Highlights from a spontaneous trip
My boyfriend and I went on a 2 week road trip from CA to WA and back that we did not plan out at all.
We scored some last minute cancellations on great campsites and camped in Hipcamp’s the other nights.
Favorites:
- Sol Duc Rainforest Retreat (Hipcamp) - I think this rainforest was more impressive than Hoh
- Kalaloch Campground & beach - must visit the Tree of Life
Other insights:
-Hoh Campground was also cool but could skip if stay in Sol Duc — very long wait to get in (over an hour). We did 6 miles of the river trail which were meh, hall of mosses is worth it if you visit early… I thought the drive along the meadows and river from the highway to the campground were one of the best parts of that area. Peak 6 is a cool souvenir shop and has a gorgeous meadow behind it.
-Cape Flattery is beautiful and the drive there through Neah Bay is also cool… out of the way though if you’re doing a short trip.
-We booked a night @ the Lake Crescent Lodge. Do not recommend spending the night there (Google review posted in comments). Also the restaurant was very slow at dinnertime. Worth a stopover to walk along lake and have breakfast or lunch (in the bar).
-You will be driving a lot between sites — hours— often with no service. Download maps. Bring snacks and water. There are no roads across the park, only around.
-There is dispersed camping allowed on the National Forest land surrounding the park. Apps like the dyrt will help you find spots. We didn’t actually enter the park itself until the third day, when we went to Hoh Rainforest.
-We scored campground reservations at Hoh and Kalaloch 2-3 days before we camped — last minute cancellations are often the best way to get in. Both times they were amazing sites.