Olympic National Park Elopement Guide 2026

There’s a good chance you landed here because you have approximately 47 tabs open trying to figure out how the heck people actually elope in Olympic National Park.

Do we stay in Port Angeles or Forks? Is Hurricane Ridge even accessible when we want to go? Is the Hoh Rainforest going to be packed? How worried do we actually need to be about rain? Can we do mountains and rainforest and beach in the same day, or is that completely insane? And somewhere in the middle of all that, you probably realized you also need to figure out permits, dates, marriage licenses, and about a million other little things.

It can be a lot. But after seeing so many incredible photos of the park, you eventually get to the point where all you can think is, “Okay… where do we even begin?”

Well, you’re in luck. I’ve photographed more than 50 elopements in Olympic National Park over the past seven years and actually used to live in Port Angeles during the summers. When I say I’ve explored every nook and cranny of Olympic, I mean it.

So instead of opening another 20 tabs, start here.

I’m going to walk you through how I help my couples plan an Olympic National Park elopement, including which locations are the best, when to visit, how much driving is realistic, permits, crowds, weather, lodging, timelines, and all the other things that are really helpful to know before you book anything.

7 Best Places to Elope in Olympic National Park

Normally, I tell couples to pick a date first and then choose their location. Olympic is one of the few places where I actually recommend doing the opposite.

The park is huge, and the weather can be completely different depending on where you are. While the beaches might be totally snow-free in March, the mountains can still be buried in it. So before you lock in a date, I’d figure out which part of the park you’re most excited about first.

Mountains? Rainforest? Lake? Beach? All of the above?

And that’s where Olympic gets a little overwhelming because there are so many good options.

To make it easier, I narrowed it down to the seven places I recommend most for elopements. Every spot on this list is somewhere I’ve personally explored, photographed, and sent my own couples to, so these are the locations I’d start with.

1. Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is hands down my favorite elopement location in Olympic National Park. It’s also one of the best mountain elopement locations in the state if you want huge views without having to hike for them.

Most of my couples love this spot for ceremonies because the designated ceremony area is a short drive from the main visitor area, so it tends to be tourist-free and very private.

You’ll also see wildflowers, deer (literally so many deer), and some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the entire park.

The one thing to know is that Hurricane Ridge gets busy in the summer. I usually avoid midday because the crowds can be a bit much. But if you’re willing to come up for sunrise or stick around for sunset, even on a busy summer weekend, you can usually get a good chunk of the mountain to yourselves.

• Best time of year to elope: June and September-October
• Max capacity: 50 people
• Crowd level: Moderate to high
• Pro tip: Weather at Hurricane Ridge can be unpredictable. Even if it’s sunny in town, it can be completely fogged in at the top. I always check the live park webcam on elopement days to see what the weather is like before heading up.

I’ve put together a full Hurricane Ridge elopement guide, along with photos from a real elopement if you want to check it out!

2. Hoh Rainforest

Dare I say the most magical and unique elopement location in all of Washington is the Hoh Rainforest? I do. I’ve been here every month of the year, and no matter when you visit, you’re guaranteed to be blown away.

Because this location is so one-of-a-kind (it’s one of the last remaining temperate rainforests on Earth), it’s also one of the most popular places in the entire park. In the summer, wait times can reach 2+ hours just to park. I’m not kidding. If the Hoh Rainforest is high on your list, I highly recommend planning a sunrise or sunset ceremony, or eloping during one of the shoulder seasons (I like November).

If crowds aren’t really your thing but you love the look of the Hoh Rainforest, Olympic has several other rainforests to explore, including one that’s not too far from here.

• Best time of year to elope: December-May
• Max capacity: 15 people
• Crowd level: High
• Pro tip: This isn’t my favorite spot for elopements with guests. While there are a few areas that can accommodate larger groups, the trails through the actual rainforest are narrow and work much better with just a handful of people.

Take a peek at a real elopement I shot along the Spruce Nature Trail, along with a complete guide on how to elope in the Hoh Rainforest.

And if you want to see the most popular trail in the area, I also have a full guide to the Hall of Mosses Trail.

3. Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is my most recommended location in Olympic National Park for elopements with guests, mainly because there’s so much room along the shoreline for everyone and it’s only 30 minutes from Port Angeles.

