Driving the 8 most challenging roads of the Olympic National Park
Located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest, the Olympic National Park is a must see.
Tucked away in the northwestern corner of Washington State, the park, sometimes called “three parks in one”, offers something for every kind of nature lover with its glacier-capped peaks, valleys of forests, hot springs, and rugged Pacific coastline. Based on 922,650 acres of land, it is the 7th most visited (2,718,925 annual visitors) National Park in the United States.
And you can expect to do a lot of driving in the Park, with its stunning roads, to make your experience just what you want it to be… anything but ordinary. Most park destinations can be reached via U.S. Highway 101, which circumnavigates the Olympic Peninsula. The major roads are often narrow and twisting. While traveling on the Park’s gravel roads, drive slowly and pay attention to the possibility of oncoming traffic, particularly coming around the many sharp, blind curves. Many of the Park’s roads are long and some are steep. Olympic is a world class destination for the casual tourist (with some time), those seeking true wilderness experiences and for avid drivers.
| Road | Status | Notes | Mileage | Surface |
| Staircase Rd | Closed in winters | 16mi | Paved/gravel | |
| Deer Park Rd | Closed in winters | Not suitable for RVs or trailers | 18mi | Gravel |
| Hurricane Ridge Rd | 18mi | Paved | ||
| Obstruction Point Rd | Closed in winters | Not suitable for RVs or trailers | 7mi | Gravel |
| Olympic Hot Springs Rd | Closed to vehicles | 8mi | Paved | |
| Sol Duc Rd | Closed in winters | 13mi | Paved | |
| Graves Creek Rd | RVs and trailers prohibited | Gravel | ||
| Dosewallips Rd | Closed to vehicles | 9mi | Foot/bike traffic only |
Pic: https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery-item.htm?pg=248462&id=2BD67C83-1DD8-B71B-0B541CCCDA3A4794&gid=C2864071-1DD8-B71B-0B6F39F05B126E36