13 Best Things to Do in Port Angeles, Washington
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by Kelly
Port Angeles is located on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The city is a gateway to the nearby Olympic National Park. With plenty of water views and access to tons of trails, Port Angeles is an ideal place to stay when visiting the national park. I tend to use Port Angeles as my “home base” when I’m out exploring the Olympic Peninsula. In this post, I’ll share my list of things to do in Port Angeles, where to stay, and our favorite nearby activities.
If you’re in a hurry, I especially enjoy the Waterfront Trail and the wharf!
Things to Do in Port Angeles
1. Olympic National Park Visitor Center
If you’re planning on visiting Olympic National Park, the park’s primary visitor center is located in Port Angeles. The visitor center has plenty of exhibits and even some nature trails. If you’re planning on doing any hiking or camping, it’s a good idea to touch base with one of the park rangers about current conditions.
2. Port Angeles City Pier
The Port Angeles City Pier is located next to the downtown shopping area. It’s the perfect place to go for a quick walk and watch the waves. From the pier, you can see ferries and boats. People often fish along the pier as well. If you’re visiting during the summer, you can catch free concerts there as part of the Concerts on the Pier event. The Port Angeles City Pier is also used as event space during the annual Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival in October.
3. Whale Watching
While you’re in Port Angeles, you can book a half-day whale watching tour. Each tour is between 3-4 hours long, and the vessel has an indoor heated cabin. If you want to see humpback whales or orca whales, be sure to book a tour!
You can see all our posts on Washington State by clicking here!
4. Port Angeles Waterfront Trail
The Waterfront Trail in Port Angeles is a 3.2 mile trail that will take you along the water. Stretch your legs and enjoy the views! The trail has beach access and plenty of benches to soak in the views.
5. Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center has both a gallery and a sculpture park. See their website for current exhibitions. You can walk through Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park to see plenty of delightful outdoor sculptures.
6. Feiro Marine Life Center
Curious what’s under the waters of the Olympic Peninsula? When you visit the Fiero Marine Life Center, you’ll learn all about the local marine life. The center has touch tanks as well as a variety of exhibits. Note that the center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
7. Port Angeles Visitor Center
The Port Angeles Visitor Center is the place to go to answer your questions about what to see in the city and nearby area.
8. Black Bell Ferry Line
Feel like leaving the country? The Black Bell Ferry Line will take you directly to Canada by landing in Victoria, British Columbia. The journey is approximately 90 minutes and will give you beautiful views as you sail through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Once in Victoria, you can visit the Butchart Gardens, stroll along the Inner Harbor, or view castles!
9. Harbinger Winery
If wine tasting is more your thing, visit Harbinger Winery’s tasting room. The tasting room is located in what used to be a logging truck shop.
10. Port Angeles Antique Mall
Explore over 15,000 square feet of antique space at the Port Angeles Antique Mall. Whether you’re interested in furniture, jewelry, or collectibles, you’re sure to find something interesting!
11. Olympic Cellars
At Olympic Cellars, you can taste wines from grapes that were exclusively grown in Washington State. Their barn was built in 1912, and they often host concerts during the summer.
12. Port Angeles Wharf
The Port Angeles Wharf has excellent waterfront views and contains restaurants, art galleries, an arcade, and shops.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
13. Go Kayaking
One of the best way to see the sea life in Port Angeles is to book a kayaking tour. Some things you might see along your tour include kelp forests, sea cliffs, sea stacks, sea caves, and wildlife.
| Also be sure to see our post about the Hoh Rain Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! |
Tips for Visiting
- If you’re planning on completing any hikes in the area, you can often find recent trip reports on the Washington Trails Association website for any particular hike you are interested in. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the trip reports.)
- If you plan on visiting the nearby Olympic National Park, which we definitely recommend, you’ll need to purchase an Olympic National Park Pass. We recommend that you purchase the pass online and print it out in advance. If you plan on visiting multiple national parks in the same year, you might want to look into purchasing an America the Beautiful annual parks pass.
