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13 Best Things to Do in Port Angeles, Washington

Last Updated on January 15, 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. In this post, we will share our list of things to do in Port Angeles, where to stay, and our favorite nearby activities. 

13 Things to Do in Port Angeles

We created this map of our recommendations:

 

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. 

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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 Port Angeles

  • 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!

 


How to Get to Port Angeles

 

If you’re traveling from Seattle to Port Angeles, you have two options:

  1. 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.)
  2. 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.


What to Pack on a Trip to Port Angeles

  • Binoculars: You’ll want to be able to see all of the details as you explore the beaches and mountains of the Olympic Peninsula.
  • Power Bank: We like this cell phone charger because the cord is embedded. (One less thing to lose!) A power bank will let you charge your phone when you’re out exploring. You don’t want to run out of battery, because you’ll want to take lots of photos!
  • Water Bottle: Stay hydrated while you’re out exploring. We like this one because it’s an insulated bottle.
  • Hiking Boots: When out on the trails, you’ll want to make sure you have proper foot protection and ankle support. I’ve been using the Columbia brand for years and have really liked my boots!
  • First Aid Kit: Anytime you’re out in the wilderness, make sure that you travel with a first aid kit.
  • Day Pack: Store all of your extra layers and snacks in a comfortable day pack.

Things to Do Near Port Angeles

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!
 

Hotel Recommendations for Port Angeles

Booking.com  

If you’re planning on staying the night in Port Angeles, you might consider some of the following places to stay:

  • Olympic Lodge: This rustic lodge has a wood-paneled lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, as well as a wood-burning fireplace and seating area in the lobby.
  • Sea Cliff Gardens Bed and Breakfast: This Victorian-styled bed and breakfast has dramatic views of the coast. There are five guest suites with views of the water and gas fireplaces.
  • Red Lion Port Angeles Harbor: This hotel is located right on the water. Most of the rooms have views of the water.

For a full list of accommodations in Port Angeles, click here.


Restaurant Recommendations for Port Angeles

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.

Things to See in the Olympic Peninsula

Port Angeles is ideally located near many amazing sites in the Olympic Peninsula. Most of the sites listed below are within a few hours drive of Port Angeles:

  • Hoh Rain Forest: Head into the rainforest and check out the Hall of Mosses loop trail. You’ll be in the heart of the rainforest, and everything you see will be draped in green mosses and lichens.
  • Third Beach: The trail to Third Beach is 3.6 miles roundtrip. You’ll see plenty of sea stacks from this beach hike.
  • Kalaloch Beach: This beach is large and sandy. The beach is near the Kalaloch Lodge and Kalaloch Campground and is easily accessible. We recommend watching the sunset here!
  • Tree of Life: Located at Kalaloch Beach, the Tree of Life is a tree with its roots nearly full exposed due to erosion. If you’re at Kalaloch, you don’t want to leave without seeing it!
  • Big Cedar Tree: A very short .1 mile trail will take you a massive Cedar tree believed to be over 1,000 years old. After storms in 2014, it was split nearly in two.
  • Lake Crescent: This beautiful lake is located in the Olympic Mountains.
  • Sol Duc Falls: To reach the falls, you’ll complete a beautiful 1.6 mile roundtrip hike. 
  • World’s Largest Spruce Tree: The tree has a circumference of 58 feet, 11 inches.
  • Forks, Washington: This is the town where the Twilight book series takes place. Fans of the books will enjoy seeing many of the places mentioned in the books.
  • Port Townsend, Washington: This historic seaport is known for its coastal views and Victorian-style buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Port Angeles

What is Port Angeles known for?

Port Angeles is known as the gateway city to Olympic National Park. It’s also known for its ferry service to Victoria, BC. 

How much time should I spend in Port Angeles?

If you’re planning on visiting Olympic National Park, we recommend spending at least a couple of nights in Port Angeles. You could easily spend a day at Hurricane Ridge, a day exploring the local beaches, and a day exploring some of the local waterfalls. 

When is the best time to visit Port Angeles?

The summer is a very popular time to visit Port Angeles. We recommend that you visit during the month of September. The weather is still generally sunny, but it will be less crowded.


Summary: Best Things to Do in Port Angeles

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!

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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

Hi, I’m Kelly!

After studying abroad in Spain, I became passionate about international travel. Since then, I’ve traveled to 6 continents and 36 states within the United States. When I’m not travel blogging, you can find me hiking, reading books in Spanish, or playing cribbage. I hope my blog inspires you to see the world!