Olympic Peninsula Round Trip
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In the northwestern corner of Washington State, surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound, lies a mostly untouched paradise: the Olympic Peninsula. Lined with beaches and with lush, mossy forests and the stunning mountain peaks of the Olympic National Park at its core, the peninsula promises an adventurous journey.

Follow Highway 101 around the peninsula and find out what to do and see below!

DAY 1 & 2:

Port Townsend

Consider Port Townsend for an overnight stay. The picturesque town is known for its historic Victorian houses, a remnant of the time when Port Townsend was a thriving port city, well on its way to becoming the largest harbor on the west coast of the USA. Those dreams were shattered when the depression hit the town hard in the late 1800s, but the architecture remains until today. Visit Point Wilson in the Fort Worden State Park to observe the marine life of Port Townsend Bay and enjoy the sunset from the active lighthouse located here. Take a tour with the Puget Sound Express, which leaves from the Victorian seaport. You can book either a half-day tour of the strait of San Juan de Fuca or a full-day tour, which includes a 2-hour stop on the island of San Juan. On the boat ride, you are guaranteed to see whales passing through the strait, along with other marine mammals and seabirds. Drive about 90 minutes inland to the upper head of the Mount Townsend trail. The medium difficulty hike to the peak is about 5 miles (8 km), and you will gain 3010 ft (917 m) of elevation on the way. The best time to visit is during summer when the mountains are lined with blooming wildflowers, however, the mountain is a year-round attraction. Having arrived at the peak, you can enjoy panoramic views of the strait and on a clear day, you can even see the San Juan Islands and Seattle!

DAY 3:

Lake Crescent

18 miles (29 km) south of Port Angeles lies Lake Crescent, the largest lake on the Olympic Peninsula. It stretches 12 miles (19 km) and reaches a depth of 623 ft (190 m). It gets its name from its crescent shape, which was carved by glaciers during the last ice age. The lake is a favorite among locals, due to the vast variety of activities it offers. There are multiple boat rentals along the shore. Enjoy Lake Crescent's crystal clear waters with a picnic on a peaceful canoe ride or rent a kayak if you seek some action. Fishing enthusiasts can hire rods and a rowboat and try to catch the local Beardslee trout, which evolved here when the lake became landlocked. There are many trails in this area, ranging from easy walks to more difficult hikes. Follow the old tracks of the Spruce Railroad Trail to see "The Devil's Punchbowl", a natural pool separated from the Lake by a wooden bridge. The deep, blue waters of the punchbowl are perfect for a dip or a dive off of the bridge on a hot day. The Olympic Peninsula is known for its many waterfalls, among them the 90 ft (29 m) tall Marymere Falls. Start at the Lake Crescent Lodge and walk about a mile (1.6 km) along "Falls Loop" until you reach the stunning Marymere Falls. For the best view, climb up the nature stairs to the top of the falls.

Sol Duc Valley

Not far south of Lake Crescent, lies the Sol Duc Valley. Stay overnight in the Resort or at the Campground, which are among the highest-rated on the peninsula. The resort is known for its hot spring pools, which are open for both day visitors and guests of the resort. Hike the Sol Duc Trail along the river for a mile to see another set of waterfalls, Sol Duc Falls, or choose the Lover's Lane 6-mile loop (10 km) to see Lover's Falls.

DAY 4:

Cape Flattery

A 1.5 mile (2 km) long trail through a forest of Sitka Spruces will take you to Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous USA. The hike is easy and not too muddy, thanks to the boardwalk-covered path, however, it usually rains and can get pretty windy, so bring a rain jacket. The trail forks three times, allowing visitors to enjoy the view from every angle. All three viewing points are spectacular: the first shows you rock formations in the ocean to the south of the cape and from the second you can see Canada on a clear day. The third deck looks straight towards Tatoosh, a rocky island atop of which sits a lighthouse. Throughout Cape Flattery's ocean views, you will see plenty of seabirds and other wildlife, such as whales or otters. 

Ruby Beach

Highway 101 will take you through Forks, a town famous for being the backdrop of the Twilight Trilogy. Take a detour towards La Push to spend time at one of its many stunning beaches, or continue south and stop at Ruby Beach. The beach is named after its sand, which shimmers like ruby crystals during sunset when the beach is at its most beautiful. Climb on the large pieces of driftwood, that are washed up on the shore of Ruby Beach and look out onto the unique rock formations and sea stacks that make the Olympic Peninsula's beaches so recognizable. Continue down Highway 101 until you reach the Tree of Life. The soil on which it stood has eroded, and it now hangs between two pieces of land, grabbing onto the sides with its roots!

DAY 5 & 6

Hoh and Quinault Rain Forest

Damp air from the Pacific Ocean makes its way inland towards the Olympic Mountains and rains off just before it reaches them. The forests here experience between 140 and 200 inches (355 to 508 centimeters) of rainfall each year - thus qualifying as temperate rainforests! Surrounding the Hoh River is where you'll find the Hoh Rainforest. Walking through this forest feels like walking through the enchanted forests of fairy tales, with trees being covered in hanging moss from crown to stem and ferns lining the forest floor. The best time to visit the Hoh is during rainfall, as this is when the forest shows most of its greenery and the colors are the brightest. There are two main trails here. The first is the .8 mile (1.3 km) long Hall of Mosses trail, which loops around the old-growth forest. The other is the 1.2-mile (2 km) Spruce Trail, which is a little less frequented by visitors and takes you through old and new growth forest to the Hoh River. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Moose here! Further south lies the Quinault Rainforest. In addition to being just as enchanting as the Hoh, the Quinault Rainforest is home to six of the largest conifers in the world, most notably the Giant Sitka Spruce. The 1000-year-old tree stands at 191 ft (58 m) tall and 17.7 ft (5.3 m ) wide and, by volume, is the largest of its kind. The Giant Sitka Spruce stands just a short walk from Lake Quinault and is easily accessible.

DAY 7

Olympia

The last stop on this trip is Washington's capital city, Olympia. Visit the city's capitol and its campus, both examples of early 20th century City Beautiful architecture. Just outside of Olympia you will find the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1974 to protect migratory birds. Walk the 5.5 mile (8.5 km) Brown Farm Dike Trail to see various wildlife habitats, such as the salt marsh, the freshwater marsh, and woodlands. 


The Olympic Peninsula is an outdoors lover's paradise, with its huge variety of landscapes and trails. It is best combined with a trip to **Seattle**, but if you want to explore even more of the Pacific Northwest you can find more information **here**.

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