Itinerary

The Olympic Discovery trail surface is mostly paved with some short sections of hard-packed gravel.

Day 1: Hike through ancient forest at Lake Quinault and explore the beach at Kalaloch.

To the Northwest Coast natives, Quinault means “river with a lake in the middle.” It is the name of the land, the lake, and the tribe who lives here. The Quinault River basin famously holds six different species of record-sized trees. It’s a bit of a drive (~2.5hrs) from Seattle, but don’t worry, you will be craning your neck to catch a glimpse of the tops of the “Big Trees” before you get out of the van! Explore the network of trails along the lake this afternoon to see some of the largest western red cedar, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and Douglas fir trees on the planet. Sample a dozen or more varieties of native berries depending on the season. From Quinault we drive another half-hour to Kalaloch on the Pacific Coast.
Kalaloch means “a good place to land” and we think you will agree. In sharp contrast to the soaring inland forests, forbidding-looking tangles of gnarled spruce and wind-whipped shore pines line the coastal beaches. Take a walk on the beach, keeping an eye out for scurrying shore birds, surf-riding scoters, playful otters and soaring bald eagles. In the evening, the garnet-tinged sands and offshore haystacks of Ruby Beach form a photo-perfect sunset backdrop. Spend the night overlooking the beach at Kalaloch National Park Lodge.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner. Distance: 3-4 miles trail hiking plus a few miles on the beach, elevation less than 500 ft

Day 2: Hike the Hoh Rainforest’s legendary hall of mosses and the Hoh River Trail!

Spend a whole day in the most famous rain-forest in the park! Cited as being one of the quietest places on earth, Hoh means “whitewater,” an apt description for this boulder-strewn, braided ribbon of a river flowing from Blue Glacier on Mt Olympus – the lowest glacier in the lower-48 states. Hike the Hall of Mosses in the morning before continuing up the Hoh River Trail, or cycle back downriver in the afternoon. With luck, we will track down an elk herd along the way. Regardless, colonnades of spruce stretch toward the sky, big leaf maples spread out over fern meadows, and lichens and mosses run wall to wall and floor to ceiling. There is more biomass here per acre than anywhere else on the planet! In this valley, you will inevitably run out of different ways to describe “green”. Spend the night in Forks, WA – once the logging capitol of the Olympic Peninsula, now famous as the setting for the “Twilight” teen vampire series. With a population of less than 4000 souls (werewolves and vampires are not counted), it’s still the “big city” on the peninsula’s remote west-side. Stay at Pacific Inn Motel.
Meals: B L D distance: Hike up to 8 miles, elevation less than 500 ft or optional cycling up to 31 miles.

Day 3: Saddle up the bikes and set out on the Olympic Discovery Trail. Ride the Spruce Railroad grade following the shores of Lake Crescent.

Today, after a short van shuttle (or optional 12-mile morning bike ride along Highway 101), we begin cycling east on the Olympic Discovery Trail. Beyond the dense forests, glacial-carved Lake Crescent makes a magnificent backdrop for much of the ride today. The clear, cold waters (you can see up to 60 feet down), and stunning depth (over 600 feet!) give the lake it’s blue-green color. Two species of trout found nowhere else in the world also call it home. We spend tonight on the shores of this gem at historic Lake Crescent National Park Lodge. At sunset, the lakeside setting is perfect for a stroll or a glass of wine. Once you’ve settled in at the lodge, don’t miss taking the relatively easy (~2.5 mi.) hike to cascading Marymere Falls. It’s hard to say which is more spectacular – the waterfall or the old growth forest. You decide. This walk is so lovely you may want to make time to do it again before breakfast in the morning!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Distance: 34 miles (up to 46 mi) Elevation + 1614 ft / -1298 ft Lodging: Lake Crescent Lodge

Day 4: Continue on the Discovery Trail from Lake Crescent along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Port Angeles.

