After spending a long weekend taking in the sights and sounds of the fascinating Seattle area, my husband and I continued our PNW journey to the Olympic Peninsula for the remainder of our stay. If you haven’t been to this area of the world, I highly suggest staying a couple of nights in Seattle either at the beginning or end of your trip and hitting up the National Parks in the middle of your stay. Especially since most people will fly out of Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport, visit my 2-Day Guide in Seattle and View Seattle From Above Blog to see all the unique things to do and see in the city.
Day 1
Before heading to the ferry to cross over to Bainbridge Island, we made a quick pit stop at Pike Place Market to grab some fresh fish and produce to have for dinner. It was empty since the vendors were opening up shop for the day. Luckily this took only less than 30 minutes, and then we were on our way to the ferry dock.
A pro tip is purchasing your ferry tickets online and getting there early to line up.
Once aboard the ferry, we headed up to the viewing deck and captured some fantastic Seattle Skyline views. The total trip from Seattle to Bainbridge is about 30 minutes. Once reaching the island, we searched for a quick place to grab a drink; however, most restaurants were already pretty packed.
We decided to keep driving and made a stop at Poulsbo, which is a quaint and picturesque town. The town itself is called “Little Norway,” which makes sense with the Norwegian setting of the beautifully decorated buildings down the main street. We had an authentic German lunch at Tizley’s EuroPub, sitting outside on the balcony overlooking the streets below. I suggest stopping to walk around and visit the museums, galleries, shops, and cafes in the downtown historic district. Don’t forget to grab a delicious baked good at Sluys Poulsbo Bakery!
After stopping at a grocery store in Sequim, we finally made it to our Airbnb in Port Angeles. If you’re looking for a place to stay, this is the place for you! The Airbnb has a huge living room and kitchen area that gives you stunning views of the Salish Sea and Victoria, B.C…There were a total of three separate bedrooms that allowed enough privacy between them. The backyard came equipped with chairs and a fire table, perfect for those evening nights after viewing the sun going down. The Hostess, Mary, and Amy, ensured we had everything we needed and messaged us during our stay. They also gave us knowledge about the points of interest in the area. If you’re traveling with a group of people, check this place out; You will not be disappointed!
Day 2
We got an early start, woke up around 5:30 AM, made some breakfast, and headed out by 7:30 AM. Our points of interest were heading two hours to Hoh Rainforest and hitting up some beaches along the way. After our scenic two-hour drive around the peninsula, we finally made it to the Hoh Rainforest. When we arrived, we became the 3rd car in the parking lot, which was kind of shocking. Before crowds started to fill in, we decided to make our way to the Hall of Mosses. The Hall of Mosses is a short loop trail filled with old-growth trees and the moss hanging down. It did look like something from another world.
As we made our way around the loop, we discovered about five elk on the trail ahead, having no care in the world and just eating the vegetation. We waited for 15-minutes for them to clear off the path and into the tree line, to allow for enough space between us.
After completing the loop, we took the Hoh River Trail and hiked a round trip of 5-miles to Mineral Creek Falls. The walk there took you back and made you feel like you were in a Jurassic Park movie. Stopping at various points that overlooked the river, we embraced that time to be present and in the moment. The rainforest was so beautiful. The lush green scenery was breathtaking and crazy enough; we didn’t see many bugs flying around.
Finally reaching the Mineral Creek Falls, we took the narrow upper trail to the base of the falls. Sitting down on a rock and grabbing a protein bar that we packed for energy, we just took in the peaceful surroundings and the sounds of water rushing. I loved this time since we were the only two around. As time passed, we decided to head back to have some fun on the beach. After minutes of making our way back to the car, the clouds became overcast, and suddenly, it started to rain down on us. It was pretty cool to witness, especially being in a rainforest. However, the rain picked up, and suddenly, it hailed on us for a good 5-minutes. It was pretty comical but made our hiking adventure that much more memorable.
The next stop was picking out a great spot on Ruby Beach for lunch. Descending a hill, climbing over some driftwood, and walking on top of sea stacks, we finally found the perfect place to set up to have lunch. One thing to note was how chilly it became after some storms were rolling in on the other side of the peninsula. However, that was not going to stop us! After making sandwiches and taking a quick power nap, we walked over to Abbey Island and photographed the tide pool marine life.
Pro-tip – make sure to visit Ruby Beach during low tide; this will allow the capability to see the tide pools and Abbey Island up close and personal.
After spending some time at Ruby Beach, we headed back to Port Angeles but not before making a final stop at a secret remote waterfall. Many people have missed this hidden gem because the signs are not very visible from the road. The falls are located directly off Highway 113, and less than a 0.2-mile hike stands a tranquil cascading waterfall called Beaver Falls. The falls plunge over a 70-foot wide ledge into a calm pool below. I highly suggest stopping by Beaver Falls when heading between Forks and Port Angeles.
Day 3
Looking at the weather the night before, I rearranged the itinerary and changed our hikes. We did this in part for wanting clear skies for our time on Hurricane Ridge. Instead, we decided to wake up early and make our way over to Lake Crescent. I gave my husband a choice between two hikes, and his pick was Mount Storm King. This beast of a hike was not for the faint of heart. The steep incline up, rock scrambles that sometimes made you want to lose your balance, and the rope climb to the top made for one heck of an adventure.
Covering 2 miles and reaching an elevation of about 2,600 feet made you rethink some life choices at times, but once reaching the top and standing at the edge feeling limitless, it made all the hard work worth it! Part of me could not believe what we had just accomplished!
