The Olympic Peninsula has it all for your Washington State vacation: from beaches to mountains to roaring rivers to rain forests. You can take a hike, go beachcombing, view waterfalls or salmon jumping, go whale watching or go wine tasting. Check out some of our favorite things to do while you are in the area.
Things to do on the Olympic Peninsula
Nature and Beauty Await you
Hurricane Ridge
Visit WebsiteHurricane Ridge sits 5,242 feet above sea level in Olympic National Park. There are many spectacular views from the ridge of majestic peaks with their resident glaciers, alpine meadows, wildflowers, numerous deer, panoramic views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Victoria B.C., and Vancouver Island. Take a hike up to Hurricane Hill for a scenic panorama. If you are likely, you might see an Olympic Marmot.
This recreation area is open year-round and offers hiking, skiing, snow shoeing, bird watching, and picnicking.
Olympic National Park Waterfalls
Visit WebsiteSpend a day exploring 3 beautiful waterfalls in the area. Madison Falls is the closest, less than 12 miles from Five SeaSuns and is easily accessible by a 0.1 paved trail adjacent to the roaring Elwha River. Marymere Falls, located near stunning Lake Crescent, is a short 0.7-mile one-way hike to the viewing platform. And, Sol Duc Waterfall, beyond Lake Crescent at the end of Sol Duc Road is the most spectacular of the 3 and also a short hike, with roaring water, rainbows, and several viewing platforms.
This recreation area offers hiking, waterfall viewing, and picnicking.
Hoh Rain Forest
Visit WebsiteA must-see attraction when visiting the Olympic Peninsula, the Hoh Rain Forest is about a 2-hour drive from Port Angeles but is well worth the time. As the only temperate rain forest in the northern hemisphere, it receives up to 12 feet of rain each year. Once in the forest, you will feel like you have stepped back in time to a prehistoric period.
Read More...The old growth forests are home to lush vegetation, huge trees draped in moss, deer, elk, and birds. This thriving, ancient forest is accessible through short hikes like the Hall of Mosses trail, a 0.8-mile loop, or the Spruce Nature Trail, which is a 1.2-mile loop, or you can take a longer hike along the beautiful Hoh River.
This recreation area offers hiking, wildlife viewing, and picnicking.
Salt Creek Recreation Area
Visit WebsiteSalt Creek Recreation Area was once the site of Fort Hayden, a World War II harbor defense military base, and you will find remnants of this history in the two concrete bunkers that are still there.
Now, the park is best known for its gorgeous scenery and the Tongue Point Marine Life Sanctuary, one of the best places on the peninsula to discover tidepools and their inhabitants at low tide. While beachcombing amongst the tidepools, you will likely find mussels, sea urchins, and kelp. You might also see gray whales, sea lions, and otters.
Read More...You can also explore the area above the beach. Along the bluffs, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Crescent Bay, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Victoria, BC.
This recreational area offers beachcombing, tide pooling, WWII historical artifacts, hiking, and picnicking.
Olympic Peninsula Wineries
Visit WebsiteCome explore Olympic Peninsula’s wine trail with visits to one or more of the 8 small scale wineries located here that offer friendly, fun, and unique tasting room experiences. The grapes are typically harvested from eastern Washington vineyards and handcrafted into outstanding Washington wines. Three of the wineries, Harbinger Winery, Camaraderie Winery, and Olympic Winery are all located in Port Angeles and offer friendly, fun, and unique lovely tasting room experiences.
Read More...While wine tour events are currently suspended due to COVID 19 restrictions, we will keep you informed when the wine events, such as the Wine, Cider, and Cheese Tour, Red Wine, Cider, and Chocolates Tour, and Harvest Tour are back.
This attraction offers a local wine and food tasting experience.
Neah Bay and Cape Flattery
Visit WebsiteCape Flattery is located in Neah Bay on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula on the Makah reservation, and it is the most northwestern point in the contiguous U.S. The 0.75-mile hike from trail to viewpoint incorporates a boardwalk and stone and gravel steps with hand rails for easy access to the viewpoint.
Read More...At the end of the trail, observation decks provide unsurpassed views of the ocean, sea life, and the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and is still operational at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
This spot where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Pacific Ocean is great for birding and wildlife viewing. If you are lucky, you might see eagles, cormorants, falcons, sea lions, and grey whales.
Lake Ozette
Visit WebsiteLooking for an off-the-beaten path wilderness hike? Ozette is located at the Northwest entrance to Olympic National Park’s coastal wilderness. Primitive coastal beaches with sea stacks and Native American petroglyphs await your exploration.
Two trails leave the Lake Ozette Ranger Station for the ocean beaches. The first trail is the more northerly Cape Alava Trail, which leads 3.3 miles through lowland coastal forest to the beach. The second trail is Sand Point, which guides you three miles through the forest to the beach. Both trails have boardwalks to the beach.
Read More...You can also take a 9.3-mile loop hike by taking one of these trails to the beach, hiking along the beach for three miles, and returning by the other trail to the ranger station.
This recreation area offers hiking and viewing of cultural artifacts, wildlife, and birds.
Dungeness Spit and Wildlife Refuge
Visit WebsiteThe Dungeness Spit is one of the world’s largest natural sand hooks in the nation. The main arm of the spit is 5.5 miles long, and the Dungeness Lighthouse at its end was built in 1857. If you are feeling ambitious, you can hike to the lighthouse during low tide. While the lighthouse is temporarily closed to visitors, it is normally manned by volunteers who offer tours to hikers or those who arrive by boat or kayak.
Read More...The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge was established by Woodrow Wilson in 1915 to protect the breeding ground for native birds and to ensure a secluded beach for harbor seals and their pups. The recreation area includes a hiking trail that goes along the bluffs and provides an excellent view of the Strait, and at times, the spit.
This recreation area offers hiking, beachcombing, birding, wildlife viewing, and birding.
Victoria, BC
Visit WebsitePlease check directly with the Black Ball Ferry line for updated COVID 19 test requirements.
Take a day trip on the MV Coho Ferry to Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. Let Caroline prepare you a hot to-go breakfast to eat on the ferry, leave your car in the U.S., and hop aboard for the 90-minute journey to Canada. While there, you can go sightseeing on the double-decker red bus or on foot. Explore the Royal British Museum, go shopping, watch street entertainers, enjoy high tea, and take trip out to visit Butchart Gardens, which is beautiful in every season.
This attraction features sightseeing, culture, dining, and walking.
