THE BLOG
HOW TO ELOPE IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR 2024
LOCATIONS, PACKAGES, PERMITS, VENDORS + MORE!
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | THE CARDINALS
Hi! I'm Natasha! Your Washington elopement photographer, dog petter and donut eater. While photography is my first love, connecting with people is my love language. You'll find me lovin' on the big moments, the quiet moments, the silly moments – but especially the in between moments. The moments that are unadulterated and unfiltered. The ones where you are the real you. Here on the blog you'll find all of my favorite tips, tricks and resources for planning an elopement that's all about those moments.
NATASHA CARDINAL
WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
IN THIS GUIDE
Frequently Asked Questions
The Best Time of Year for Your Olympic National Park Elopement
The Best Olympic National Park Elopement Locations
Where to Stay for Your Olympic National Park Elopement
Permits + Passes: What You Need and How to Apply
How to Get Your Washington Marriage License
Packing Checklist: What to Bring to Your Olympic National Park Elopement
The Best Vendors for Your Olympic National Park Elopement
How to Elope in Olympic National Park : Your Checklist
Olympic National Park Elopement Packages
WHY YOU SHOULD ELOPE IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
If you're thinking of eloping in Olympic National Park, you've got some damn good taste. Because it's one of the most beautiful and diverse national parks in the whole country! Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, Olympic National Park is also one of the largest national parks with 60 glaciers, over 600 miles of trails, and 73 miles of just rugged coast line alone. You'll find animals like elk, deer, eagles, sea otters, seals, all sorts of cool sea creatures (we're talking bright green anemones and purple sea stars).
No matter what type of elopement you're dreaming of, whether it be in the mountains, on the beach, or even in a mossy rainforest, an Olympic National Park elopement has something for anyone who loves nature. But now you might be thinking, how the heck do we figure out where to go and how to plan it all if the park is so huge? Well, that's what we're gonna get right into today!
In this guide we'll be covering everything you need to know to plan the most stress-free and magical elopement day in Olympic National Park imaginable. So let's start off with the basics...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where even is Olympic National Park?
The park is located on the Olympic Peninsula on the most western side of Washington. If you're flying here you'll be arriving in Seattle but the park is a day trip out from the city.
How far is Olympic National Park from Seattle?
It depends where in the park you're looking to go! One of the closest locations is Lake Cushman, about 2-2.5 hours from Seattle, and as you take highway 101 out to the coast, it can take up to 4.5 hours to get to the really epic locations like Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, or the Hoh Rainforest. Locations like Hurricane Ridge where all of the big mountains are is about 3.5 hours from Seattle. Typically people take the northern route (Highway 101) as it's the most beautiful way to drive (you'll drive past Lake Crescent, and many of the park entrances), but you can take the southern route along Routes 8 and 12 until you meet up with Highway 101. It's a big loop that wraps around the entire park if you're feeling ambitious and up for a road trip.
Is Olympic National Park dog friendly?
The short answer is...it's complicated. lol. There are some sections of Olympic National Park that are dog friendly, and other that only allow dogs in paved areas and parking lots. If you're looking for a location that's dog friendly some of my top recommendations are Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, some areas of Lake Crescent, Kalaloch Beach, Lake Cushman, and all of the Olympic National Forest!
What sort of activities can I do on my elopement day here?
I'm glad you asked because this is my specialty! The beauty of eloping is that you can incorporate so many of the things you love into your elopement day. Olympic National Park has opportunities for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tide pooling (we're talking sea stars, colorful anenomes, all sorts of crabs and fish), wildlife viewing (eagles, seals, otters, elk, you name it!), tons and tons of cool things to do. One of our favorite things to do as a Washington elopement photographers is to help couples plan all of the fun stuff so we made a whole blog with 98 Unique Elopement Day Activity Ideas to help you plan!
(top photo: Olympic National Forest, bottom left: Ruby Beach, bottom right: Moments in Time Trail at Lake Crescent)
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
Olympic National Park is a unique place in Washington where you can have a stunning elopement any time of the year! July and August are typically the months that are best to visit any location in the park. But let's talk about the pro's and con's of each season so you know exactly what to expect no matter what time of year you plan on eloping here.
