You may not know it, but there’s a National Park the size of Rhode Island tucked away in the upper left corner of the U.S. The Olympic National Park, on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, is a treasure trove of wildland and wildlife alike. 

Due to its remote location, it doesn’t receive nearly the same fanfare as other parklands and the same can be said about the region in general. That’s precisely why you should go: the Olympic National Park and greater Olympic Peninsula offer a unique opportunity to experience some of the areas greatest wonders without the Disneyland feel of Yosemite or Yellowstone. Also worth considering is the region’s extensive history of logging and forestry operations. There’s a seemingly endless system of primitive access roads that are begging to be explored by motorcycle. 

We spent significant time on the Olympic Peninsula coming up with an epic adventure bike route that showcases some of the most intriguing natural wonders preserved within its borders. We also put together all the information you need to plan your own Adventure Ride in the region, including an interactive map, GPS tracks with top destinations, scenic camp spots and more.  Read on for the eight reasons why you should stop what you’re doing and make a beeline for the PNW!

1. Epic Off-Road Terrain

Roadside hill climbs, tricky rockslide traverses, loose scrambles, and adventurous water crossings are all on the menu. With such a large sample size of terrain, there’s sure to be something to satiate everyone’s appetite no matter their riding ability or prowess. It’s quite easy to make a circumference of the peninsula on fairly basic dirt roads covering ground at a good pace while still having time to take in all the natural beauty. 

That being said, there are plenty of alternate routes and side trips that are sure to fulfill those in search of a little gnar. This route is perfect for large displacement adventure bikes and smaller dual sports alike, all depending on pace and what kind of mischievous detours you want to undertake.

2. Explore a Unique Forest Landscape

The Olympic National Park is home to four temperate rainforests: The Hoh, Quinault, Queets, and Bogachiel. These forests are defined by their annual rainfall of twelve to fourteen feet each year. They are inhabited by old-growth Douglas fir, red alders, Western hemlocks, and Sitka spruce among plentiful varieties of mosses & ferns. Temperatures rarely fall below freezing or exceed eighty-degrees, facilitating a distinctively luscious ecosystem.

The park itself is comprised of nearly a million acres, seventy-three miles of coast, sixty named glaciers, sixty-four trailheads, and over three thousand miles of rivers & streams. It’s a vast swath of raw land set aside by the federal government for a good reason, as it is a wonder to behold. Some of the park’s notable animal inhabitants include elk, mountain goats, black bears, cougars, bald eagles, foxes, and plentiful deer. On the coast, sea lions, gray whales, orcas, and otters can also be seen.

Olympic National Park was the ninth most visited national park in 2018, hosting over three million people. Don’t let those numbers deter you; the high number of visitors is offset by the fact that ONP is the thirteenth-largest in the system (Comparable to Rhode Island). Notwithstanding the many tourists, adventurers on two wheels will often feel like they have the park to themselves. No other time is this personified more than in the shoulder seasons when some rain is almost guaranteed, but your reward will be empty campgrounds and absolute solitude.  

3. Washington Coast

Washington’s coastline is one hundred & fifty-seven miles of beautiful breakwater where the Pacific Ocean ends or begins depending on how you look at it.

The beaches that comprise the Washington coast might not fit the classic mold of what most people envision when they picture a beach, but even on the most blustery of days, they still have just as much to offer. The seventy-three miles of beach designated as National Park is a unique ecosystem unmolested by modern complications and mostly inaccessible by vehicles. Sea stacks encompassed in fog banks often act as the backdrop for endless drift log strewn stretches of sand. Tide pools, rocks, and sea creatures are standard fare and can easily entertain one’s imagination for days on end.

Time off of the bike exploring sections of the coast is often just as enthralling as roving dirt roads and twisty pavement that often parallel Washington’s ocean beaches.  

4. Amazing Views

The Olympic Peninsula is vast, and the landscape is diverse, even if it might seem entirely evergreen at first glance. Being able to travel from damp rainforests to expansive coastal beaches and then ascend mountains tall enough to take it all in represents something unique. Almost around every corner, another breathtaking view can be found, whether it’s the vast Pacific Ocean, regional volcanoes, metropolitan hubs off in the distance, or endless seas of densely packed trees.

Some of the must-see sights within the park are any of the temperate rain forests, Hurricane Ridge, Obstruction Point, Lake Crescent, Lake Quinault, Lake Cushman, Cape Flattery, and as many of the ocean beaches as you can pack in!

5. Complete Solitude

The Olympic National Park itself is nearly a million acres and although it sees many visitors annually, most of that traffic is allocated to a few hot spots that leave the vast majority tourist-free and ripe for exploration. Thankfully, in many areas of the peninsula, all it takes is a slightly deteriorated pothole-strewn road to deter most would-be wanderlust wanderers. 

It’s not hard to find solitude on the Olympic Peninsula, and if that’s what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Even on a busy summer weekend, it’s easy to get away from the crowds as long as you avoid the established campgrounds and busy attractions like Hurricane Ridge. If you travel far enough down any dirt road, you’ll eventually have the peninsula to yourself; this is especially true on the South and West sides of our track.