If you only have a few hours on your elopement day but still want a lot of variety in your photos, I can’t recommend the Lake Crescent area enough. Around the lake, you can find waterfalls, a river, old-growth forest, wildflowers, and even an open meadow area.

It’s also one of the few areas in Olympic that stays accessible year-round and is often snow-free in winter.

Like a lot of the more accessible places in Olympic, Lake Crescent can get pretty busy in the summer with swimmers and hikers. You already know what I’m going to say… a sunrise or sunset wedding is the way to go here.

• Best time of year to elope: May-June or September-October
• Max capacity: 50 people
• Crowd level: Moderate
• Pro tip: This is one of my favorite areas for multi-location elopements because you can get so much variety without spending half the day in the car. It’s also a popular photo spot, so don’t be surprised if you see another couple or photographer nearby.

Want to see a real elopement here? Check out my Lake Crescent elopement guide, which also features a sunrise elopement I photographed along the lake.

4. Ruby Beach

If I had to write a book about how much I love Ruby Beach for elopements, it’d be miles long.

I’d even go as far as saying Ruby Beach is one of the best beach elopement locations in the world. You really won’t find sea stacks in Olympic that are quite as grand as the ones here.

It’s also a great spot for ceremonies. The beach is about a mile long, so there’s plenty of room to spread out with guests. That said, the walk back up from the beach is a little steep, and the shoreline is mostly small rocks rather than soft sand, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for older guests or anyone with mobility concerns.

Ruby Beach is popular pretty much all day, with sunrise being the main exception. Sunset has the best light, but it also brings a lot more people out to the beach, so if avoiding crowds is your top priority, sunrise is definitely the better choice.

• Best time of year to elope: June–October
• Max capacity: 50 people
• Crowd level: Moderate to high
• Pro tip: Always check the tide charts before planning a ceremony if you want to walk close to the sea stacks. Otherwise, they’ll be impossible to reach.

Want to see more? Here’s a Ruby Beach elopement guide that has more photos from Logan and Holton’s dreamy golden hour elopement.

5. Lake Cushman

Lake Cushman is one of my favorite hidden gems in Olympic. It’s on the eastern side of the park and closer to Seattle, so most couples don’t make it out this way since it’s a bit farther from the more popular areas like Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest.

But if you want something that looks a little different from the Olympic elopement photos you see everywhere online, this is such a fun area to explore. Besides the lake, you’ll find waterfalls, mountain trails, and plenty of pull-offs to explore.

Every elopement I’ve photographed in this area has been completely crowd-free, which is a huge reason I recommend it to couples who care a lot about privacy.

That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, though. Some areas close seasonally because of snow, and there isn’t a ton going on nearby compared with places like Port Angeles or Forks. But if you’re more of an off-the-grid kind of couple, that might actually be part of the appeal.

• Best time of year to elope: July-October
• Max capacity: 15 people
• Crowd level: Low to moderate
• Pro tip: Most of the lake pull-offs require a bit of scrambling to get down which may not be ideal for older guests

Swoon over Cristina and Ryan’s jaw-dropping boho elopement I photographed at Lake Cushman.

6. Rialto Beach

Rialto Beach is probably the most popular beach in Olympic for ceremonies, mainly because it’s so easy to access. It’s close to Forks, relatively convenient from Port Angeles, and you only have to walk a few feet from the parking lot to reach the beach.

It also has some of the best tide pooling in the entire park. If you’re up for a little more exploring, the Hole-in-the-Wall trail is one of my favorite things to do here. The trail takes you along the beach to tide pools and some really unique looking sea stacks.

Even with its popularity, this is still a location I highly recommend. It’s also open year-round, stays snow-free, has plenty of room for ceremonies, and is one of the few places in Olympic where dogs are allowed.

• Best time of year to elope: June-October
• Max capacity: 50 people
• Crowd level: Moderate
• Pro tip: If you want to hike the Hole-in-the-Wall trail (which I highly recommend doing), check tide charts beforehand because it’s only accessible during low tide!

Check out Jess and Warren’s sunset elopement at Rialto Beach. And if you love tide pools but want a less populated option, Second Beach is also worth checking out.