SUMMER
Summer is hands down the most popular time of year to elope here, specifically July and August, for good reason! Pacific Northwest summers are something of legend, known for being absolutely spectacular with mild weather, temperatures in the 70s-80s, cool breezes, stunning sunsets. It's literally perfect. But because it's so beautiful, it's one of the busiest times in the park too. Summer is tourist season in Olympic National Park so for most locations you'll be fighting some crowds for sure. For most of the coastal locations, because they're so remote you'll have less crowds than some of the most popular locations like Crescent Lake or Hurricane Ridge, but if you want to avoid the bulk of the crowds I always recommend a sunrise weekday elopement here!
FALL
The Olympic Peninsula is known for it's moody, true PNW feels and fall is the when that comes in full force. Moody skies, misty rain, chilly temperatures, and changing leaves make it cozy and moody. Most of the bulk of the crowds are gone, leaving many of the best elopement locations much less crowded. You'll have a higher chance of rainy weather, but honesty a moody foggy elopement is peak PNW aesthetic and is unbelievably magical for the right couple! Fall in Olympic National Park can vary depending on where you are in the park, but typically Fall lies between late September and early November.
WINTER
While the mountains are often packed with snow by early November, there are still beautiful locations for a winter elopement in Olympic National Park. Washington is known for it's dark and rainy winters, but they're stunningly beautiful in their own way. Other than the rain, temperatures are relatively mild, usually hovering in the 30-40s, making it easy to navigate many of the park beautiful locations. You'll have many locations available without crowds too! If you're planning on visiting places like Hurricane Ridge, you can expect the road to close with snow, but lower elevation locations like Lake Crescent, Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, or the Hoh Rainforest are great to visit this time of year!
SPRING
Spring is the most underrated season on the Olympic Peninsula in my opinion! While rain is still most likely, as temperatures warm up everything explodes with mossy green goodness. And in my opinion this is the best time for rainforest elopement in the Quinault Valley or Hoh Rainforest! The rainforests are unbelievably lush and full of life, the snow is starting to melt in the mountains and the rivers and waterfalls are absolutely roaring. Spring brings the drama for sure. If you're willing to brave the rain and break out some super cute umbrellas April, May and June are so great for beating the summer crowds.
(a Ruby Beach elopement)
THE BEST OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT LOCATIONS
- Hurricane Ridge:
- Panoramic mountain views, easy trails for all hiking abilities, wildflowers in the summer, what isn't to love? This is one of the most popular locations in the park because of the absolutely stunning views and easy accessibility, but well worth it!
- Hurricane Hill Trail:
- Length: 3.4 miles Elevation: 826 ft.
This trail offers stunning panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains. The meadows along the way are filled with wildflowers during the summer, providing a colorful and picturesque setting for an elopement. If you don't feel like hiking the whole thing, there's plenty of beautiful stops along the way!
- Length: 3.4 miles Elevation: 826 ft.
- Klahhane Ridge Trail:
- Length: 2.7 miles Elevation: 1,450 ft.
This trail leads to high alpine meadows and rocky ridges with breathtaking views. It's a moderately challenging trail that rewards hikers with a stunning backdrop, making it a great location for an elopement ceremony.
- Length: 2.7 miles Elevation: 1,450 ft.
- Panoramic mountain views, easy trails for all hiking abilities, wildflowers in the summer, what isn't to love? This is one of the most popular locations in the park because of the absolutely stunning views and easy accessibility, but well worth it!
- Lake Crescent:
- A second most popular location, Lake Crescent has mountain views, Gatorade blue waters, plenty of forested trails nearby, a very cool historic ranger station cabin and tons of cool history! You'll even have hikes nearby like Marymere Falls, the Moments in Time Trail, or the Devils Punchbowl as potential options for your ceremony if you want some options!
- A second most popular location, Lake Crescent has mountain views, Gatorade blue waters, plenty of forested trails nearby, a very cool historic ranger station cabin and tons of cool history! You'll even have hikes nearby like Marymere Falls, the Moments in Time Trail, or the Devils Punchbowl as potential options for your ceremony if you want some options!
