Picture yourself at the top of a craggy peak with sprawling views over a bright blue lake surrounded by lush mountains. That’s what you’ll see if you make it to the top of the Mount Storm King in Olympic National Park. 🥾 This demanding day hike is a true adventure, one that deserves a spot on every avid hiker’s bucket list.
Having explored Olympic multiple times, I can say that Mount Storm King stands out as my favorite trail in the park. There’s just something incomparable about having to climb up the ropes and then being rewarded with the most incredible views 🤩. I would do this hike many more times!
Yet, despite its allure, Mount Storm King demands caution. ⚠️ There are challenging aspects, so to help you plan your trek, I’ve written this guide. Find out the essential details—from the best times to embark on this adventure to navigating the trail and valuable tips for making the most of your hike in Olympic!
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Mount Storm King Hike Guide
In this post, I have written a detailed trail guide for the Mount Storm King hike. Although this is a day hike, it’s definitely something you’ll want to be prepared for before you go!
This is one of the most notorious trails in the park, because it has many challenging components. You’ll gain 1600 feet of elevation in a mile, use ropes to get to the top, and walk over rocks with steep drop offs 😮.
For all of these reasons, I do not recommend this hike for beginners or for individuals that are scared of heights. Remember, that if you go to the summit, you’ll need to hike over an area that is unmaintained by the park.
Despite all of these things, I definitely think that this hike is worth it! ✨ I’ll never get over the views at the end. So, read below so you’ll find out everything you need to know.
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation: 2100 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 2-4 Hours (depends on your pace, breaks, and weather)
Difficulty: Hard (It gets very steep and requires roaps at the top, I do not recommend if you have a fear of heights)
Mount Storm King Location
You’ll find the gorgeous Mount Storm King trail in the heart of Olympic National Park. It’s located near Lake Crescent off of the Marymere Falls trail. This mountain is 4500 feet above sea level and has stunning views over the Olympic Mountains.
It’s just 40 minutes from Port Angeles, 1 hour from Forks, 3 hours from Seattle, and 2.5 from Tacoma 🚘. It’s a great trail to do on a weekend trip to the park, because it’s accessible from both directions.
How to Get to Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is just 2 hours from Seattle, so it’s a great park to go to on a weekend trip! The best way to get to Olympic is with a car 🚙, because there are no great public transportation options. Also, the park is very large, so having a car to get around is key!
If you are coming from out of state, then I recommend flying into SEA-TAC, the Seattle airport, and renting a car. Then, you can easily drive from the Seattle area to the Olympic Peninsula to explore.
If you’re driving through Port Angeles, then it’s very simple to get to the trail. You’ll just continue on Route 101 until you get to signs for Lake Crescent Lodge and Marymere Falls. Park there and take the Marymere Falls trail for .5 miles until you see the Mount Storm King trail sign!
Driving Times in the Park
- Port Angeles to Lake Crescent – 30 minutes
- Hurricane Ridge to Lake Crescent – 1 hour
- Rialto Beach to Lake Crescent – 1 hour
- Hoh Rainforest to Lake Crescent – 1 hour 45 minutes
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 Olympics costs $30 for a private vehicle that covers 7 days. However, you can also use any of the annual passes like the America the Beautiful Pass to get in.
☀️ The weather can change quickly in Olympic National Park. The Mount Storm King Trail can be very dangerous when wet. I would avoid this trail when there is inclement weather.
⛔️ The Mount Storm King trail has sections that are unmaintained, have steep drop offs, and require the use of ropes. If you are scared of heights, then I wouldn’t complete this hike!
⛺️There are 14 different sites for camping in Olympic National Park. None of them are on the Mount Storm King Trail. You can learn more about all the camping options here.
🐻 Olympic has bears, however, there has never been a recorded bear attack in the park. It is not recommended to bring bear spray on the trails, as it may cause more harm than good.
🦮 Pets are not allowed on the Mount Storm King Trail.