- While you’re visiting, be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles. Pack out everything that you pack in. Do not litter. Stay on marked trails. Don’t feed the wildlife. Following these guidelines will help to keep this area pristine.
- If you plan on hiking, download a map of the hike in advance using the All Trails app. That way, you’ll have access to a map even if you don’t have cell service. It’s also a good idea to download the National Park Services app. You can learn a lot about the park right from your phone!
Directions
If you’re traveling from Seattle to Port Angeles, you have two options:
- You can take the Bainbridge Island ferry and then take Highway 101. This route is about 82 miles long and takes about 2.5 hours under ideal traffic conditions. (Tip: Be sure to check the ferry wait times in advance. Weekends in the summer have especially long ferry lines.)
- You can avoid the ferry by driving south around the Puget Sound and then up north along the peninsula. This route is about 138 miles long and takes about 2.5 hours under ideal traffic conditions.
If you book a tour from Seattle to Olympic National Park, you won’t have to worry about transportation. Plus, you’ll have a guide to show you all the best places in Olympic National Park!
Because both routes are about the same duration under ideal traffic conditions, you’ll want to check WSDOT updates for current traffic conditions and ferry wait times. That might be the deciding factor on the day you choose to travel.
Nearby Activities
All of these activities are within a one-hour drive (without traffic) from Port Angeles.
Marymere Falls
Marymere Falls is located about 20 miles from Port Angeles. This beautiful waterfall is easily accessible to most hikers. The trail is 1.8 miles roundtrip with 500 feet of elevation gain. Note that there is no entrance fee or parking pass needed to access this trail. Dogs, however, are not allowed on the trail. The waterfall is 90 feet tall and there are two platforms to view it. After you complete the hike, you might also consider taking the half mile Moments in Time trail.
Olympic Discovery Trail
The Olympic Discovery Trail is a mostly-paved trail that is 130 miles long. It begins in the town of Port Townsend and ends at the Pacific Ocean in the town of La Push. (It cuts right across the top of the Olympic Peninsula.) A portion of this trail runs through Port Angeles. Because it’s paved, you can easily walk or bike along the trail. It’s also stroller-friendly, which makes it ideal for families with young children. You can rent electric bikes to explore this trail as well.
Salt Creek Recreation Area
The Salt Creek Recreation Area is a 196-acre park. There’s also a very popular underwater park if you are a shore diver. If you prefer to stay above the water, it’s a great place to go tide pooling during low tide. (Just be sure to check the tide charts in advance of your visit!) The park also has a campground with 92 campsites.
Madison Falls
Madison Falls is another waterfall that is easily accessible from Port Angeles. (It’s located just 10 miles away from downtown Port Angeles.) To reach the falls, you just need to complete an extremely short .2 mile trial. The trail is paved, so it’s easily accessed.
Hurricane Ridge
Located high up in the Olympic Mountains, Hurricane Ridge is only a 40-minute drive from Port Angeles. There are several trails you complete at the top, as well as a visitor center and lots of wildlife. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Canada.
| Check out our post about Ruby Beach, one of the best beaches in Washington State! |
Restaurant Recommendations
Some restaurants in Port Angeles to consider include:
- Downriggers on the Water: This is a casual seafood restaurant with views of the water. Menu items include clam chowder in a bread bowl, fish and chips, and a Dungeness crab and shrimp melt.
- Kokopelli Grill: This restaurant is located near the water and focuses on southwest cuisine.
- Next Door Gastropub: This restaurant includes pub favorites like wings and burgers.
Summary
Port Angeles is a gateway city to both the beaches and the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula. We love visiting Port Angeles and exploring the nearby attractions. We hope that this post provided you with some inspiration to visit this beautiful city!
| Join our newsletter for monthly updates! |
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
Image attribution: Featured image provided by intricateexplorer.com
