainbow Loop Trail – a moderate 4.4-mile hike in the Stehekin Valley with views of the valley and mountains.

Ross Lake Overlook – provides a beautiful view of the North Cascades and showcases blue Ross Lake.

Olympic National Park Visitor Center – this visitor center provides information on the natural and cultural history of Olympic National Park. Stop here to plan your visit.

Hurricane Ridge Road – this scenic drive is open each summer, offering visitors easy access to the mountain area. Drive this route when the weather is clear for excellent park views.

Hoh Rainforest Trails – Mini Trail, Hall of Moses Trail, and Spruce Nature Trail are shorter hikes worth doing to experience a temperate rainforest environment. These trails take you through the lush Hoh Forest, named after the Hoh River, which runs through it.

High Divide Loop – this trail offers views of Mt. Olympus and other nearby peaks.

Boulder Creek Trail – an easy 2.5-mile hike that leads to more than seven hot springs.

Obstruction Point to Deer Park – this is the highest trail in the park, providing views of alpine meadows and lush subalpine forests.

Longmire Museum & Wilderness Information Center – the original park headquarters, it now houses the Longmire Museum and Wilderness Information Center. This is great for planning your visit, learning about local history, and getting any wilderness permits.

Visitor Centers – several visitor centers are located throughout the park. These include the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise, Ohanapecosh Visitor Center, and Sunrise Visitor Center. The Mt. Rainier National Park visitor centers are only open seasonally in warmer months.

Mt. Rainier Roadtrip – the best way to see the whole park is by driving. Multiple scenic byways allow you to explore Mt. Rainier National Park, including White Pass Scenic Byway and Chinook Scenic Byway. This main road trip takes about 4-8 hours to complete, depending on how many stops you make.

Climbing Mt. Rainier – serious and fit climbers can take 20 different routes to the top of Mt. Rainier (with a vertical elevation gain of 9,000 feet!). Disappointment Cleaver-Ingraham Direct, Emmons-Winthrop, Kautz Glacier, and Liberty Ridge are the most popular routes. Route briefs are available for these popular climbs, which should be read before an excursion. Climbers should be well-informed, in excellent shape, and have technical glacier-travel rope skills for these climbs.

Moderate to Easy Hikes – Myrtle Falls, the Silver Falls Loop, the Naches Peak Loop, and the Sourdough Ridge Trail are popular hikes.

Reflection Lakes – a popular destination in the park that is famous for reflecting inspiring views of Mt. Rainier. You can reach this lake area via the Lakes Trail, a 3-mile loop that begins at the parking lot next to the lakes.

Carbon Glacier Trail – a 17-mile hike that allows you to see a glacier up-close under Mt. Rainier’s north face. This route is ideal for experienced hikers who want a more challenging trail.

Skyline Trail – this challenging trail begins adjacent to Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise and joins with High Skyline Trail and Golden Gate Trail for alternative hiking routes.

Windy Ridge Viewpoint – also known as Windy Ridge Interpretive Site, this location provides a perspective on how the landscape was affected by the famous1980 eruption.

Harmony Trail – a one-mile challenging hike that leads to Spirit Lake, a once-popular vacation spot that was destroyed by the collapse of the north side of Mt. St. Helens after the 1980 eruption.

Johnston Ridge Observatory – offers insight into the history of the volcano and includes an incredible view of Mt. St. Helens.

Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center – offers informative exhibits and even helicopter tours that visitors can book.

Ape Cave – one of the most popular lava tubes to explore and the third longest in the U.S. Reservations are required during its May through October season.

Kiteboarding and Windsurfing – some great activities abound for visitors looking for water activities. Multiple companies along the Columbia River offer equipment rentals.

Boating, Kayaking, and Rafting – for those wanting to enjoy the water at a slower pace, there are plenty of options. Guided river trips are on option. Equipment rentals are available. Don’t forget a life jacket!

Gorge Trail #400 – this trail is accessible directly from the Wyeth Campground and offers access to many other trails in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Eagle Creek Trail – this cliffside hike provides views of the Punch Bowl Falls, the High Bridge, and Eagle Creek.

Historic Columbia River Highway – this 75-mile scenic highway is chock full of wonderful views of waterfalls, lush forests, and talus slopes.

Bonneville Dam – learn about the historic landmark that helped the Pacific Northwest economy grow. Explore the past and present of hydroelectric systems – the dam continues to provide electricity to the regions. Tours are available at the Washington Shore Visitor Center Complex.

Fort Clatsop Replica – this fort was once the winter base for the Lewis & Clark Expedition. In peak season, historic demonstrations are offered to showcase the survival skills required of the party.

Historic Canoe Landing – this area (accessed by several hiking trails) is where Lewis and Clark, along with the Nez Perce people, once carved canoes.

Lewis & Clark National Historical Park Visitor Center – includes a variety of educational information on the expedition.

South Slough Trail – this easy hiking trail takes about 1-3 hours to complete. It has great views of wetlands and temperate rainforests.

Kwis Kwis Trail – this moderately challenging 3-mile trail winds through the Sitka Spruce Temperate Rainforest.

Steel Visitor Center – found at the park's headquarters, profits from this visitor center go toward various park programs. You can learn about the creation of Crater Lake through a video at the Visitor Center. The Steel Visitor Center, the Mazama Visitor Center, and the Rim Visitor Center are all within the park, each offering different media for information on the park, including exhibits and maps.

Scenic Rim Drive – travel along this scenic route for lake, forest, and meadow views. This scenic drive stretches 33 miles and includes 30 stops with beautiful overlooks.

Boat Tours – while no private boats (including kayaks and canoes) are permitted (due to concerns about invasive species), there are wonderful boat tours and shuttles to enjoy the lake and see Wizard Island and Phantom Ship. The hike to the dock is quite steep and requires some level of fitness

Cleetwood Clove Trail– this challenging 1.1-mile trail is the only legal access to the edge of Crater Lake. It’s steep with multiple switchbacks, so it’s best for more experienced hikers. The trail is only open seasonally, from mid-June to October each year.

Watchman Peak, Plaikni Falls, Discovery Point, & Annie Creek Canyon Trails – these trails – of varying lengths and difficulty – are some of the most popular in the park for the views they offer.

Swimming & Fishing – are great options at Cleetwood Cove.