Olympic National Park Elopement Guide

Guide officially updated for 2026 elopement couples!

Olympic National Park has the most diversity in landscapes you can explore for your elopement. You can watch the sunrise at 5,000 feet in the Olympic Mountains, explore lush rainforests and beautiful lakes in the afternoon, and catch the sunset on the rugged Washington Coast. It’s also one of the greenest places in the United States (besides Kauai). It truly is the paradise of the Pacific Northwest. We have a wide range of trails here too. So you can go on easy hikes, challenging hikes, or even go backpacking for your Olympic National Park elopement.

Why elope in Olympic National Park?

It’s really hard to beat the variety of landscapes you can experience in one day in Olympic National Park. A lot of my couples say their vows at sunrise in the mountains, enjoy a picnic at Lake Crescent, and enjoy sunset out at one of the many stunning beaches along the coast. You just can’t do that in many other places. Not to mention how green and lush it is on the Olympic Peninsula year-round. It’s remote, magical, and just feels otherworldly. It really is one of the most adventurous places in the Pacific-Northwest.

Meet your Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer

I’ve been an elopement photographer for almost a decade, and that experience shows in every part of the process. I know the trails, the timing, and the lighting — and I’ll help you find the right location and build your elopement day around it. When you are planning something this intimate it helps to have someone who’s done it hundreds of times and has local expertise.

You can also add on an elopement film with my husband. Just ask me in the booking process.

Planning Your Elopement Trip

Where is Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington far away from the busy metro of Seattle. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Baker, Vancouver Island, and of course the Olympic mountain range. It’s worth point out that Olympic National Park is huge. You can access trails as far east as Hoodsport, Washington, or as far West as Forks, Washington. It’s a vast, lush wilderness area perfect for any adventure elopement.

Where to stay for your elopement

Port Angeles and Sequim (pronounced Skwim) are the biggest towns on the peninsula and the closest places to stay to access the Hurricane Ridge area. So if you envision hiking in the mountains for your elopement, you’ll probably want to stay in Port Angeles or Sequim.

Forks on the other hand is best for couples who want to spend their elopement exploring the Hoh Rainforest and the rugged coast. Forks is a much smaller town with very few restaurants and shops. But it truly is an amazing way to explore the Olympic Peninsula. It’s worth noting that the drive between Port Angeles and Forks is about 1.5 hours. And that Hoh Rainforest and the popular beaches are about 30-45 minutes from Forks.

Some of Our Favorite Accommodations (we have even more)

• Whiskey Creek Beach NW (multiple cabins and 1 A-frame structure for camping)
• Luxury Camping – Canvas Tent (2 guests)
• Cedar Guesthouse (4 guests)
• Treehouse (6 guests)
• Tinyhouse (4 guests)
• Vacation Home (9 guests)
• Mossquatch Resort (cabins, glamping, camping)
• Kalalock Lodge (cabins, lodge, houses)

Best Locations for Your Olympic National Park Elopement

Hurricane Ridge

There are stunning trails at Hurricane Ridge you can explore for your Olympic National Park elopement. You will climb 5,000 feet from downtown Port Angeles into the rugged Olympic mountains in just a short 40-minute drive. There is a visitor center, bathrooms, and several trailheads once you reach Hurricane Ridge. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Baker, the Salish Sea, and Vancouver Island from one of the many trails. This is also a popular snowshoeing destination in the winter months. We love seeing the dramatic difference in the scenery each season.

Leave No Trace Information

This area has a very fragile ecosystem and it is incredibly damaging to go off-trail. While a lot of the environment “looks” like a regular field of grass that you can walk across, there are signs everywhere reminding you to stay on the trail. All of our couples are on the trail in our photos. I use different angles to hide the trail for photos occasionally. Be sure to work with an elopement photographer who can help you plan a sustainable elopement so we can keep these places wild for future generations.

Hurricane Ridge Elopements

Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is one of my favorite lakes to explore with our couples. It’s a beautiful lake with pristine blue water surrounded by forests and mountains. Does it get any better than that? This easy-access location has flat trails that wind through the rainforest or take you along the lakeshore. It’s a great place for a picnic, ceremonies with officiants, bringing guests, or any other elopement activity that you want to be easygoing. Also, Lake Crescent is a convenient place to stop for photos if you’re already heading out to the Washington coast.