7. Marymere Falls

Last but certainly not least on my list of the best places to elope in Olympic National Park (and trust me, I could go on forever), we have Marymere Falls. Olympic is home to more than 25 waterfalls, so choosing just one was no easy task, but Marymere is still one of my favorites for elopements.

There is a bit of a hike to reach the falls, but it’s a really beautiful one. The mostly flat trail takes you through a mossy old-growth forest, over a creek, across several bridges, and up a set of stairs before you finally reach the waterfall.

Because Marymere is located right next to Lake Crescent, it tends to be busier than some of the other waterfalls in the park. The area at the base of the falls is also pretty small, so I usually don’t recommend holding a ceremony here with a larger group. Once you get beyond about five guests, it starts to feel pretty cramped.

• Best time of year to elope: April-May
• Max capacity: 15
• Crowd level: Moderate to high
• Pro tip: The stairs at the end of the trail can be a little challenging for older guests

Want to see what an off-season elopement looks like here? Check out this gorgeous winter elopement I shot at Marymere Falls.

Best Time of Year to Elope in Olympic National Park

At this point, you should have a pretty good idea of where you want to elope, or at least a few favorite locations. Now comes the next big decision: picking a date.

In my experience, the best time of year to elope in Olympic National Park is May through October. That’s when you’ll have the most access throughout the park and the best chance of good weather.

So, what does each season actually look like in Olympic, and which one makes the most sense for your elopement? Let’s break it down.

Spring (March-May)

Spring is one of my favorite seasons in Olympic. Waterfalls are at their peak, the forests are about as green as they get, and wildlife activity is high. The Hoh Rainforest is especially beautiful this time of year and is usually my top recommendation for a spring elopement, along with pretty much any of the waterfalls.

That said, spring can be unpredictable. Rain is common, trails can be muddy, and higher elevations like Hurricane Ridge often stay snow-covered well into May. If mountain views are a must, late May into early June is usually a safer bet.

Pros:
• Very few crowds
• Peak greenery and waterfalls
• Great wildlife activity

Cons:
• Frequent rain
• Higher elevations may still be snow-covered

Summer (June-August)

Summer is when Olympic is, as I like to say, bumping with people. Trails are snow-free, roads are open, and pretty much every region of the park is accessible. It’s also wildflower season, especially in the higher elevations.

The weather is usually warm and dry, but because Olympic is next to the coast, it rarely feels unbearably hot. That makes summer one of the most popular times to elope here.

Unfortunately, it can be quite crowded. Places like Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest can get very busy in the middle of the day. For summer elopements, I almost always recommend sunrise or sunset ceremonies, or choosing quieter areas like Quinault or the east side of the park.

Pros:
• Warm, generally dry weather
• Full access to most of the park
• Longer daylight hours
• Wildflowers

Cons:
• Crowds
• Higher lodging prices
• Popular areas can be very busy midday

Fall (September-October)

Fall is one of the absolute best times to elope here. In fact, fall and spring are the two seasons I recommend most to my couples. Crowds drop off significantly after Labor Day, the weather is usually really nice, and fall colors start popping up throughout the park. Elk activity also picks up during rutting season, which makes wildlife sightings especially common around the rainforest areas.

By late October, usually around October 20th in my experience, higher elevations like Hurricane Ridge can start closing for the season due to snow. Rain also becomes more common throughout the rest of the park.

Pros:
• Very few crowds
• Fall colors
• Wildlife sightings
• Comfortable temperatures

Cons:
• Rain becomes more common later in the month
• Snow can start closing higher-elevation roads and areas

Winter (December-February)

Winter is by far the most underrated season in Olympic National Park. Yes, it’s rainy, but it’s also completely crowd-free. I once photographed an elopement here in the winter where we ran into a total of three people over four hours. Seriously. It was the best.

The forests stay insanely green, elk are everywhere, and a lot of the beaches and lakes remain snow-free.

Higher elevations are a different story since snow can make places like Hurricane Ridge inaccessible, but winter is one of the only times you can experience Olympic without feeling like you’re sharing it with everyone else. You can snowshoe in the mountains in the morning then say your vows on the beach at sunset the same day. Who else can say they’ve done that?

