Hiking Mount Storm King, Olympic National Park, Washington

• Distance: 5.5 miles out & back

• Elevation Gain: 2,080 feet

• Difficulty: Very difficult

• Solitude: Heavily trafficked/very crowded

• Dogs allowed: No

• Bathrooms: Yes, bathrooms at trailhead

• Fee: Yes, National Park Pass

• Other: This trail has a very steep section that requires the use of ropes to pull yourself up the hillside. I would recommend having some upper body strength and being comfortable on loose, steep inclines. There is a constantly elevation gain for the entire hike up, so bring lots of water.

While we were visiting Olympic National Park, we decided to hike Mount Storm King. We opted to start around 4pm to wait for most of the crowds to disperse, but there still were a good number of people on the trail. As soon as you turn onto the Mount Storm King Trail, you begin a steep ascent all the way to the peak. As I mentioned above, there is a section right before you reach the peak that requires the use of ropes to get up the hill. You really do need to use the rope as the trail is exposed and covered with extremely loose rocks that will slip under your feet. Be warned - on a summer weekend you will most likely be waiting in a line to get up or down this section of trail. Overall the views were stunning and the golden hour light made everything just that much more magical. We ended up not staying until sunset because the summit area is very small and was starting to get crowded with people. Overall this hike was beautiful, but just be prepared for a steep climb for 2+ miles and a bit of climbing with ropes!

For more details and information: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/mount-storm-king