Olympic Mountains, a group of mountains in the Coast Ranges on the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington. They occupy an area of about 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2) and reach a maximum elevation of 7,945 feet (2,424 m) at Mount Olympus. The western side of the mountains receives abundant rainfall and is covered by a luxuriant coniferous forest; the drier eastern side is less densely forested. On the higher slopes are numerous small glaciers. Olimpic National Park, a scenic rugged wilderness, occupies much of the range. Mount Olympus was named by British explorer Captain John Meares in 1778.