Best Tent Camping near Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park in western Washington offers diverse tent camping options across temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, and coastal beaches. Established backcountry tent sites can be found at locations like Lunch Lake in the Seven Lakes Basin and Mount Tom Creek along the Hoh River Trail, offering wilderness experiences with varying levels of accessibility and amenities. Several campgrounds require backcountry permits and bear canisters for overnight stays.
Most tent sites within Olympic National Park feature minimal amenities, with facilities varying significantly between locations. Backcountry camps like Five Mile Island provide bear wires for food storage, eliminating the need for bear canisters in some areas. Toilet facilities range from composting toilets at Olympus Guard Station to no facilities at remote sites like Elk Lake. A camper noted that "water was filterable from Lunch Lake. The water was amazingly clear." Many backcountry campsites require permits obtained from the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles or the Hoh Visitor Center.
Tent camping experiences in Olympic National Park are characterized by pristine natural settings and relative solitude, particularly at sites farther from trailheads. The Hoh River Trail offers multiple camping areas at increasing distances, with sites at Olympic Guard Station providing greater privacy than those at Five Mile Island. A review mentioned that "once the day hikers leave there are few people that opt to stay [at Mount Tom Creek] overnight." Most backcountry tent sites are positioned strategically near water sources, with locations like Lillian Camp situated directly beside rivers. Tent pads vary from level, cleared areas at established sites to more rustic surfaces at primitive locations. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with reviewers reporting occasional site flooding after moderate rainfall at higher elevations.