⚠️ Mount Storm King is open year round, but it can be very dangerous in the ice and snow. You can read updated trail conditions here.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Hike Mount Storm King
The ideal time to hike to Mount Storm King is from late spring through early Fall. During these months temperatures are higher, skies are clear, and the forest is incredibly lush. You may see wildflowers in summer or fantastic fall colors 🍂 in the autumn.
It’s best to hike the Mount Storm King trail from May to October!
Most of the rain and snow falls between the months of November and April. So, you’re more likely to have a dry trail during the rest of the year. Plus, you’ll get fantastic temperatures and great views!
What to Pack for the Mount Storm King Trail
Olympic receives 140 inches of rain a year! 🌧 So, even if you’re planning on hiking this trail during the try season, you should always prepare for the possibility of precipitation. Pack waterproof layers, so you won’t be miserable.
Also, this hike is very steep so I recommend bringing hiking poles to help your knees, as well as plenty of water and snacks. It’s quite a challenging climb to the top!
Packing List for Mount Storm King
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Headlamp
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Satellite phone
- Camera Clip
Where to Stay
Olympic National Park is an incredibly large park. Driving between areas of the park can take up to two hours. You will need to factor your drive times into your itinerary regardless of where you stay.
So, if you want to be close to the Lake Crescent Area, then I recommend either staying in the park around that area at Lake Crescent Lodge or one of the camping grounds. Otherwise, I would stay in Port Angeles, which is 40 minutes away.
Hotels in Port Angeles:
Detailed Mount Storm King Trail Guide
Through the Woods
You’ll begin this trail from the parking area around Lake Crescent Lodge. From there, you’ll take the Marymere Falls trail. Luckily, this trail helps you warm up, because it’s very flat for the first half a mile.
Enjoy the beautiful damp forest as you walk through the thick trees. After .5 miles, you’ll see the sign for Mount Storm King on your left 🪧. From there, you’ll turn left and begin your ascent to the summit!
Up Switchbacks in the Forest
The next portion of the trail is where you’re going to need most of your energy. You’ll walk through the covered forest and up switchbacks. The path gains 1600 feet of elevation in about a mile. So, it’s very challenging 🥵.
You will definitely want to stop and take breaks as you go up. After a little bit, the forest begins to clear and gives way to stunning views over Lake Crescent. If you are afraid of heights, then this is a great place to stop. Otherwise, you can move on to the unmaintained portion.
Rope Section
Once you get to the clearer area of the path, you’ll see a sign that states the area beyond is “unmaintained.” This is known as the climber’s trail and it’s where the path becomes very steep and begins to have ropes.
As the trail gets steeper, you’ll notice ropes that are hooked onto various rocks and trees along the path. The ropes along this path are not installed by the park, so you are taking them at your own risk. I used the ropes and found them to be helpful and supportive.
To Mount Storm King’s Summit
After you get to the top of the ropes, you’ll get to the rocky portion of the trail. You’ll have to climb over some boulders 🪨 until you get to the viewpoint at the very end.
This is where my husband, who is afraid of heights, began to get nervous, because there are steep drop offs. But, he made it to the end to enjoy the rocky peak views!
We were blown away by the views 🤯 from the summit and could have stayed there forever taking them in! You’ll see expansive panoramic views over Lake Crescent and the Olympic Mountains. Both of us loved this trail and thought it was worth it.
From there, you return down the way you came, so you should keep that in mind when climbing up.
Final Tips for Hiking Mount Storm King
The most important thing to do when hiking Mount Storm King is to go slow and use caution! Once the trail clears to the unmaintained section, you’ll see the ropes and rocky portions. But, these ropes are not put up by the park, so it’s really at your own risk to use them!
Just know your abilities, and if you ever feel unsafe then I would stop and turn around! It’s okay to not make it to the top. However, if you do make it then you will be met with gorgeous panoramic views over the year. I hope you enjoy this trail, because it’s the best day hike in Olympic!
Let me know if you enjoyed this trail guide in the comments!
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