Olympic Rainforest to Blue Glacier: Self-Launched Backpacking Trek
5 days · Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Wildland Trekking charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£235 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Wildland Trekking's fully guided 5-day backpacking trek through Olympic National Park's Hoh Rainforest to Blue Glacier. You'll hike the same route — Hoh River Trail to Olympus Guard Station, Elk Lake, the Blue Glacier viewpoint beneath Mount Olympus, and back via Five Mile Island — but carry your own gear, arrange your own wilderness permit and bear canister, and shuttle yourself from Olympia using local buses, a rented car-share, or the Clallam Transit network. Note: this is a genuine backcountry backpacking trip on a demanding, steep, sometimes washed-out trail — you need solid fitness, navigation skills, backcountry experience, and a wilderness permit reserved months ahead (Olympic NP limits overnight permits on this route). Costs assume you own or can borrow basic backpacking gear; gear rental would add roughly £120-180.
Day-by-day
Olympia to Olympus Guard Station via Hoh Rainforest
Olympia / Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park
Sort your logistics early: pick up your reserved Olympic National Park wilderness permit (book online via recreation.gov up to 6 months ahead — the Hoh River Trail quota fills fast in summer) and a bear canister if you don't own one (rentable in Port Angeles or Forks). Travel from Olympia to the Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center — either drive your own/rented car (~3.5 hrs, ~£40/day split if shared, plus ~£20 fuel) or take Clallam Transit/Grays Harbor Transit connections to Forks and a seasonal shuttle or hitch/hostel-arranged lift to the trailhead. Hike ~9 miles up the Hoh River Trail to Olympus Guard Station, passing waterfalls and moss-draped old-growth temperate rainforest. Camp at Olympus Guard Station (pit toilet, food storage required).
🚌Rental car or shared car from Olympia to Hoh trailhead (~3.5 hrs) or Clallam Transit to Forks + lift/shuttle
🛏Backcountry campsite – Olympus Guard Station (own tent)
- →Hoh Rainforest Visitor Center
- →Hoh River Trail old-growth rainforest hike
- →Olympus Guard Station camp
Olympus Guard Station to Elk Lake
Hoh River Trail / Elk Lake
A shorter but steady ~6-mile day climbing through changing forest ecosystems — from lowland rainforest into more open river valley terrain. Cross the high wooden bridges over river confluences (check current trail conditions and bridge status with the Wilderness Information Center before setting out; sections occasionally wash out). Camp at Elk Lake, a classic alpine-ish basin camp. Filter all water. Cook your own backcountry dinner.
🚌On foot
🛏Backcountry campsite – Elk Lake (own tent)
- →6-mile forest and river-valley hike
- →River confluence bridge crossings
- →Elk Lake camp
Elk Lake to Blue Glacier Viewpoint (Mount Olympus)
Blue Glacier / Mount Olympus
The highlight day: a demanding day hike from Elk Lake up to the Blue Glacier moraine and viewpoint, navigating the steep ladder descent through the old landslide section and a steeper scramble to the viewpoint above the glacier. Views of Mount Olympus and the glacier's icefalls. Pack lunch to eat overlooking the glacier. Return to Elk Lake for the night. Do NOT attempt to walk on the glacier — no glacier gear or guide, and crevasses are real. Check snow conditions: early season (June-early July) may require microspikes and ice axe skills.
🚌On foot (day hike, pack left at camp)
🛏Backcountry campsite – Elk Lake (own tent)
- →Blue Glacier viewpoint day hike
- →Ladder descent through old landslide
- →Mount Olympus views
- →Glacier-side lunch
Elk Lake to Five Mile Island
Hoh River Trail / Five Mile Island
A long ~10-mile day retracing the trail back down the valley toward the trailhead, camping at Five Mile Island near the Hoh River. Pace yourself, top up water at reliable creek crossings, and keep an eye on the weather — the Hoh gets serious rain year-round. Bear canister required for all food and scented items.
🚌On foot
🛏Backcountry campsite – Five Mile Island (own tent)
- →10-mile descent along Hoh River Trail
- →Five Mile Island camp
Five Mile Island to Trailhead and back to Olympia
Hoh Rainforest / Olympia
A mellow ~5-mile final hike out to the Hoh Rainforest trailhead, then shuttle/drive back toward Olympia. Break the drive for a coastal stop — Ruby Beach or Rialto Beach/Kalaloch are a short detour and a great place for a packed lunch and a stretch. Return your bear canister if rented and get back to Olympia by evening. Book a cheap motel or hostel in Olympia for the night if you're flying out the next day.
🚌On foot to trailhead + rental car/shared drive back to Olympia (~3.5 hrs)
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Olympia (if staying on)
- →Final 5-mile hike out
- →Ruby Beach or Rialto Beach coastal stop
- →Return to Olympia
Self-launched vs. Wildland Trekking
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wildland Trekking | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£235 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,665 per person (88%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wildland Trekking-style trips? Check them out here.~£235
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Olympic Rainforest to Blue Glacier: Self-Launched Backpacking Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £235 per person for 5 days in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Wildland Trekking?+
Yes — Wildland Trekking charges around £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £235 — a saving of roughly £1,665 (88%) per person.
How long is the Olympic National Park, Washington, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Olympic National Park, Washington, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Olympic National Park, Washington, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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