Lake Crescent Elopements

Hoh Rainforest

Hoh Rainforest is a magical forest that feels completely removed from the rest of the world. This is probably why it has “one square inch of silence” which is reportedly the quietest place in the United States. This is one of the most popular tourist spots to visit in Olympic National Park as well. It’s a family-friendly loop through a beautiful rainforest and worth visiting. If you’re looking for a lush rainforest and more privacy, I have other rainforest trails outside of Hoh Rainforest to explore for your elopement. Can you tell which photos below were taken in Hoh Rainforest? Probably not. Some of my favorite rainforest areas in Olympic are off-the-beaten-path locations that locals explore.

Olympic Rainforest Elopements

Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Olympic National Park. I have spent many sunsets out here and have seen Ruby Beach in just about every weather imaginable. It’s a stunning place to visit for an Olympic National Park elopement regardless of what the weather brings. My elopement couples love exploring the tidepools at low tide, checking out the rock formations, and hiking down the beach to get more privacy. This is a great location for a first dance, ending your elopement day at sunset, and Ruby Beach is one of the only dog-friendly locations in Olympic National Park (you can take your dog as far north as the creek a half mile down the beach).

Elopement Location Tip

There is a semi-steep 1/4-mile trail from the parking lot down to Ruby Beach. It’s a wide trail that is easy to follow and isn’t technical at all. But while it’s considered family-friendly, just be aware of the steep descent to access the beach. Rialto or Kalaloch Beaches are much flatter to access if you need a beach without a steep trail.

Ruby Beach Elopements

Rialto Beach & Other Popular Beaches

Rialto Beach is right outside of La Push, Washington, and another popular beach to visit for elopements in Olympic National Park. It is a shorter drive from Forks or Port Angeles compared to Ruby Beach (which is farther south of Forks). You can walk the pebble-covered beach for sunset, or opt to hike farther down the beach to explore more unique rock formations. It’s a beautiful beach and we love coming here with our couples. If you’re up for going somewhere off the beaten path, we have lots of amazing beaches to explore along the coast.

Rialto Beach Elopements

Other Olympic National Park Elopement Locations

Being locals to the area, I have our fair share of favorite spots off the beaten path too! I love visiting the more popular beaches and trails because they are incredibly stunning. But I also help our couples find quieter spots that are just as beautiful! If you’re looking for a more intimate experience and want to go “off the beaten path,” I’ll talk about other trails and locations in the planning process to find the right trails for your elopement!

Waterfalls in Olympic National Park

Check Out Taylor & Eric’s Rainforest & Waterfall Elopement

A place as green as Olympic National Park definitely has its share of incredible waterfalls to explore. There are a few different waterfalls we can explore depending on the other locations you explore for your day. There’s even an Olympic Peninsula Waterfall Trail you can do to explore more than 20 different waterfalls out here. The Spring and early Summer are the best time to experience the waterfalls since we have all the snowmelt from the winter. The waterfalls are absolutely roaring in the early season.

Best Time of Year to Elope In Olympic National Park

You can elope in Olympic National Park year-round. Most of the rainforest and beach trails stay open throughout the winter season. Olympic National Park is one of the best elopement destinations for couples who are eloping in Washington between October – May because of the temperate weather and access to trails.

If you want to elope at Hurricane Hill and hike in the mountains, the road leading up to Hurricane Ridge usually opens up for the season in May. During the winter, they only open up the road Friday – Sunday depending on the weather. We have taken lots of couples to Hurricane Ridge early in the season (May and Early June) when there was still snow on the trails. It’s very doable to hike with micro-spikes or bring snowshoes. If you want to explore Hurricane Hill when it’s snow-free, plan your elopement between mid June and early October. We cannot emphasize enough how gorgeous Olympic National Park is year-round.

Check Hurricane Hill Road Status Here

Moody Weather in Olympic

As one of the greenest places in the country, it’s also one of the rainiest. So you can expect a chance of rain or moody weather any time of year. I love the moody weather though and my couples are usually excited to see such a beautiful and moody landscape. It’s usually the sunniest in August which is a popular time for couples to elope in Washington. I recommend couples bring rain jackets and umbrellas and be ready to go with the flow. Usually, I’ll move plans around or explore the rainforest (to use nature’s umbrellas) if we have consistent rain.

Dates to Avoid: Free National Park days, major holidays, and weekends (for elopements).

