Location Guides

Olympic National Park Elopement Guide

Olympic National Park is one of the best places to elope and one of our favorite national parks in Washington State. ONP is located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest and offers a ton of picturesque and unique options for couples to explore during their elopement. From beaches, mountains, and rainforests to meadows, lakes, and waterfalls. If you’re thinking about eloping somewhere in Olympic, then this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything from the best spots to elope in the park, and the best time of year. We’ll even share our featured elopement vendors to help build your ideal Olympic elopement package.

Elopement planning doesn’t have to be stressful! Let us help you through it all. Use the links below to jump to the section you’re most interested in.

Elopement Vendors For Your Olympic National Park Elopement

Why team up with a wedding vendor who specializes in elopement and adventure weddings in Olympic National Park? Because these vendors are experts when it comes to PNW elopements in Washington State, they are perfect for your ONP wedding planning needs. While we offer tips and the best places to elope in this guide, these vendors can suggest more remote locations that a lot of tourists aren’t familiar with. Just show them the location you’re loving and ask if they have a more remote suggestion with the same vibe! Team up with one our featured Washington State elopement vendors below!

Featured Olympic National Park Photographers
Featured Olympic National Park Videographers

Where to Elope in Olympic National Park

Hoh Rainforest

Whimsical, moody, unique, perfect. This is Hoh Rainforest. So many people come to Olympic just to explore this rainforest, and we could easily see why every time we see an elopement here. It’s the most popular spot in the entire park, but it has everything you’re looking for for your PNW elopement experience. If you’re loving the vibe of Hoh, but you’re getting anxious thinking about all the people you may encounter, then bring this up to one of our featured elopement vendors. We bet you they have some amazing alternatives.

Ruby Beach

Photo by Van Gachnang

Any Twilight fans thinking about staying in Forks? Ruby Beach is ONP’s most popular beach location and it’s right outside this famous town. We love this beach because even though it does get crowded, you can walk a few minutes and find a spot or two to beat the crowds. It’s also perfect if you’re looking for a moody PNW elopement vibe with epic rock formations. If you want to elope with your dogs, then you can bring them here too!

Rialto Beach

Photo by Emma Studley

If you’re looking for an alternative to Ruby Beach, then Rialto Beach is actually up the road from it. Unlike Ruby Beach, this beach is known for its sea stacks and geological formations. This is a dog-friendly beach as well, and it’s a nice alternative if you’re trying to beat the crowds.

Hurricane Ridge

If you’re planning a micro wedding in Olympic National Park, then Hurricane Ridge is the perfect accessible mountain location to consider. You and your guests don’t have to hike to get there either, which makes it perfect if you’re inviting grandparents along. However, with this accessibility comes huge crowds. If you’re interested in eloping here, then opt for a sunrise or sunset ceremony during the weekday and off-season!

Lake Crescent

One of the most iconic Olympic National Park locations is Lake Crescent. You’ll get those Pinterest-worthy photos you have been eyeing with the most gorgeous views from the famous pier located right next to the Lake Crescent Lodge. With its popular views come multiple tourists around the shoreline. Plan for a sunrise or sunset elopement here during the off-season because the summer months here are BUSY.

Marymere Falls

Waterfalls in ONP are one of our favorite elopement experiences because you get to see some amazing views along the way during some of the hikes, and the waterfalls are just magical. Marymere Falls in particular is a short mile hike. It’s not a HUGE waterfall, but it is still gorgeous just the same, and close to other popular spots like Lake Crescent. Since it has a great location and it’s a fairly easy hike, this location does see a lot of foot traffic.

Madison Falls

Madison Falls is a 50-foot waterfall in the park. It’s actually perfect for couples who have guests or who can’t walk very far since it’s ADA-accessible. Keep in mind this elopement spot gets crowded, so we recommend planning a sunrise elopement ceremony here. Another great perk besides the accessibility is this spot is also dog-friendly, so bring your furry friends along (don’t forget their leashes)!

Kalaloch Beach

Photo by Emett Joseph

Kalaloch Beach is a unique spot to elope because it’s home to the “Tree of Life”. This tree is actually nestled in between two rock formations and makes for a great backdrop during your portraits. This beach is dog friendly and close to Ruby Beach. Unlike Ruby Beach, however, this beach is flatter and has a forest that meets the sea.

