Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Olympic National Park is easily one of the most phenomenal natural attractions in the Pacific Northwest. What's not easy is trying to decide what to see.

With nearly 1 million acres of land, more than 600 miles of trails, 16 developed campgrounds, four lodges and several different entrances, Olympic contains enough to occupy weeks, if not months of your time. But for those of us with only a week or a few days to tour the place, how do you choose what to do?

While planning a recent five-day trip to the park, I ran into this problem head-on.

The massive national park takes up most of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, with the Olympic National Forest adjoining it to the south. You can essentially divide the national park into the accessible west side, the rugged east side, and the sprawling wilderness in the middle. From there -- depending on what kind of adventure you seek -- you can craft an itinerary that threads in and out of the park, traveling along Highway 101 to see a wide variety of spectacular sights.

Every traveler is going to have their own opinion, but to my mind these are 10 must-see attractions in Olympic. (See the map below.)

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

1. Quinault River

The aquamarine Quinault River is an absolute beauty. It flows along a park road east of Quinault Lake, but the best way to see the river is by hiking the East Fork Quinault Trail, where it winds through canyons, past riverside campsites and is fed by many trickling creeks. If you're looking for a quick tour, the 5-mile hike to Pony Bridge and back is a classic. If you want a longer adventure, however, the Enchanted Valley (see below) can't be beat.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

2. Enchanted Valley

One of the greatest treks in the Pacific Northwest, the hike to Enchanted Valley is a 27-mile adventure that rewards you with one spectacular sight. In spring, dozens of towering waterfalls pour from the snowcapped Olympic peaks, feeding a lush rain forest below. On the banks of the river sits a gorgeous three-story chalet, built nearly a century ago but long since closed to the public, as the eroding shoreline continues to force the park to shuffle it back. And fair warning: It's also home to a population of black bears that like to sniff around camp in search of scraps.

Don't Edit

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

3. Hoh Rain Forest

Fed by up to 14 feet of rain each year, the Hoh Rain Forest is one of the best remaining examples of temperate rain forest in the U.S. You can see small portions, like the Hall of Mosses (more below), but if you really want to get into the Hoh, take a hike along the Hoh River Trail, which runs 17.3 miles to Glacier Meadows on the north side of Mount Olympus.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Hall of Mosses

One of the easiest attractions in Olympic to see, the Hall of Mosses is a .8-mile loop trail that ends and begins at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. Here, massive spruces, maples and firs lord over the ancient forest, most indeed draped with dark green moss -- like beards of the forest or else lace from their branches. If you want to extend your hike, continue on the Spruce Nature Trail (1.2-mile loop) or the Hoh River Trail (17.3 miles, one way).

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

5. Rialto Beach

Rialto Beach is a place of instantaneous awe. Nearly every feature of the Pacific coast is there: sea stacks, offshore islands, tide pools, coastal forest and rocks of magnificent design. It's found west of Highway 101 at the end of Mora Road, where you can camp, explore the beach or backpack up through the coastal wilderness.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Coastal Wilderness

A big chunk of Washington's Pacific coast is rugged wilderness, managed by Olympic National Park. The park is in charge of 73 miles of primitive coastline, with dramatic cliffs, headlands, islands and sea stacks. With a permit, you can backpack as much as you want, and can camp just about anywhere above the high tide line. Be sure to check a tide table, though, and time your trek accordingly.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. Lake Crescent

There's no mistaking the beauty of Lake Crescent. With water that runs from deep blue to turquoise and crystal clear in the shallows, it's truly a gem on the north end of the park. The lake is eight square miles and up to 300 feet deep, perfect for a day of kayaking or canoeing. Surrounding the lake are the northern foothills of the Olympic Mountains, ringing the blue lake with forested peaks of green.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

8. Lake Crescent Lodge

On the southeast shore of Lake Crescent is the beautiful Lake Crescent Lodge, a place with historic significance and modern amenities. First built in 1915, in 1937 it played host to Franklin Roosevelt, who designated Olympic a national park the next year. Since then, the lodge has expanded significantly, and today is primarily marketed as a place for romantic getaways.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

9. Olympic Mountains

The Olympic Mountains are what makes Olympic so, well, Olympic. The tightly-packed range crests at nearly 8,000 feet at the top of Mount Olympus, with the Pacific Ocean only 33 miles west. Storms from the ocean break up as they run into the mountains, feeding the rain forests and rivers below. Miles of trails run through and up the many peaks, allowing for weeks of wilderness exploration. Just watch out for mountain goats and bears.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

10. Hurricane Ridge

If backpacking through the mountains isn't your thing, you can get a great view of the Olympic Mountains at the top of Hurricane Ridge, a viewpoint and visitor center accessible via a 19-mile drive from Port Angeles. You will have to pay a park entrance fee to go up, if you haven't paid for one already.

Don't Edit

Other Olympic attractions: Kalaloch Lodge, Olympic National Forest, Royal Lake, Ruby Beach, Seven Lakes Basin, Sol Duc Hot Springs.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Ian Malkasian/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Backpacking trips in Oregon: Need to get away? Here are some of the best backpacking adventures around the state.

Summer road trips: Hit the road and see all the varied beauty and fascinations Oregon has to offer.

Trail etiquette: Don't be a jerk on the trail! Here are some tips on etiquette while hiking around the Pacific Northwest.

Don't Edit

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

Don't Edit