Descending the mountain and reaching the flat ground, we took the 1.5-mile walk to Marymere Falls. Unless you’re a professional photographer, I highly suggest holding off photos until you’re standing on the top upper deck. Most of the images from below came out misty, and water droplets got onto our camera lens.
We sat down on a piece of driftwood overlooking Lake Crescent and had a sandwich for lunch. My legs still felt like jello from the Mount Storm King hike, but that wasn’t going to hold me back from all the remaining adventures we had planned for the day. After about an hour, we drove over to Sol Duc Falls. The falls parking lot was empty since we were still in the shoulder season. It made for a relaxing walk through the lush rainforest without the regular crowds.
Before reaching the Sol Duc Falls, you witnessed a fairytale-like area that was just as beautiful as the main attraction. The small cascading waterfalls flowing over mossy rocks made the view captivating and a sense of being at peace. Continuing onward to the Sol Duc Falls, we passed by a shelter that hikers use when backpacking. The location within the forest floor made for some pretty creepy but artistic photos. Around this point, we started hearing the gushing water rapids. To say the falls took my breath away would be an understatement. The amount of water pouring down into the ravine was insane. It made you think, what would happen if you accidentally fell over? Most likely wouldn’t be making it out, that’s for sure!
The best spot to capture the Sol Duc Falls is on the wooden bridge, but if you want the long exposure and it’s crowded, you may be waiting a while to get that photo opportunity.
After finishing all our planned hikes, we decided to venture to Hangar 19 Bar Hop Brewing for a unique experience while drinking beer. This brewery is located next to Port Angeles Airport, making for a great time while consuming a beer flight and seeing planes take off and land. The beer itself was good, but the best part was the dog on the property, along with the friendly locals that have no issue striking up a pleasant conversation. I highly suggest stopping by this location for a quick beer flight.
Day 4
Another early start in the books for us. Since this was our last day on the Olympic Peninsula, we wanted to hit the trails hard. Waking up around 6 AM and making it out the door around 7:30 AM, we drove up to Hurricane Ridge. We chose this trail first after hearing many comments about how parking can get filled up quickly, especially during peak season and prime times. Reaching the top, we parked at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center since the seasonal road to the trailhead was still closed.
Due to the road being closed, it extended our hike from the original 3.4-miles to a 6.4-mile hike. Keep this in mind if you choose to go on the shoulder seasons or into the winter if the road leading up is still open.
Even if you choose to skip the entire hike to the summit, the views are exquisite after stepping out of your vehicle at the visitors center. However, if you decide to continue onward to the summit, the experience of walking along the upper ridgeline is genuinely impressive. Unfortunately, my husband and I never saw any Marmots known to be in this area or any wildlife, but the views made up for all of it.
Once reaching the summit, you will be able to see the town of Port Angeles and Victoria B.C, below, and on a clear day, you may see Mt. Baker in the far distance. I must say that I am glad we chose May to go hiking here. The snowcap peaks made for those epic photos; however, I would love to come back during the late summertime when the paths are completely clear of snowpacks and see the mesmerizing green mountains.
Madison Falls, our next stop, was only about an hour’s drive from Hurricane Ridge and barely a half-mile walk to the falls. However, the cascading waterfall amongst the rainforest backdrop made for some fantastic views. We took our time exploring the Elwha River and the stacked rocks on the riverbed.
Deciding we had enough energy for one more hike, we drove less than 15 minutes to the West Elwha River Trailhead. A few things to note were that the parking to this trailhead is within a residential area, so be mindful of where you park if you decide to try this hike. The actual trailhead starts about a half-mile from where you park. Therefore you will be walking next to a road for a while, but if you continue to follow the trail, you will have no issues, and last but not least, use bug spray!
The minute I got out of the car, I was welcomed with a handful of mosquitos and gnats, so applying a layer of bug spray helped immensely.
As my husband and I made our way to the trailhead, we noticed only us and another couple were on this trail, so we were mindful of any wildlife in the area, but again we never saw anything. The hike to the river was a constant downhill trip, which meant we needed to conserve our energy because coming back would ultimately be an uphill battle. Once we reached the river area, we descended a carved-out trail that led to a small rocky shore next to the river. We found a large piece of driftwood that we were able to sit and relax for a few before heading back. I was content and in my element of just sitting there listening to nothing but the sounds of nature. I don’t know what it is, but those sounds make me feel at peace and present. This feeling is what you want to encounter on vacation! After spending about 30-minutes on the riverbed, we decided to head back to give us plenty of time to unwind and pack up the Airbnb.
Getting back into Port Angeles, we dined at the Next Door Gastropub. The burger and drinks and service were good. If you’re staying in the area and looking for a good burger joint, I suggest checking this place out.
Day 5
The drive to the Sea-Tac airport from Port Angeles is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive, which meant another early start since our plane was departing in the early afternoon. The drive was calm and a tad foggy in areas, but it was pretty surreal to see. Since the deer were active in the morning hours, we had to pay attention to our surroundings. Once arriving at the airport and dropping off our car with no delays, we made our way through check-in, TSA and got to our gate with plenty of time to grab some food and relax before our long flight home.
Overall this trip was everything I expected it to be and more. I adore the Pacific Northwest, and the fantastic variety of terrain and landscapes within a two-hour drive is ideal. If you’re looking for scenic views, stunning hiking trails, various water activities, and non-stop adventure look no further and plan a trip out there. If this itinerary has inspired you and you’re looking for more information, please check out my Seattle Blogs mentioned above and my Day Trip To Mount Rainier Blog for additional content on the National Parks in the area. Feel free to message me as well; I would be more than happy to help you with recommendations or plan this beautiful getaway for you.