Washington Marriage License (Do we need an officiant?)

You will need an ordained officiant and two witnesses to legally get married in the state of Washington. I am ordained and will happily sign your marriage license. However, if you’re looking for someone to be more involved and guide you through a ceremony, I have officiant recommendations. So there’s no need to worry about making it official and getting a marriage license with me.

Washington Marriage License Info:

• Requires an ordained officiant.
• Requires two witnesses.
• The marriage license is valid for 60 days.
• There is a 3-day waiting period before the marriage license is valid.
• The application fee is $69.
• You can get a marriage license from any county and it will be valid anywhere in Washington. So you don’t have to pick up your marriage license from the same county where you elope.

How to Apply for Your Marriage License

You can apply for your marriage license online at the King County Recorder’s Office. We recommend King County in Seattle since most couples will be visiting Seattle at some point. As we mentioned above, you can get a license from King County and use it anywhere in Washington. It’s not county-specific. The website is intuitive and will answer just about any question you might have. They even have a calculator tool to figure out when you need to apply.

Special-Use Permits for Olympic National Park Elopements

If you have a total group size of 5 or more, you will need to apply for a special-use permit with Olympic National Park. I’ll help you fill out your permit and give you instructions on how to apply. It’s super easy, I promise. I’ve worked with the permit coordinator in Olympic for years. She’s great!

The permit cost is $50 – $100 and you can download the application from NPS here.

You are required to file your permit 3-4 weeks in advance, but I recommend applying as soon as you feel confident about your total group size and have decided on a designated ceremony site in the planning process. I’m always happy to answer any questions about special-use permits. I’m a pro at this.

Leave No Trace (LNT) Tips for Your Elopement

I am a Leave No Trace certified photographer and follow LNT principles to ensure couples have sustainable elopement experiences in Olympic National Park. I am passionate about keeping these places wild, honoring the native tribes, and minimizing our impact on the land.

• Pick up any flower petals that fall off while hiking. I usually stay behind you to ensure we pick up any petals that fall.
• When laying out your bags to get dressed, find an area that won’t be in the way of other hikers and keep all of your bags together.
• Bring a Nalgene bottle to pour any drinks you might not finish. I want to avoid pouring out any beverages on the ground.
• Layout a blanket for a picnic so you can keep all your crumbs on the blanket instead of being left behind.
• Bring plastic baggie/stasher bag to carry/pack out any trash.
• Stay on trails (keep dogs leashed on trail with us too).
• Leave what you find and don’t take anything from nature like pebbles, rocks, or flowers (just take home memories and photos instead).
• Check to see if there is a fire ban before making a fire. This is common out West during the summer season.
• Be respectful of wildlife and keep a safe distance from them. Do not feed wildlife either.
• Be respectful of other hikers by keeping down noise, don’t play loud music, make space for hikers to pass by on the trail.

Olympic National Park Elopement Activity Ideas

Read Our Elopement Activity Guide Here

A lot of couples ask me what activities they should do on their day. I usually recommend 1-3 total extra activities to make sure you have a relaxed and easygoing day. Between a few activities, your ceremony, and taking photos, you’ll have plenty of things to do to celebrate. These are some ideas I’ve seen from past couples:

• Picnic
• Coffee/Tea
• 1st Dance
• Celebratory Drink (sparkling water)
• Hike
• Read letters
• Exchange Gifts
• Board games

Vendors

Where to visit after your Olympic National Park Elopement?

• Forks, Washington: If you’re staying in Port Angeles for your elopement, you can always extend your trip in Olympic National Park and explore the coast. I recommend staying in Forks or in La Push. Best for those who want a quieter time exploring beaches and remote rainforests.
• Port Townsend, Washington: Easily my favorite town on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s a cute town right on the Salish Sea with lots to do in their cute downtown. You can easily take the ferry over to Fort Casey and drive up to Coupeville to explore Whidbey Island or take a ferry to the San Juan Islands too.
• Vancouver Island, Canada: Take the ferry directly from downtown Port Angeles to Victoria (the capital of British Columbia). Yes, it’s THAT easy to visit Canada from Olympic National Park. I highly recommend couples at least take a day trip since it’s so easy to visit Canada. Try catching the sunset ferry on your way back to Port Angles to get a majestic view of Mt. Baker across the Salish sea.