Port Angeles, WA
Located on the
Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.
Port Angles is the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula of
Washington State. It is the Northern
Gateway to Olympic National Park. It is
also the Southern Gateway to Victoria and Vancouver Island in British Columbia,
Canada.
The history of the City is that of a logging and mill town. Although there are still remnants of that
history with a pulp mill and plywood plant, the city is much more tourist and
service oriented than in the past.
Today it has a 5 mile long Waterfront Trail from the Coast
Guard Station on Ediz Hook to the east end of the bay and there is a park and
tourist oriented business where there was once a lumber mill. The trail goes right past the City Pier.
Jump to recommended services:
[Espresso]
[Restaurants] [Lodging]
[Ferry Service]
The Port Angeles
Chamber
of Commerce has a visitor center at 121 E. Railroad Avenue. The photo at the left shows the visitor
center which looks like an old railroad building. I should have asked. To find it go to the north end of Lincoln
Street by the City Pier, turn left on Railroad Ave. they are in the second
building on the right and have parking places for visitors right in front of
their door. They also have a very good
web site. To visit their web site [click here].
Art is a big part of Port Angeles life. As you drive around the city you will find art in the strangest
places, like on a piling in the bay or a wall against the hillside in the
downtown area. They also have a
wonderful fine arts center listed below.
The City Pier is located at the north end of Lincoln Street. The pier has views of the Straight of Juan
de Fuca, the City, Ediz Hook, and the waterfront. The pier has a lookout tower to give the tourist a better
view. On the east side of the pier there
is beach access and a park donated by the local Rotary Club. It has restrooms, picnic tables, playground,
benches, trees, and the beach.
The Feiro Marine Life Center is located at the Pier. It has a unique “U” shaped touch tank and
displays over 80 species of local sea life.
The center is a cooperative effort between the City of Port Angeles and
Peninsula College. Docents will explain
the displays when you visit.
For hours call 360-417-6254.
They do not have a web site or list their hours anywhere we can find.
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is located at1203 E. Lauridsen
Blvd. They have an “Art Outside”
display that is open from dawn to dusk with free admission, but donations are
gratefully accepted. The Gallery Hours
are from 11 AM to 5 PM Tuesday – Sunday.
For more information visit their web site by [clicking here].
Ediz Hook is a natural
spit of land that protects the Port Angeles Harbor from the waves of the Strait
of Juan de Fuca. To reach the “Hook” as
it is called locally, go west on Marine Drive along the harbor. Marine Drive turns north at the west end of
the harbor, goes through the Daishowa American paper mill (drive carefully as
men and equipment cross the road often) and out the spit.
There are thousands of rock sculptures lining the west beach of
the “Hook”. The US Coast Guard’s Air
Station occupies the end of Ediz Hook and is closed to the public.
Olympic National Park has its headquarters in Port Angeles. The
visitor center is located on Race Street about 1 ½ miles south of Highway 101.
It provides information about park facilities, including campgrounds,
hiking trails, back country hiking permits, and naturalist programs. The visitor center is open from 9AM to 4PM. Permits and backcountry information are
obtained in the wilderness center.
The Pioneer Memorial Visitor Center is also located in the National Park
Visitor Center. It has displays of the
geology of the Park. It also has
displays on pioneer life and a pioneer cabin.
Indian whaling tools are on display as well as displays about the plant
life and wildlife in the Park.
Heart of the Hills Campground Area is 5 miles south of the Olympic
National Park Visitor Center in the same road.
The campground has 105 sites.
Campfire programs are given nightly in the amphitheater from July 1 to
Labor Day. This park has restrooms but
no trailer dump or trailer hookups.
Recommended trailer length 21’.
Hurricane Ridge is 12 miles further up the road from the Heart of the
Hills Campground (17 miles from Port Angeles).
This ridge offers winter skiing and unsurpassed views of the Olympic
Mountains in the summer. There is a day
lodge with food service and several trails to hike. Stop at the Visitor Center at the head of the road in Port
Angeles for current information.
We recommend the following:
The Daily Grind – 1919A E. First Street
(Highway 101 by Schuck’s)
Red Lion Hotel – 221 N. Lincoln Street
– 360-452-9215
Uptown Inn -101 East Second
Street – 360-457-9434
Café Garden Restaurant – 1506 E. First Street – 360-457-4611
Dupuis’ Restaurant – 256861
Highway 101 (½ way to Sequim) – 360-457-8033
Port Angeles Crab House – 221 N. Lincoln Street – 360-452-9215
Ferry
The Coho Ferry
from Port Angeles to Victoria BC Canada on Vancouver Island
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