Pros:
• No crowds
• Bright greens
• Wildlife sightings

Cons:
• Frequent rain
• Snow at higher elevations
• Some roads and areas may be closed

How Many Guests Can You Bring to an Olympic National Park Elopement?

Olympic National Park allows up to 50 people total at select ceremony locations, while smaller locations like the Hoh Rainforest and Marymere Falls have much lower capacities.

Keep in mind that this total includes you, your photographer, officiant, and everyone else present. If you’re planning to invite guests, I recommend figuring out your approximate group size before applying for your permit since it may affect which ceremony locations are available to you.

Do You Need a Permit to Elope in Olympic National Park?

You’ve got your location, your date, and your guest list. Now it’s time to tackle the not-so-fun stuff: permits.

If your elopement will have more than five people present (including your photographer, officiant, and any guests), you’ll need a Special Use Permit. The permit costs $50.

If you are eloping with five people or fewer total, no permit is needed.

How to Apply:

1. Download and fill out the permit application here.
2. Email your completed application to OLYM_Permits@nps.gov.
3. Wait for a response. The permit office typically reaches out a few weeks after you submit your application to confirm details and availability.
4. Once approved, you’ll receive a payment link to pay the $50 fee online.
5. After your payment is processed, usually within a few days, the park will email you your approved permit. Be sure to print a copy and bring it with you on your wedding day.

For the most up-to-date information, I always recommend checking the official Olympic National Park permit page!

Where to Stay for Your Olympic National Park Elopement

You’ve got your location, your date, and your permit figured out. Next up: where are you actually going to stay?

Olympic is a lot bigger than most people realize, so where you stay can make a huge difference in how much driving you do on your elopement day. Almost all of my couples stay in Port Angeles or Forks, and those are the two areas I recommend most depending on which side of the park you’re eloping in.

Port Angeles (My Top Recommendation)

Port Angeles is definitely the most practical place to stay for most Olympic elopements. It’s close to Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Marymere Falls, Sol Duc, and a bunch of other popular spots, but still has lots of restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, and a walkable downtown.

It also has the biggest selection of hotels and Airbnbs in the area, which is why this is where most of my couples end up staying.

If you’re planning to elope in or near town, I’ve put together a full Port Angeles elopement guide with some location ideas and tips.

Pro tip: Sequim is another good option about 20 minutes east. It’s much quieter, usually a little cheaper, and has places like Costco and Michaels if you need to grab anything last-minute. However, you’ll be a little farther from most of the major Olympic locations.

Forks

Forks, yes, that Forks, is a tiny town with one grocery store, a few gas stations, and of course, its famous Twilight museum.

There isn’t much going on in town itself, but it’s a really convenient home base if you’re eloping near the Hoh Rainforest, Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, or other spots on the west side of the park.

If you want to explore both sides of Olympic, I usually recommend splitting your stay between Forks and Port Angeles.

How to Get a Marriage License for Your Olympic National Park Elopement

Alrighty, we’re almost there! At this point, you should have your permit and travel all booked. Now there’s just one more legal box to check before the wedding day: your marriage license.

Washington has one of the easier marriage license processes for couples coming out of state.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You can get a marriage license in any Washington county. It does not have to be from the county where you’re getting married.
• There is a three-day waiting period. For example, if you get your license on June 1st, you can’t use it until June 4th.
• The license is valid for 60 days.
• You need two witnesses and an officiant.
  • Your witnesses can be friends, park rangers, or even people you meet on the trail.
  • I’m ordained and can officiate ceremonies too!

How to Apply for a Marriage License

For couples eloping in Olympic, I almost always recommend applying through Clallam County. It’s the county most of my couples use, and they offer mail-in applications, which means you don’t have to arrive in Washington early just to wait out the three-day period.

Option 1: Apply by Mail (My Recommended Option)

1. Print and fill out the application here.
2. Mail it in with a $162 money order or cashier’s check made payable to Clallam County to the address that can be found on the application.
3. After processing, your marriage license will be mailed to you within a few weeks.

Option 2: Apply in Person

1. Walk into the County Clerk’s office in Port Angeles with your photo ID and $162. No appointment necessary.
2. Fill out the paperwork and get your license.
3. Wait three days before your ceremony.

