Seasons In Olympic National Park

There's a wet season, and a snowy season in Olympic National Park, and plenty of variations throughout the year. You can enjoy dazzling sunshine and warm temperatures along the coast in July, or head up to the high country and have a snowball fight.

Park officials, with a nod to the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, and Puget Sound to the east, say simply that "the weather is extremely variable, from season to season and place to place."

Variable indeed.

At Kalaloch Lodge in winter they offer "storm watching" packages for the hearty who like to walk the beach and watch as towering waves rake the shores and the sea stacks. Head up to Hurricane Ridge the same day and you might find yourself in a blizzard...or with great snow conditions for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing.

Springs can be wet, as can fall and winter. That helps explain the incredible growth in the park's rain forests. So be sure to pack good, reliable rain gear from head to toe. Summers -- July, August and into September -- usually are the driest and warmest, with temperatures reaching into the mid-70s.

While winters are mild at lower elevation, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, according to park officials, they add that "snowfall can be heavy in the mountains, with accumulations of up to 10 feet common."