Experience Port Angeles
Port Angeles has so much to discover, including beautiful scenery, outdoor adventure, and fun activities. Our hotel is right near Olympic National Park, which has a plethora of hiking trails and offers everything from skiing and rock climbing to kayaking and scuba diving. You’ll also find great local wineries for some relaxed tastings, or you can head downtown to explore the shops, restaurants, and beautiful waterfront views. Whale watching is also one of the most popular activities to take part in between March and November. Port Angeles offers easy access to Canada as well—explore Victoria and Vancouver Island in British Columbia via a ferry trip.
Local Partnerships
Olympic Hiking Company
Olympic Hiking Co. employs a locally-based team of Naturalist Hiking Guides that lead our guided small group tours, custom private tours, and other guided trips in Olympic National Park. Founded in 2016, Olympic Hiking Co. is a commercially authorized tour company in Olympic National Park, providing guided hiking tours and shuttles for over 3,000 hikers each year.
Explore Seasonal Activities
WINTER
Winter Hiking Hotspots:
Mt. Storm King
Ooh and aah at the deep blue waters of Lake Crescent (Washington’s second deepest lake) from snow-capped Mount Storm King. This hike is only 3.8 miles round trip, but has over 1,700-feet of elevation gain.
Marymere Falls
Gape at a 90-foot tall waterfall with a short easy walk (1.5 miles round trip)
See Boats Decorated for the Holidays at the Port Angeles Marina. Dozens of boats will be decorated around a holiday theme and the public is asked to vote for their favorite boat.
Ice Skate at the Winter Ice Village:
Strap on a pair of ice skates and pirouette your way across the Olympic Peninsula’s only outdoor covered ice skating rink during the holiday season. The Winter Ice Village is located in downtown Port Angeles.
Wintertide Festival of Lights, Light Art Experience & Shop the Makers Market. The Wintertide Festival beaming with holiday workshops, a lantern parade, light and fire performances, food and drink, and glow-in-the-dark art stations.
Come winter, trek snowy slopes on cross-country skis and snowshoes, or sail downhill on skis, snowboards and tubes a mile high at the Hurricane Ridge ski area. The quaint family-friendly old school ski resort is known for “astounding snow and amazing views” with access to groomed runs, steep bowls and glades by rope tow or your own two-feet.
Few cities can boast the magical sights, sounds, and aromas of Victoria's Christmas wonderland. The journey begins with a ferry ride from Port Angeles to charming downtown Victoria, one of the most festive Christmas cities in Canada! You can snuggle up for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Old City or go enjoy afternoon tea at the Pendray Tea House. Plus, marvel at the awe-inspiring spectacle of one million twinkling lights at the world-famous Butchart Gardens Christmas Magic display.
SPRING
The Olympic Birdfest provides the opportunity to view a wide variety of birds normally seen on the Olympic Peninsula. The North Olympic Peninsula is widely known as a great place for bird watching. The day of the Olympic BirdFest is timed to overlap wintering birds and the beginning of spring migration.
Paddle along the Strait’s seashore with a kayak tour (perfect for beginners and kids over 4) or pros can rent their own. It’s relaxing, and the sights are breathtaking. The trees, the skies, the wildlife. Adventures through Kayaking provides sea kayaking excursions near Olympic National Park that is scenic, educational, and a great opportunity for wildlife viewing. You will be outfitted in all the gear and a stable kayak suitable for your paddling experience.
This 3-day festival is Port Angeles’ premier music event. The Annual Juan de Fuca Festival is held, as always, over Memorial Day Weekend. The event features a FREE lively street fair featuring food and artisan booths, daily performances at the FREE Community Stage, an outdoor beer/wine garden, morning Yoga and kids activities in the Community Tent. The event is nestled between the majestic beauty of the Olympic Mountains and the Stralt of Juan de Fuca!
Olympic Adventure Trail (OAT) Run is a 50K, half marathon, and 12K trail race that traverses Kelly Ridge between the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Upon finishing, runners are treated to hot food, beverages, and an OAT Run pint glass. This race sells out every year.
Port Angeles Farmers Market is open Saturdays year-round, rain or shine, from 10am-2pm. The market sells the very best fresh local food grown and produced by hard working farmers right here in Port Angeles.
North Olympic Discovery Marathon:
The North Olympic Discovery Marathon is a entire weekend of events on the Olympic Discovery Trail from Sequim to Port Angeles. The Weekend consists of a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon and Relay.
