Summary of my trip to the Washington National Parks and Seattle in 2023

Written By Shelby Hagstrom

Olympic National Park for 3 days

Where I stayed: Super 8 by Wyndham Port Angeles at Olympic National Park for 2 days at Dew Drop Inn for 1

Sunday, July 30, 2023: Olympic National Park

  • Hurricane Hill hike

  • Lake Crescent area for Madison Falls, Mount Storm King, and Marymere Falls

Monday, July 31, 2023: Olympic National Park 

  • Sol Duc area for Sol Duc Falls Trail and Ancient Groves Nature Trail

  • Cape Flattery area for Cape Flattery Trail

  • Rialto Beach for Sunset

Tuesday, August 1, 2023: Olympic National Park

  • Hoh Rainforest area for Spruce Nature Trail and Hall of Mosses Loop

  • Olympic National Forest for Quinault Rain Forest Trail

  • Beach 1 through 5

  • Sunset at Ruby Beach

Mount Rainier for 3 days

Where I stayed: Paradise Village Hotel & Restaurant

Wednesday, August 2, 2023: Drive from Olympic National Park to Mount Rainier National Park

  • Checked out of Dew Drop Inn

  • Drove from Dew Drop Inn to Paradise Village Hotel & Restaurant

Thursday, August 3, 2023: Mount Rainier National Park - Sunrise area (11.4 miles / 6.25 hours of hiking and 4.25 hours of driving)

  • Sourdough Ridge Trail to Mount Fremont Fire Lookout

  • Sunrise Point Overlook

  • Naches Peak Loop Trail

  • Dinner/beer at Rainier BaseCamp Bar & Grill

Friday, August 4, 2023: Mount Rainier National Park - Paradise area (8.3 miles / 5 hours of hiking and 2 hours of driving)

  • Christine Falls Bridge

  • Ricksecker Point

  • Narada Falls

  • Ruby Falls

  • Alta Vista Trail

  • Nisqually Vista Trail

  • Hiked Skyline Loop Trail 

  • Watched the sunset from the lower parking lot 

Saturday, August 5, 2023: Mount Rainier National Park (5.6 miles / 3.5 hours of hiking and 4.5 hours of driving)

  • Pinnacle's Peak Trail

    • Arrived at the Paradise entrance at 8:30am, and there was a 10 minute wait to get through the gate

  • Drove Steven's Canyon Rd

  • Dinner/beer at Rainier BaseCamp Bar & Grill

North Cascades National Park

Where I stayed: Hotel Rio Vista

Sunday, August 6, 2023: Drive from Mount Rainier National Park to North Cascades National Park

  • Drove from Paradise Village Hotel & Restaurant to Hotel Rio Vista

  • Dinner at Old Schoolhouse Brewery

Monday, August 7, 2023: North Cascades National Park

  • Washington Pass Overlook

  • Maple Pass Trail

  • Blue Lake Trail

  • Sunset at Sun Mountain Lodge

Seattle for one day

Where I stayed:  MarQueen Hotel

Tuesday, August 8, 2023: Seattle

  • Drove from Hotel Rio Vista to MarQueen Hotel

  • Kerry Park

  • Queen Anne Boulevard Historical Landmark

  • Pike Place Market

  • The Space Needle

  • Dinner at Great Notion Brewery

Wednesday, August 9, 2023: Drive to the airport and fly back to Chicago

  • 1:54pm to Chicago

Shelby Hagstrom