- Lake Cushman:
- A popular summer destination for locals, Lake Cushman is a gorgeous lake right on the edge of Olympic National Park. While technically not within the parks boundaries, we'd be wrong not to include it as an option here since you have tons of spots just a few miles down the road from here to get some great photos like the Staircase Rangers Station, the Mt. Ellinor Trail, and the North Fork Skokomish River Trail.
- A popular summer destination for locals, Lake Cushman is a gorgeous lake right on the edge of Olympic National Park. While technically not within the parks boundaries, we'd be wrong not to include it as an option here since you have tons of spots just a few miles down the road from here to get some great photos like the Staircase Rangers Station, the Mt. Ellinor Trail, and the North Fork Skokomish River Trail.
- Ruby Beach:
- Rugged and wild coastline with sea stacks, tide pools, and driftwood. The quintessential PNW beach vibes. Ruby is one of my favorites beaches in the PNW for it's amazing tide pooling, unbelievable rock formations, and easy accessibility. While it's a popular beach, you'll have plenty of opportunities to sneak away for some private spots too.
- Rugged and wild coastline with sea stacks, tide pools, and driftwood. The quintessential PNW beach vibes. Ruby is one of my favorites beaches in the PNW for it's amazing tide pooling, unbelievable rock formations, and easy accessibility. While it's a popular beach, you'll have plenty of opportunities to sneak away for some private spots too.
- Hoh Rainforest:
- A lush and mossy temperate rainforest with towering trees, gigantic ferns, and a green canopy, perfect for anyone who wants to feel like they're walking around a forest that feels like a Disney movie set. It's one of the most biodiverse places in the world, and moss seriously covers EVERYTHING. It's one of my favorite places in all of the PNW!
- Hall of Mosses Trail:
- Length: 1.1 miles Elevation: 78 ft.
The infamous trail in the Hoh Rainforest. You'll walk a short loop that takes you beneath trees completely covered in thick squishy moss, past crystal clear creeks, and you might even see the resident herb of Roosevelt elk! This trail is great for kids or older people with some mobility issues. - Spruce Nature Trail:
- Length: 2.1 miles Elevation: 95 ft.
A gentle trail that winds through old-growth forest with massive spruce trees, and is connected to the Hall of Mosses trail, but will take you down to the Hoh River bed for some epic views of the mountains and the Hoh River Valley.
- Length: 2.1 miles Elevation: 95 ft.
- Length: 1.1 miles Elevation: 78 ft.
- A lush and mossy temperate rainforest with towering trees, gigantic ferns, and a green canopy, perfect for anyone who wants to feel like they're walking around a forest that feels like a Disney movie set. It's one of the most biodiverse places in the world, and moss seriously covers EVERYTHING. It's one of my favorite places in all of the PNW!
- Second Beach:
- Length: 4.0 miles to walk the whole beach
A remote beach with dramatic seascapes, sea stacks, and stunning sunsets, with plenty of areas to sneak away from crowds. Similar to Ruby and Rialto Beaches you can hike the whole beach, or just stop a few quick spots.
- Length: 4.0 miles to walk the whole beach
- Kalaloch Beach:
- Rugged cliffs, driftwood-strewn shores, and expansive coastal views. What isn't there to love here? This is also where the infamous Tree of Life is! Imagine having your ceremony beneath this iconic tree?
- Rugged cliffs, driftwood-strewn shores, and expansive coastal views. What isn't there to love here? This is also where the infamous Tree of Life is! Imagine having your ceremony beneath this iconic tree?
- Rialto Beach:
- A scenic beach with tide pools (some of the best in Washington!), sea stacks, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, nearly black sand, and some of the most spectacular sunsets make it perfect for a dramatic coastal elopement. If you visit during low tide you can even go to the Hole-in-the-Wall Rock!
(top photo is from the Hoh Rainforest, bottom is from Rialto Beach)
Where to Stay for Your Olympic National Park Elopement
Because Olympic National Park is so unbelievably massive, there are two main towns that you should look for Airbnbs/VRBOs/places to stay based on where you're planning to elope:
FORKS, WA – if you've ever watched/read Twilight you've probably heard of it, but Forks is the main town that will be your home base for locations like Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, First or Second Beach, or the Hoh Rainforest. You'll be 45 min to an hour and change away from any one of these locations, but it's the closest major town to all of them!
