If you love fresh sea air, crisp mountain landscapes, and spectacular natural beauty, Port Townsend is the perfect place for you. If you have a full day to spend exploring, Port Townsend has all the adventure you are looking for, with activities for many interests

Do you like to hike?

Fort Worden State Park

Via nearly 12 miles of forest and beach trails, explore Fort Worden State Park’s hidden gun emplacements and defense batteries left over from the Fort’s WWI & WWII-era role defending the Puget Sound from potential enemy invaders.

Mt. Townsend – Olympic National Forest

Mt. Townsend (8 miles round trip; 3010 ft elevation gain) is an amazing hike that offers rhododendrons in May and June, wildflowers in June through August, berries in August and September and fall colors in October. See old growth coniferous forest, and a windswept, alpine summit with views north across the Strait and San Juans, west and south into and along the Olympics and east across the Sound to the Cascades. The Mt. Townsend trailhead is located about 1.5 hours south and west of Port Townsend, near Quilcene.

Grand Ridge – Olympic National Park

Grand Ridge (15 miles round trip; 3000 ft elevation gain) is the highest continuous trail in the Olympic Mountains. On a clear day it is among the most beautiful places in Washington; the 360 degree view includes the interior of the Olympics, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Canada, and the Cascades. Grand Ridge is accessible via Olympic National Park’s Deer Park trailhead, about 1.5 hours west of Port Townsend.

Do you like to kayak?

Kayak Admiralty Inlet

Get out on the water in and explore the waters Fort Worden, Admiralty Inlet, and Port Townsend Bay. On a lucky day, you might see sea otters, seals, sea lions, or even orcas!

Do you like to bike?

Olympic Discovery Trail East with extensions to Chimacum, Marrowstone Island.

The Port Townsend waterfront marks the eastern start of the Olympic Discovery Trail, which will one day stretch 126 miles from Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. At the trail’s beginning, you may see Washington State’s official ocean going vessel; the Lady Washington, the impressive Adventuress, or any number of fascinating wooden vessels. From there, travel one-way 7.3 miles to the Milo Curry Trailhead, where you can then travel on roads to extend your trip to Chimacum and Marrowstone Island – roughly an additional 60 mile loop. Bike rentals are available either on the beach at Fort Worden, or at these downtown locations:

The Broken Spoke: 360-379-1295
Williwaw Cycles: 360-379-8809
PT Cyclery: 360-385-6470
The ReCyclery: 360-643-1755

Whether visiting on a weekend, or mid-week, 2 days is a fantastic length of time to experience the best of Port Townsend and Olympic Peninsula’s outdoor adventures.

Hiking: Olympic National Park & Fort Worden State Park

Day One: Hurricane Ridge – Olympic National Park

Grand Ridge (15 miles round trip; 3000 ft elevation gain) is the highest continuous trail in the Olympic Mountains. On a clear day it is among the most beautiful places in Washington; the 360 degree view includes the interior of the Olympics, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Canada, and the Cascades. Grand Ridge is accessible via Olympic National Park’s Deer Park trailhead, about 1.5 hours west of Port Townsend.

Day Two: Fort Worden State Park

Via nearly 12 miles of forest and beach trails, explore Fort Worden State Park’s hidden gun emplacements and defense batteries left over from the Fort’s WWI & WWII-era role defending the Puget Sound from potential enemy invaders.

On the Water: Whale Watching & Kayaking

Day One: Whale Watching

Port Townsend is quite possibly the finest whale watching destination in the continental US. See orcas (killer whales), humpbacks, gray whales, minke whales, as well as bald eagles, harbor seals, California and Steller sea lions, tufted puffins and many other species of marine life. Departing from downtown Port Townsend’s Point Hudson Marina, Puget Sound Express offers half-day or full-day tours (full day tour includes a 2 hr stop on San Juan Island), and they guarantee you’ll see whales or your next trip is free.

Day Two: Kayak Admiralty Inlet

Get out on the water in and explore the waters Fort Worden, Admiralty Inlet, and Port Townsend Bay. On a lucky day, you might see sea otters, seals, sea lions, or even orcas!

Biking: Tour de Forts and Olympic Discovery Trail

Day One: Tour de Forts

Visiting up to three seaside forts that have been turned into state parks, the Tour de Forts route gives cyclists the option to follow routes varying in length from 11 miles to a metric century–62.5 miles (or longer!).  Starting in Port Townsend and Fort Worden, head south to Old Fort Townsend, before making your way to Chimacum, winding your way through the beautiful rolling farmland of the Touandos Valley, out to Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island.

Day Two: Olympic Discovery Trail

The Port Townsend waterfront marks the eastern start of the Olympic Discovery Trail, a combination combined-use path and on road route. From the shores of the Salish Sea in Port Townsend, the ODT dances through the forests and Trail Towns until it reaches its terminus 130 miles later in LaPush at the Pacific Ocean.Bike rentals are available either on the beach at Fort Worden, or at these downtown locations:

The Broken Spoke: 360-379-1295
Williwaw Cycles: 360-379-8809
PT Cyclery: 360-385-6470
The ReCyclery: 360-643-1755