For the most up-to-date details, you can always double-check information on the official Clallam County website.

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Olympic National Park?

At this point, you’ve probably got a pretty good idea of what you want your day to look like. So naturally, there’s one big question left: how much is all of this actually going to cost?

Most couples spend somewhere around $5,000-$15,000 on an Olympic National Park elopement. For my couples specifically, I’d say $10,000-$12,000 is pretty typical.

To give you a better idea of what that actually looks like, I put together three realistic budgets for an August elopement during peak season.

Elopement Activities in Olympic National Park

We’re almost there, I promise!

One of the best parts about eloping in Olympic is how much there is to do before, during, and after your ceremony. Whether you want something adventurous or relaxing, there’s no shortage of things to do in the area.

From all the activities I’ve done in the park, here are some I often recommend to couples:

• Bike along the Olympic Discovery Trail – A dog-friendly trail perfect for biking, hiking, or walking.
• Explore the Twilight Forever museum – It’s actually a lot cooler than you’d think!
• Walk downtown Port Angeles and explore the shops – My personal favorites are MOSS and Odyssey Bookshop.
• Dine on some Italian food at Bella Italia
• Go whale watching on the Puget Sound Express – May through October is the best time for this.
• Have your first dance under the stars – Hurricane Ridge is the best place for stargazing in the park!
• Enjoy some s’mores around a campfire – Some beaches allow fires, but check for fire bans.
• Go kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming in Lake Crescent – You can rent kayaks on the shore or in town.
• Visit a lavender farm in Sequim – Purple Haze is my personal favorite.
• Take a wildlife tour around the park – Hurricane Ridge is the spot for deer, Hoh Rainforest for elk, and Rialto Beach for marine life.
• Go tidepooling at Rialto Beach
• Hike one of the many trails in the park – I recommend Hurricane Hill, Sol Duc Falls, and Mount Storm King.
• Relax in one of the many hot springs
• Visit a local bookstore
• Go wine tasting
• Check out Sequim’s drive-thru wildlife farm

Olympic National Park Elopement Timeline Examples

By now, you’ve figured out the big logistics and probably have a few activities you want to work into the day (woohoo!). Now it’s time to put everything together and build your timeline.

One thing I always warn couples about is just how much driving Olympic requires. There’s no road cutting through the middle of the park, so getting from one location to another can easily take 45 minutes to over an hour. If you want mountains, forests, lakes, and beaches all in one day, you definitely need to account for that.

After photographing more than 50 elopements here, I usually recommend 8 hours as a starting point for most couples. Four hours works well if you’re sticking to one area, while 12 hours gives you way more breathing room if you want multiple landscapes without feeling like you’re racing around the park.

Here are a few examples of what that can look like:

Ready to Elope in Olympic?

I hope this guide helped make planning your Olympic National Park elopement feel a little less overwhelming. There are a lot of moving pieces, but once you break it down, it starts to feel a whole lot more doable.

And hopefully, after reading all of this, you’re even more excited about Olympic than you were before.

Have I mentioned how much I love this place?

Olympic truly is one of the most incredible places to elope in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s been a huge part of my life and my business for years.

I’m Brianna, an Olympic National Park elopement photographer who has planned and photographed more than 50 elopements here and spent years exploring just about every corner of the park.

So if you’re sitting there thinking, “Okay, this all sounds amazing, but I still don’t want to figure every little detail out by myself,” that’s where I come in. I help my couples choose locations, figure out permits, build timelines, work around weather and crowds, and help you plan the entire day from start to finish.

Whether you’re visiting Olympic National Park for the first time or are returning back to a place you already love, you can learn more about how I can help below.

And if Olympic isn’t quite the right fit, Washington has no shortage of incredible places to elope. You can check out my guide to the best places to elope in Washington, my national park wedding guide, or my list of the best places to elope in the U.S. to compare a few more options.

After everything you’ve read in this guide, I hope you’re just as excited about this place as I am. Olympic truly is one of the most

Still Need More Olympic National Park Inspiration?

Here are a few of my most helpful guides and real elopement galleries to help you continue planning your Olympic elopement with confidence.

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