21 Best Things to Do in Port Angeles, WA (Gateway to Olympic National Park)

Port Angeles is the closest town to Olympic National Park’s best stuff. Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, and the wild coast are all a short drive away.

And the town itself? It’s got a waterfront trail, an underground history tour, fresh Dungeness crab, and a ferry to Canada.

Here are the best things to do in Port Angeles, sorted by area so you can plan your days.

Things to Do in and Around Town

1. Catch Sunrise or Sunset on the City Pier

You don’t have to go far for a great view. The Port Angeles City Pier looks out over the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and it’s the spot for sunrise, sunset, or watching the fog roll in.

There’s a fishing pier, plus signs about the marine life out in the water. On Saturdays, walk over to the Port Angeles Farmers Market at the Gateway Pavilion. It runs year-round.

2. Bike the Olympic Discovery Trail

The Olympic Discovery Trail runs about 135 miles from Port Townsend all the way to the Pacific coast, and Port Angeles sits right in the middle of it.

The waterfront section through town is flat and easy. Want the prettiest stretch? Ride the Lake Crescent section (the Spruce Railroad Trail, #14 below).

3. Paddle or Walk Ediz Hook

Ediz Hook is a 3-mile sand spit that curls around the Port Angeles harbor and blocks the rough water. That makes the harbor side great for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Not into paddling? Walk, bike, or drive out the Hook. There are pebbly beaches and picnic spots with mountain views, and the very end is a working Coast Guard air station.

4. See Madison Falls in the Elwha Valley

Just 15 minutes west of town, the Elwha River is home to one of the biggest dam removals in US history. The river runs free again, and the salmon came back.

The easy win here is Madison Falls. It’s a short, flat, paved walk from the parking lot to a tall, mossy waterfall. Past the lot, the road is open only to walkers and bikes, so check Elwha conditions before you go.

5. Take the Underground Heritage Tour

In the early 1900s, Port Angeles raised its downtown streets to stop the flooding. Some of the old storefronts are still down there, under the sidewalks.

The Underground Heritage Tour takes you through the tunnels and the town’s wilder history. It runs on Fridays and Saturdays, takes about 2.5 hours, and starts at the visitor center by the ferry terminal. Book ahead.

6. Check Out the Local Art

The Olympic Peninsula has a big art scene. (Look at the scenery. Of course it does.) It’s also a solid plan for a rainy day.

Start at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. Walk the trails in Webster’s Woods behind it, where art pieces are hidden in the trees. Then head east to Northwest Native Expressions in Blyn, near Sequim, for Native carvings, baskets, and prints.

Downtown has a mural trail too, so keep your eyes up while you walk around.

7. Plan Around a Festival

The big one is the Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival every October. You get tons of fresh crab, live music, and local food and art on the waterfront.

In late spring, the Juan de Fuca Festival brings music and art to town over Memorial Day weekend. In winter, downtown sets up an outdoor ice rink.

8. Go Whale Watching

Humpbacks, gray whales, minke whales, and orcas all pass through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, right off Port Angeles.

Puget Sound Express runs whale watching tours from the Port Angeles wharf from spring into early fall. You can also scan the water from Ediz Hook. Bring binoculars.

Hurricane Ridge and the Mountains

9. Hike Hurricane Hill at Hurricane Ridge

Distance: 3.4 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 826 ft

Hurricane Ridge is the best mountain view you can drive to from Port Angeles. It’s about 45 minutes up the road. The Hurricane Hill trail climbs to a summit with views of the Olympic Mountains, and you might spot marmots or deer along the way.

Want something shorter? The easy meadow trails right by the parking lot still get you big views.

Up top, there’s no lodge, just restrooms and a small visitor contact station. There’s no food or drinking water, so bring your own. You’ll need an Olympic National Park entrance pass (or an America the Beautiful pass). In winter, the road usually opens only on weekends, and you need to carry chains.

10. Hike the Switchback Trail to Klahhane Ridge

Distance: 2.7 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 1,450 ft

The Switchback Trail lives up to its name. It’s short, steep, and switchback after switchback, but the views from Klahhane Ridge are unreal.

Unlike Hurricane Hill, you might get this one to yourself (we did!). Snow hangs on late into the season, so check conditions before you go.

From the ridge, you get jagged peaks and Mount Angeles. Turn around there, or keep going along the ridge toward Lake Angeles.

Lake Crescent

11. Spend a Day at Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is a deep, crystal-clear lake surrounded by mountains, about 30 minutes west of Port Angeles. Lounge on a pebbly beach, swim if you’re brave (it’s COLD), or get out on the water.

