Tour Overview
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Half Day Tour of Olympic National Park
About the Tour
Looking for a shorter guided tour? Join us on a half-day itinerary that features the top Olympic National Park destinations closest to Port Angeles including the Elwha Valley and Lake Crescent. The tour begins with a sightseeing stop along the Elwha River with a short walk to Madison Falls. Lake Crescent is the centerpiece of the itinerary with a 2-3 mile guided hike to Marymere Falls and surrounding trails immersed in old-growth forests. After the hike, enjoy a visit inside the historic Lake Crescent Lodge (built in 1915) and stunning lakeside views and dock.
Tour Details
$95 per person + taxes/fees
Age 10 or older required
2026 Schedule
Dec 20, 2025 - Mar 29, 2026: Monday, Friday
Mar 30 - May 10: Tuesday, Thursday
May 11 - Sep 27: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Sep 28 - Oct 26: Monday, Friday
Tour Gallery
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Tour Summary
Itinerary Description
Elwha River: Within 20 minutes of departing from our Port Angeles Tour Office, our group will reach the Elwha River within Olympic National Park. Upon arrival, our guide will lead our guests on a short paved trail to Madison Falls (0.1 mile one-way) and discuss the recent historic removal of the Elwha Dams and the fast-changing river valley landscapes.
Lake Crescent: Our scenic drive west along Highway 101 continues to the Lake Crescent Lodge with one of the most picturesque lake views in Olympic National Park. From the Lodge, our guide will hike alongside Barnes Creek amongst towering old-growth evergreens to reach Marymere Falls, one of Olympic’s top-rated waterfalls (90 feet tall). As Lake Crescent sits just on the outside of the coastal temperate rain forest, the moss-laden terrain and ancient old-growth trees are jaw-dropping throughout.
Ready to explore?
Itinerary Outline
1:00 PM: Departure
Stop #1: Elwha River (~30 min)
Stop #2: Lake Crescent (~ 2 hours)
5:00 PM: Return
Timing and destinations subject to change based on weather, group pace, and road conditions.
Itinerary Breakdown
Drive Time: ~1hr 30min
Sightseeing Time: ~2hr 30min
What’s Included
Naturalist Guided Hiking Tour
Roundtrip Transportation
Meet-up Location
Olympic Hiking Co. 720 Marine Drive, Port Angeles, WA 98363
Day Trip Options!
From Seattle (year-round)
Walk onto the 8:45am Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry and catch the 10:20am Strait Shot Bus with a 12:15pm arrival to the Port Angeles Gateway Transit Center. With our tour office across the street, we specifically built this tour to allow Seattle day trip travelers to experience Olympic National Park without a vehicle. Travelers are able to return to Seattle via the 6:00pm bus and 8:20pm ferry respectively.
8:45 AM: Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry
Step #1: Walk onto the 8:45am Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry from the Downtown Seattle Ferry Terminal
10:20 AM: Clallam Transit Strait Shot
Step #2: Catch the 10:20am Strait Shot Bus directly in front of the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal.
From Victoria (June - September)
As Black Ball Ferry Line transitions to its summer sailing schedule, visitors from Victoria can enjoy our Half Day Tour of Olympic National Park as a day trip! Purchase your tickets for the 10:30 AM ferry from Victoria and then the 9:30 PM departing ferry from Port Angeles.
10:30 AM Ferry From Victoria
Step #1: Walk onto the 10:30 AM ferry from Victoria B.C. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
9:30 PM Ferry From Port Angeles
Step #2: After the tour, enjoy dinner in Port Angeles and catch a scenic evening 9:30 PM ferry back to Victoria.
Need more information or travel tips?
Contact our Operations Team by emailing us at discover@hikeolympic.com.
Date not available?
If group tour is sold out
Join our waitlist and we will email you if additional spaces become available.
Request a private tour
Starting at $700. Available year-round, 7 days per week upon request.
Additional Details
Naturalist Guided Hiking Tour
The Elwha Valley and Lake Crescent feature some of the most diverse and beautiful lowland forests in Olympic National Park. At those destinations, our Naturalist Hiking Guide will identify the variety of old-growth trees, micro-plants, and discuss the rich history of the Elwha River and Lake Crescent.
Hiking Trails
We typically cover 2-3 miles on this guided tour. Our guide will hike on the following trails for varying amounts of time and mileage based on the itinerary timing, group pace, weather conditions, and traffic on the roads. There are options for guests to hike less at each destination.
Elwha: A paved, ADA 0.1 mile one-way trail out and back to Madison Falls. Our guide may include optional trails and viewpoints along the Elwha River for an additional 1-2 miles of hiking.
Lake Crescent: A 1 mile one-way trail, primarily flat, well-maintained, and ending with 200 feet elevation up nature stairs to view Marymere Falls. Our guide may add other trails for a loop route back to the Lake Crescent Lodge for 2-3 miles total.