Just a note about Forks: it's a VERY small town. The grocery store is also the outfitter and the hardware store, so you'll be able to get the basics here and probably grab some take out, but there are no luxury restaurants, bakeries, or much to do besides learn about logging history and visit the park. Most of town is local necessities and a gas station.
PORT ANGELES, WA – if you're visiting locations like Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls, or Hurricane Ridge, Port Angeles will be your home base and you'll have plenty of options for food, groceries, takeout, and places to stay, but it's still a relatively small town if you're used to living in a big city like New York or Seattle.
But there are tons of beautiful locations to stay all over the Olympic Peninsula! Below you'll find a link to our full list of Airbnb recommendations all over the Peninsula that we're always adding to, buuuuuut here are three of our favorite places hands down!
(Lake Crescent elopement)
THE BEST AIRBNBS IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
Coastland Camp: Tiny house + Sauna
Forks, WA
3 guests, 2 beds, 1 bath tiny house
A beautiful tiny house nestled right in Forks, WA with a hot tub, sauna, fire pit, beautifully designed, and private. It's the perfect place to do some getting ready photos and a first look before heading out to a stunning ceremony in the Hoh Rainforest or on the coast!
Cabin on Crescent Lake
Crescent Lake, Port Angeles, WA
5 guests, 2 bedrooms, 2 beds, 1 bath
Right on the shores of the iconic Crescent Lake, you could have an all in one elopement here and say your vows right on the shores of Crescent Lake. How much more perfect can it get?
photos from Cabin on Crescent Lake Airbnb
Oceanfront Olympic Cabin
Forks, WA
A stunning truly ocean front cabin nestled into the beautiful giant trees, you'll have ocean views, perfect sunsets, and the opportunity to have your ceremony right on the cliffside. If you want something even more dramatic you'll be near the Hoh Rainforest, the rest of the Washington Coast, and many of the lush forests nearby.
Permits + Passes: What PERMIT You Need and How to Apply
Typically you'll need two things for your Olympic National Park elopement: an Olympic National Park day-pass and a Special Use Permit
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
In order to get married in the park, you'll need a special use permit that let's the NPS know where you're planning to elope. Typically the permit cost is $100 and you can find the application here!
The NPS recommends applying for your permit at LEAST 3-4 weeks before the date you plan on getting married, but I'd recommend applying as soon as you have your date nailed down.
***For some locations as of 2024, if you have under 5 people at your elopement include your photographer you no longer need a Special Use Permit, but if you're unsure just contact the Olympic NP Visitors Center****
(a winter Lake Cushman elopement)
How to Get Your Washington Marriage License
Getting married in Washington State is a pretty easy process! You'll need to follow these step in order to legally get married:
- Have a scheduled date and officiant locked in for your wedding
- Apply for your marriage license either in person or online
- Wait the mandatory 3 days between when you get your license and get married
- Have your ceremony
- Mail your marriage license or drop it off in person at the county office within 60 days of when you get your license
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Application fee is $62-72.00 depending on the county you get it in and is non refundable.
- You can pay in office: cash, money order, cashier's check, or debit/credit card
- Or by mail: signed money order or cashier's check
- Minimum age to marry is 18.
- Waiting Period: There’s a 3 day waiting period.
- This mean's that you'll have to get your marriage license at least 3 days before your wedding day! For example if you get your license on a Wednesday, you can get married that Saturday.
- License Validity Time: You'll have 60 days from the day you get the license to return it to the auditors office for your marriage to be legally recognized.
- Residency: You do not need to be a Washington resident to apply for a license or be married in the state.
- Witnesses: Witnesses are not necessary to apply for a license, but state law requires that at least two witnesses be present at the ceremony. Witnesses should be at least 12 years of age.