Puget Sound Express has a Whale Watching Tour that travels various locations on the Peninsula. The tour consists of a small group of tourists inside a cozy vessel that provides snacks and drinks and specialized tour guides. Really phenomenal! And really good hot chocolate.
SUMMER
Olympic National Park is a place of tremendous natural diversity and breathtaking beauty with over 922,651 acres of protected rain forest. You will be inspired by glacier-capped peaks, valleys of forests, wildflower meadows, hot springs, and the rugged Pacific coastline as you travel through 3 distinct ecosystems.
The ferry will take you to Victoria, and you can take your car on board if you’ll be exploring past there. However, the city is pretty walk-able, so save money and the hassle of finding parking and walking on the ferry as a passenger instead. The ferry leaves twice a day so that you can get on in the morning or the afternoon. The 90-minute trip is a scenic journey through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The sunny weather of the Olympic Rain Shadow nourishes thousands of lavender plants in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. Lavender operations in the area comprise almost exclusively local and family farms. This aromatic agriculture gets its first tint of purple near late June, with a full burst of color approximately two weeks after.
Port Angeles Maritime Festival:
The Maritime Festival happens in June in Port Angeles, Washington, the gateway to the Olympic National Park and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A number of organizations are planning a fun week of maritime events along Port Angeles' downtown waterfront celebrating our maritime heritage.
Lake Crescent, 20 miles west, is another crown jewel of Olympic National Park near Port Angeles. This incredibly deep and clear glacially carved lake is abundant with natural appeal. The water is so clear you can see straight through to the bottom, like glass. The sheer vibrancy and clarity of the blue water is truly a rarity.
4th of July Festivities:
July Fourth on the Olympic Peninsula offers a bounty of traditional small-town fun with a Pacific Northwest twist. Communities across the region host apple pie contests, salmon bakes, fun runs, frog jumps, local food and music, and, of course, parades and fireworks shows.
Port Angeles Lefties Baseball Game:
The Port Angeles Lefties are part of the West Coast League, which is a summer wooden bat league for college-eligible student-athletes, based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, dedicated to accelerating prospect development, increasing player exposure and bettering its member communities.
FALL
The three-mile, crescent-shaped sand spit provides a natural shelter from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Ediz Hook is the primary reason behind the calm, glassy harbor waters that lure water adventurers to the area. Ediz Hook is a popular spot for treasure seekers. You won’t find seashells along the rocky shores, but you might be rewarded with sea glass or agates.
Surfing:
Fall is the beginning of the ‘big’ surf season. Best spots for surfing near Port Angeles include the Salt Creek Recreation Area, La Push Beaches and Clallam Bay Spit and Slip Point Beach.
Two weekends of fall festivals are happening at the Extreme Sports Park in Port Angeles which are sure to get you into the fall mood! Enjoy craft beer, live music and activities at the Beer Fest and the Fall Fest Family Days. There are food vendors and activities like a World Class Lumberjack Competition, Lawnmower Demo Derby, Axe Throwing, Live music, Beer Garden, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Maze, Hay Rides, Petting Zoo, Bounce House, Face painting, Food and so much more.
The Dungeness Crab Festival is one of the most acclaimed food festivals in the country! This annual crab and seafood festival comes with free admission and celebrates the world-famous Dungeness Crab and the bounty of the sea here on the Olympic Peninsula. Featuring over a dozen restaurants, cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, a Chowder Cook-Off, the Grab-a-Crab Derby, local wine, spirits and craft beer, crafts and merchant vendors, live music, and of course, plenty of fresh crab to eat!
Fall Salmon Migration on the Sol Duc River:
Sol Duc River, with its headwaters protected on National Park land and not a single dam to impede its course, is one of only a few Washington rivers that can still truly be called “wild.”There is a great opportunity to catch Chinook salmon on the Sol Duc River in fall. Late September through October is the best time to be on the river in fall. Unlike earlier in the year, the arrival of the fall rains, usually coming in earnest sometime in October, really opens up the whole river to salmon fishing.
Whether on foot, bike or horse, a crisp fall day is one of the best times to set out on the Olympic Discovery Trail, Washington state’s premier destination for non-motorized touring. The 135-mile Olympic Discovery Trail is composed of road and multi-use path. Today, more than half of the route is on non-motorized paths with more added every year.