Rejoin the Olympic Discovery Trail where we left off yesterday and continue riding east toward Port Angeles along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Begin with a descent from Lake Crescent to sea level and savor dramatic coastal vistas at Salt Creek. Cross the recently unfettered Elwha River – the site of the largest on-going dam removal project in the world. Pedal into Port Angeles (pop. 20,000), the biggest city and the busiest port on the peninsula. Ride out Ediz Hook for a beautiful view of town with the snow-capped mountains as a backdrop before you make your way to the waterfront Red Lion Hotel, our lodging for the next two nights. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Distance: 34 miles, elevation +1581 ft / 2341 ft

Day 5: Spend the day in subalpine glory at Hurricane Ridge. Enjoy views of the Olympics and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Hike, Ride, or both

Today we ascend to Hurricane Ridge, the literal high-point of the tour. As its name suggests, wind truly shapes this land, gusting to over 70 mph, with snows 30-35 feet deep in the winter. Go for a hike through alpine meadows and tree islands, dodging black-tailed deer and Olympic marmots – an endemic and adorable species of giant ground squirrel. Revel in a panorama of sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Vancouver Island. Enjoy lunch with a view near the Visitor’s Center.
If you prefer, you can challenge your legs by riding your bike to the Ridge instead of taking the van. The overall 5% grade of this climb, ascending one vertical-mile in 20 miles, is relatively steady, making it somewhat easier than the statistics might suggest. If you choose to ride, there will still be time to enjoy a hike before we return to Port Angeles for a celebratory dinner at our favorite local restaurant.
[Special Note: The National Park Service does not allow commercial tours to ride down from Hurricane Ridge.]
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Distance 4 – 8 miles with hills. Ridge elevation is 5200 – 5600 ft lodging: Red Lion Inn

Day 6: Ride the Olympic Discovery trail from Port angeles to Sequim Bay. Cross Pudget Sound on an afternoon ferry back to Seattle.

Ride the Discovery Trail right out the front door of our hotel this morning. Continue east through forests dotted with farmlands to the small town of Sequim (pronounced “skwim”), the rain-shadow retirement capital of the peninsula and home to Western Washington’s only native cactus – the brittle prickly pear. While not quite a “desert,” less than 30 inches of rain fall here per year, compared to nearly 200 inches just 40 miles away at the Hoh! The area is renowned for its lavender festivals as well as the world’s first interactive elk-crossing. The female herd-leaders have been fitted with collars which set-off warning signals on the highway when they are in the area. Continue to Blyn for lunch before we load up bikes. Shuttle to Bainbridge Island where we catch a ferry into downtown Seattle – the perfect end to a perfect week!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch. Distance: 26 miles (or more)elevation +1146 ft / -1146 ft

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Olympic Discovery Trail

Kalaloch National Park Lodge
Pacific Inn Motel
Lake Crescent lodge
Red Lion Inn
The hotels, Inns, and B&B’s we use are always among the finest the area has to offer. Our smaller group sizes(max. 13) allow us to stay at some award-winning places that can’t handle groups of 25 or more. We work closely with the innkeepers to make sure they understand your needs and ours, whether that is having a place to store your bike, an early morning breakfast or a convenient place to park the van, they are as committed to your vacation experience as we are.
Lodging is based upon two people to a room with a private bath. If you’re traveling solo on any of our trips, we’ll assign you a roommate of the same gender and often of the same age bracket. There is no extra charge if we can’t find you a roommate, even if you sign up the day before the trip starts. You can guarantee yourself a private room and bath if you pay the Single Room Fee. Occasionally a room with two beds consists of one bed plus a roll away bed or sofa bed.

Included:

• Deluxe lodging and fine dining.
• All breakfasts, except 1 lunch and 1 dinner. Snacks and beverages between meals
• Road /hybrid bike, (E-bike rent possible)
• Helmet and Wahoo GPS device
• Park and other entry fees
• Luggage transfer.

Not included:

• Night before and after the tour.
• Flights to and from the tour
• Alcoholic beverages at meals
• Gratuities guides

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024: $ 3714.- pp single fee $ 1003.-
You can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.
Extra option rental E-bike $200.-pp
Tour dates 2024:
14 Jul – 19 Jul Fully booked
21 Jul – 26 Jul Guaranteed, limited places left
25 Aug – 30 Aug Fully booked

Conditions

Deposit 25%
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

Meals and dining:
We know how important breakfast is to make sure your day starts off right. Most breakfasts are served at the inn where we spend the night and are either a set menu or a continental breakfast buffet. But if there is a local restaurant with a reputation for a great breakfast, we can guarantee we will find it and you will be treated to a nutritious meal to start the day.
Lunch is provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare. Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.
During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.
Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. We like to eat well.

If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance. We regularly accommodate vegetarians and other restricted diets. All of our meals are carefully selected to provide you with the unusually high nutritional and caloric needs of your body on an outdoor adventure.