The Best Vendors for Your Olympic National Park Elopement
OFFICIANTS
Did you know I'm also ordained? You'll need two witnesses to complete your marriage license, but if you want the simplest ceremony, with just the two of you, I'm happy to sign as your officiant so long as you bring along 2 witnesses!
Officiant Grace
Northwest Nuptials
PLANNERS (who also offer officiant services!)
Tapestry Events
Altar Micro-Weddings
ELOPEMENT FLORISTS
Goldenrod Floral (Carlee even did my own elopement flowers!)
Bugs Flowers
Flora Pacifica
Kylie Hale
ELOPEMENT HAIR + MAKEUP ARTISTS
Pacific Brides
Blossom and Beauty
HOW TO ELOPE IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: YOUR CHECKLIST
- Choose the time of year you want to get married
- Hire your Washington elopement photographer
- Choose where you want to get married in the National Park
- Book your other vendors (florist, officiant, hair + makeup artists, etc.)
- Book your lodging
- Apply for your Special Use Permit
- Apply for a Washington marriage license
- Get married! Woohoo!
Packing Checklist: What to Bring to Your Elopement
ELOPEMENT DAY ESSENTIALS
- Your printed Special Use Permit
- America the Beautiful pass or park day-pass
- Your vows
- Rings
- Florals (bouquet, boutonnière, flower crown, etc.)
- Shoes you'll wear for photos or ceremony if not your boots
- Your wedding attire (if you aren't hiking in it)
HIKING ESSENTIALS
- Hiking boots
- Layers (weather can change in an instant, so be prepared for any weather)
- Rain jacket
- Puffy jacket
- Flashlight
- Headlamp
- Snacks
- Plenty of water
- Tissues or hankie (for all of those happy tears)
- Toilet paper (if you're planning on being at a location away from facilities)
- Blister pads + first aid (I'm a former wilderness first responder and always have a first aid kit also!)
If you're eloping at a dog friendly location:
- Breakfast and dinner for your dog
- Any special leash or collar (flower collar, bowtie, etc.)
- Harness
- Poop bags
- Treats
- CBD treat if you have a dog that would benefit from them
- Towel in case things get soggy
Is Olympic National Park dog friendly?
The short answer is...it's complicated. lol. There are some sections of Olympic National Park that are dog friendly, and other that only allow dogs in paved areas and parking lots. If you're looking for a location that's dog friendly some of my top recommendations are Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, some areas of Lake Crescent, Kalaloch Beach, Lake Cushman, and all of the Olympic National Forest!
How far is Olympic National Park from Seattle?
It depends where in the park you're looking to go! One of the closest locations is Lake Cushman, about 2-2.5 hours from Seattle, and as you take highway 101 out to the coast, it can take up to 4.5 hours to get to locations like Rialto Beach. Typically people take the northern route (Highway 101) as it's the most beautiful way to drive (you'll drive past Lake Crescent, and many of the park entrances), but you can take the southern route along Routes 8 and 12 until you meet up with Highway 101. It's a big loop that wraps around the entire park if you're feeling ambitious and up for a road trip.
What sort of activities can I do on my elopement day here?
I'm glad you asked because this is my specialty! The beauty of eloping is that you can incorporate so many of the things you love into your elopement day. Olympic National Park has opportunities for hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tide pooling (we're talking sea stars, colorful anenomes, all sorts of crabs and fish), wildlife viewing (eagles, seals, otters, elk, you name it!), tons and tons of cool things to do. One of our favorite things to do as a Washington elopement photographers is to help couples plan all of the fun stuff so we made a whole blog with 98 Unique Elopement Day Activity Ideas to help you plan!
YOUR OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
We're Natasha and Brian! Your Olympic National Park elopement photographers, dog petters, and donut eaters focused on creating the dreamiest and intentional photos of your elopement. But we're so much more than just photographers. When you work with us, you get built in Olympic National Park elopement planning experts, guides for all of the parks most beautiful trails, snack holders, dress fluffers, tissue providers, and friends.
We know exactly what it's like to elope, because that's what we did too! We eloped on a misty August day on Mt. Baker with our sweet dog Fern, 7 of our closest friends, and it couldn't have been more us. Creating an experience that's undeniably you and honors your relationship is what we know best.