Got your own kayak? Launch at the Storm King or Fairholme boat launches. Need to rent? Lake Crescent Lodge rents boats in summer. Plan a few days here if you can, since the hikes below all start around the lake.

👉 Read the full guide: Lake Crescent | Lake Crescent Hikes

12. Climb Mount Storm King

Distance: 4.1 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Elevation Gain: 2,106 ft

Want a real challenge? Mount Storm King climbs over 2,000 feet from Lake Crescent. Near the top, you pull yourself up rock sections on ropes.

The payoff is one of the best views of Lake Crescent you’ll ever get. Wear good shoes and start early, because the summit is tiny and you may have to wait your turn.

13. Walk to Marymere Falls

Distance: 1.7 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 298 ft

Not up for the Storm King climb? Marymere Falls shares the same trailhead and is way easier. It’s a short walk through huge old trees to a 90-foot waterfall.

Overachievers can tack it on after Storm King. It’s one of the most popular waterfalls in Washington for a reason.

14. Walk or Bike the Spruce Railroad Trail

Distance: 11.2 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: 410 ft

The Spruce Railroad Trail follows an old railroad line along the north shore of Lake Crescent. It’s paved, mostly flat, and part of the Olympic Discovery Trail, so it’s great on foot or by bike.

You don’t have to do the whole thing. About a mile in from the east end, you hit the Devil’s Punchbowl, a bright blue cove with a pretty bridge over it. There’s also an old railroad tunnel, so bring a headlamp.

People jump off the rocks into the Punchbowl. Just know the water is freezing, even in August.

Sol Duc Valley

15. Hike to Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls splits into several channels as it drops into a mossy canyon. It’s about 1.6 miles round trip on an easy, flat trail through old-growth forest.

Want more time in the forest? Do the Lover’s Lane Loop instead. It’s about 6 miles, still easy, and passes smaller waterfalls that are perfect for a snack break.

16. Soak at Sol Duc Hot Springs

After the falls, soak your legs at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, just down the road. The mineral pools look like regular pools, but they’re filled with hot spring water.

You pay a day-use fee to soak. The resort is only open from spring through fall, so check dates first. Want to stay over? Book a cabin at the resort or a site at the Sol Duc campground.

The Coast and Beaches

17. Walk to the Dungeness Lighthouse

The Dungeness Spit, east of Port Angeles near Sequim, is one of the longest natural sand spits in the world. At the very end is the New Dungeness Lighthouse, built in 1857.

It’s about 5 miles each way along the beach, so plan for a full day, and check the tides. The spit is part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which charges a small entrance fee. No dogs allowed.

18. Explore Salt Creek Recreation Area

Salt Creek Recreation Area is a county park about 30 minutes west of town, and it’s way less crowded than the national park spots.

Go at low tide for the tide pools at Tongue Point, which are some of the best on the peninsula. You can also hike the bluffs, poke around the old WWII bunkers, or camp right above the water.

19. Hike Rialto Beach to Hole in the Wall

Distance: 3.4 miles
Type of Trail: Out & Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 108 ft

Rialto Beach is classic Washington coast, with crashing waves, driftwood, and huge sea stacks. Walk north along the beach to Hole in the Wall, a sea stack with an arch you can walk through at low tide.

It’s about an hour and a half from Port Angeles, so it makes an easy day trip. Check the tide chart before you go.

20. Have a Beach Day in La Push

Just south of Rialto and close to Forks (of Twilight fame), La Push has three beaches: First, Second, and Third Beach.

First Beach is the easiest to reach. Second Beach is the favorite, a short walk through the forest. Third Beach is the quietest, a longer forest walk that’s worth it if you want the beach to yourself.

Want to camp on the beach? You can at Second and Third Beach with a wilderness permit.

These are some of the best beaches in Washington, so don’t skip them.

Day Trip to Canada

21. Take the Ferry to Victoria, BC

One of the best things to do in Port Angeles is leave the country! Grab your passport and hop on the ferry to Victoria, British Columbia.

The Black Ball Ferry (the Coho) runs year-round and takes about 90 minutes. You can walk on or bring your car. Going in summer? Book ahead.

Victoria is perfect for a day trip. Think tea rooms, harbor walks, and the BC Parliament Buildings.

Hooked on Canada? Vancouver is easy to add to your weekend trips from Seattle, and there are plenty of things Canada is famous for to check out.

Final Thoughts

Port Angeles might be small, but you won’t run out of things to do. Mountains in the morning, a lake in the afternoon, crab for dinner, and Canada a ferry ride away.

Got more time? Check out our full list of things to do in Olympic National Park.

We hope this helps you plan your trip to Port Angeles!

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