Olympic

National Park Hat

Olympic National Park Hat Inspiration

The inspiration for this Olympic National Park hat comes from the view at Ruby Beach, one of the park’s most recognizable coastal locations. From the main trail down to the shore visitors can see Abbey Island framed by large sea stacks rising from the surf. The beach is covered with driftwood, and low tide reveals tidepools with sea stars, mussels, and anemones. Fog is common in the mornings but often lifts by mid day providing clear views out to the horizon.

In this design, orcas are shown offshore, representing the transient pods that occasionally pass through coastal waters in search of food. These marine mammals are not always visible but are part of the larger coastal ecosystem and sometimes spotted from beaches like Ruby and Rialto. Offshore currents bring nutrients close to land, supporting a wide variety of marine life along the Olympic coast.

On the right side of the scene, the forest rises sharply from the beach where the Hoh Rainforest reaches the edge of the coastline. This area marks the transition from marine to temperate rainforest environments, with Sitka spruce and western hemlock dominating the tree line. The combination of ocean, forest, and rock in a single view is typical of this part of the park and is what the embroidery aims to capture.

Design Process

Creating these National Park hats with their panoramic embroidery is a detailed process going beyond simply buying and reselling bulk designs. There are no logos and no branding on any of our hats, just National Parks, from a small company in Seattle, Washington.

The first step is having gone to every park we feature, and we have! We try to find that specific viewpoint in the park to show off and what we need to do to capture the feeling of being there. Sometimes we ad-lib a bit of the design to include other elements to capture the feeling of the park as a whole, but we try hard to highlight an actual place in the park you can visit.

Then we get to designing! Embroidery is naturally limited in colors and we use a 15 color (the most you'll find) edgeless embroidery process which takes upwards of 90 minutes and over 60,000 stitches per hat, but allows us to show off every detail from that epic mountain range to the colorful flowers in your favorite park.

Finally the design get digitized for embroidery, a sample is made for any final tweaks, and we go to production getting these fantastic hats on your heads.

And 100% of our profits are donated right back to our National Parks .

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington State and protects nearly a million acres of land including a wide range of ecosystems, from rugged coastline to alpine peaks to temperate rainforest. The park was established in 1938 and later designated as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve due to its ecological diversity and limited development. Most of the park’s interior is roadless, and access is concentrated along the outer edges.

The park’s coastline runs for about 73 miles along the Pacific Ocean and includes beaches like Ruby, Rialto, and Second Beach, where visitors can see tidepools, sea stacks, and driftwood lined shores. Coastal areas are best visited at low tide when marine life is most visible and trails to certain features like Hole in the Wall, are accessible. Often cloudy and damp, summer offers the most reliable conditions for hiking, camping, and photography.

Inland, the park is home to some of the last remaining stands of temperate rainforest in the United States. The Hoh and Quinault valleys receive over 12 feet of rain each year resulting in dense forests with moss covered trees and a lush understory. Popular trails include the Hall of Mosses and the Hoh River Trail, which follows the river deeper into the forest and eventually connects with high country routes.

Higher elevations like Hurricane Ridge provide access to alpine environments with open meadows and mountain views. In summer, wildflowers bloom across the ridgelines and black tailed deer are frequently seen near the trails. Winter brings deep snow and limited access, though the ridge is open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on weekends. The Hurricane Hill Trail offers one of the most accessible alpine hikes with a paved path and panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains.

Wildlife in the park include Roosevelt elk, black bears, mountain goats, river otters, and a wide range of bird species. Marine life along the coast includes seals, sea otters, and occasionally orcas. Because the park covers such a wide range of elevations and climates, animals are found in different zones depending on the season.

Most Popular Hikes

Coastline

Olympic National Park’s coastline stretches for over 70 miles along the Pacific Ocean. This section of the park remains undeveloped and includes beaches, tidepools, sea stacks, and headlands. The coastline is part of the designated wilderness area and is managed to preserve both its natural features and cultural history. Visitors can access the coast at multiple points, including Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, and Third Beach.

Conditions along the coast vary with weather and tides. Low tide reveals tidepools with sea stars, anemones, crabs, and mussels, while high tide often covers these features and can make certain areas impassable. Some areas, such as Hole in the Wall or Cape Alava, require tide awareness and planning before hiking. Waves and driftwood logs can be dangerous during storms or periods of high surf, so caution is advised when walking close to the waterline.

The coastline also offers opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. Bald eagles, seals, and occasionally orcas can be seen from beaches or bluffs. Sea stacks, shaped by wind and water, are found offshore throughout the park’s coastal zone. Several trails, including the Ozette Loop and the South Coast Route, provide access to more remote parts of the shoreline for those prepared for longer hikes and changing conditions.

Rainforest

Olympic National Park is home to some of the best remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States. The Hoh and Quinault valleys receive over 140 inches of rain each year, supporting dense stands of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and bigleaf maple. Thick moss and ferns cover much of the forest floor, and large nurse logs support new growth. Trails through these areas are well maintained and offer year round access.

The Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most visited parts of the park. The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Nature Trail are short loops that provide a good introduction to the area’s vegetation and ecology. The Hoh River Trail offers a longer route that follows the glacier-fed river into the park’s interior, eventually connecting to alpine terrain after several miles. Wildlife such as Roosevelt elk and banana slugs are commonly seen along the trail.

The Quinault Rain Forest, located on the southwest side of the park, is less crowded but offers similar features. Trails like the Maple Glade Loop and the Quinault Loop Trail pass through old-growth stands and wetland areas. The valley also contains historic lodges and a scenic loop drive around Lake Quinault. Rain is frequent in both valleys, especially from fall through spring, and visitors should be prepared for wet conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions