Washington’s 3 National Parks in 3 Days!
On our big PNW roadtrip we only had 3 days to visit of all of Washington and its National Parks so here is how we did Washington’s 3 National Parks in 3 days!
Day 1: North Cascades
- We started our journey by spending the night in the little town of Winthrop Washington, we stayed at Chewuch Inn and Cabins (very nice and cute, and such a cool town!)
- Along the way we stopped at Washington Pass ,a gorgeous overlook right along the highway before you enter the park
-It’s right off the road and accessible to anyone!
- The road leading into the park is so amazing with sweeping Mountain Views
- Then we get to the incredible Diablo Lake, this is where you see the turquoise water!
- There’s an overlook that you must stop at
- Then we did our main hike for the park which was Thunder Knob Trail
- This trail is 3.4 miles and a moderate on AllTrails, but for us it was 3.8 miles
- We made a quick pit stop at Gorge lake overlook for a waterfall
- And finished with Trail of the ceders (.6 miles)
Day 2: Mt. Rainier
- This became one of my all time favorite national parks, and one of the ones that I’m most excited to revisit
- We woke up super early because it was bit of a drive to get there from Seattle somewhere between 2-3 hours with the traffic
- Our drive up was super foggy, we were literally driving through the clouds!
- And then the rain hit and we were getting so nervous that we wouldn’t get to see the mountain
- First stop was the Visitor center
- Our main hike was the Skyline Loop trail which is 5.7 miles and rated as a hard, but was 6 miles for us
- This is one of the most iconic hikes in the United States I’d say
- Started out foggy and rainy, turned to snow on the top, we couldn’t see the mountain at all!
- Saw so many cool animals though (marmots, pika, mountain goats!!)
- Finally started to clear a little on the way down but still couldn’t see mountain
- Did the easy walk down to Narada Falls
- Visited Reflection lake for sunset and the mountain finally came out!
- So we made hotdogs for dinner with one of my favorite views ever (there’s just something about this mountain)!
Day 3: Olympic
- Trying to do all of Olympic in one day is literally impossible, but we tried our best!
- We wanted a wide variety of the park so started at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
- We did Hurricane Hill via hurricane ridge trail which was 3.4 miles and a moderate (3.8 for us)
- Super cool hike with amazing views (saw Mt. Baker and the city of Victoria, Canada wayyy in the distance)
- Drove through Forks which is the town Twilight is supposed to be set in
- Our next hike was the Hall of Mosses (1 mile)
- This again, is one of the most iconic places/trails in America
- Even in the fall when the colors aren’t as vibrant this trail is absolutely incredible
- We were running out of daylight but made a quick stop at Ruby Beach
- And lastly we needed to see the Kalaloch Tree of Life
- Camped literally right by it!
I have many full videos about this trip that goes over it better with more details on my Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!
#travel #lemon8travel #nationalparks #washington #roadtrip Washington
Wow, tackling all three of Washington's incredible National Parks in just three days was definitely a challenge, but so incredibly rewarding! Looking back, I have so many extra tips I wish I knew before heading out on this whirlwind PNW road trip. If you're planning a similar adventure, here's what I learned to make your trip even smoother and more memorable. First off, the North Cascades truly blew me away. That first glimpse of Diablo Lake's vibrant turquoise water nestled amidst the mountains is something you just can't prepare for – it’s even more stunning in person than any photo! One thing I'd recommend is to pack a picnic for this day. There aren't many food options once you're deep in the park, and enjoying lunch with those panoramic views is priceless. Also, while Thunder Knob Trail was fantastic, consider checking out the closer-to-the-highway overlooks like Washington Pass early on to beat any crowds, especially if you want to get those perfect, unobstructed shots. Mount Rainier was an absolute dream, even with the tricky weather we experienced. Seriously, be prepared for anything! We started our Skyline Loop trail adventure with fog and rain, which turned to snow on top! It reminded me that layers are your best friend, even in summer. Don't let a bit of cloud cover deter you; the way the mist rolls through the valleys can be incredibly atmospheric. And yes, keep those eyes peeled for wildlife – seeing marmots and pikas scampering around was such a highlight! The moment the mountain finally peeked out for sunset at Reflection Lake was pure magic, and making hotdogs with that view felt like the perfect end to a challenging but beautiful day. For those planning, I'd suggest booking accommodations near the park well in advance, especially if you're aiming for a sunrise or sunset view. The drive from Seattle can eat into your park time. Finally, Olympic National Park in one day felt truly ambitious, but we made the most of it. The sheer diversity, from the alpine views at Hurricane Ridge (where you might spot a couple on a mountain trail overlooking forested valleys) to the lush rainforests, is astounding. The Hall of Mosses lived up to its iconic status; walking through that dense, moss-draped forest with ferns covering the ground felt like stepping into an ancient, magical world. Even without vibrant fall colors, the greens were simply unreal. If you have more time, I'd definitely recommend breaking Olympic into at least two days to fully explore the coast, mountains, and rainforests. Since we were short on time, prioritizing Hurricane Ridge and the rainforest was a great call, but I still dream about spending more time at Ruby Beach and exploring the tide pools. Always check sunset times, especially on the coast, to maximize your daylight for those beautiful, fleeting moments. This trip taught me that sometimes, even a quick taste of these natural wonders is enough to inspire a lifetime of return visits!