Mount Storm King

For adventurous couples who want a challenge to hike to the summit, this elopement spot is for you. Mount Storm King is steep to reach the top, and you even need some ropes to get up there, making this a worthy challenge for couples who hike often. If you’re not a big fan of a more challenging hike, then you can explore the trails around the area, which give you equally gorgeous views.

When to Elope in Olympic

Olympic is pretty special year-round. We always recommend staying up to date with the park’s website and make sure of any closures to certain locations that may become inaccessible during the time you’re visiting.

Our favorite time to plan an adventure wedding or elope in Olympic National Park is Spring or Fall.

Spring is a popular time to visit ONP, but there is a science to planning your elopement correctly to fully enjoy the fresh new blooms and greenery alongside the waterfalls in Olympic.

Summer is the most popular time to visit the park, so expect loads of crowds. If you’re aiming to have a more private elopement, then this is not your season. You can always plan a sunrise or sunset elopement, but summer does bring the most crowds. If you don’t mind a few people and work out a plan with your elopement vendor, then you’ll be able to enjoy gorgeous weather and even some water activities!

Fall brings the famous fall foliage throughout the park, and you’ll even start to see snow in higher elevations such as Hurricane Ridge. Overall, we prefer fall because the park is quieter than in summer.

Winter is a gamble and be prepared for snow, rain, and park closures. This is the time of year when the least amount of people visit. So if you’re feeling adventurous, want a winter wedding adventure, and are flexible with ceremony locations, then plan a winter elopement at Olympic.

Permits and Leave No Trace in Olympic

If you have more than 5 people with you (including your vendors), then you’ll need a special use permit to have your ceremony in the park. The permit itself is $50, and we recommend that you apply for your permit at least a month in advance from your wedding date.

You can apply for the special use permits on ONP’s website and make sure all the permit information is up to date.

If you’re planning a bigger wedding ceremony, like a small wedding, then most spots can accommodate up to 30 people. We recommend chatting with your elopement vendor about spots they suggest if you’re planning to include family and friends during your ceremony.

Remember to leave no trace at Olympic National Park during your wedding adventure. It’s important that we leave the area(s) we are visiting better than we found it. If you’re bringing along your dog to one of the dog-friendly locations at ONP, then please pick up and watch over your furry friends.

If you have any questions about leaving no trace during your elopement, check out this resource or ask your photographer what they recommend when it comes to packing and preparing.

Please note we try to provide the most up-to-date information, but it’s always recommended to check the park’s official website for the latest permit updates and park closures.

Marriage License Requirements in Washington

Ready to make things official in Olympic? Let’s make sure you have a Washington marriage license! You can get one in any county, but keep in mind that Washington’s marriage licenses have a 3 day waiting period. This is important to keep in mind if you’re coming from out of state. The marriage license fee is about $69.

Other requirements to keep in mind to make your Olympic ceremony legit is you’ll need an officiant and two witnesses. If you’re eloping just the two of you and want to officially get married in the park, don’t stress! You can always get friends you meet on the trail or even your vendors!

Do you not want to deal with the stress of getting legally married in the park? You can always plan a commitment ceremony in ONP!

Best Places to Stay Near Olympic National Park

When it comes to places to stay near and within Olympic National Park, you actually have a good amount of options to pick from.

Check out the following locations you can reserve ahead of time:

ONP also has campground reservations. Kalaloch, Mora, and the Hoh Rain Forest campgrounds are the only park-operated campgrounds that accept reservations in the summer. Campsites are first-come, first-serve the rest of the year.

OR you can always check out some of our favorite rental properties nearby you can stay at before your Olympic adventure together.

Check out this 4 bedroom lake house by ONP!

Check out this two house estate perfect for your Olympic National Park small wedding day!

Check out this 10 acre home on Elwha River Near Olympic Park.

Check out this 2 bedroom forest cabin near ONP!

Check out this 2 bedroom home near Hurricane Ridge.

Check out this mountain view cabin near Olympic.

 

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