Port Angeles
Around Port Angeles
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Town and around · Washington · 77k people
Port Angeles
Locals say Olympic Peninsula
Where rainforest meets the sea
Deep EvergreenStrait BlueFog Grey
Welcome to the Olympic Peninsula! Whether you're here for the rainforests, the coast, or the small-town charm, you'll find plenty to explore. Grab a cup of coffee and join the conversation about the best trails and tide pools.
Clubs for Port Angeles
No clubs for Port Angeles yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Port Angeles. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Port Angeles. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Olympic National Park A UNESCO World Heritage Site with mountains, rainforests, and coastline.
- Hurricane Ridge Alpine viewpoint with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- Hoh Rain Forest Moss-draped old-growth forest, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the US.
- Lake Crescent Deep, clear lake with hiking trails, boating, and a historic lodge.
- Sol Duc Hot Springs Natural mineral pools in a forested valley, part of Olympic National Park.
- Cape Flattery The northwesternmost point of the contiguous US, with a lighthouse and dramatic cliffs.
- Outdoors Hike to Marymere Falls
- Outdoors Kayak on Lake Crescent
- With kids Visit the Olympic Game Farm
- With kids Build sandcastles at Crescent Beach
- Evenings Catch a show at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse
- Evenings Listen to live music at a local brewpub
- Locals love Tide pool beaches
- Locals love Old-growth hiking trails
Through the year
- Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival October October in Port Angeles, celebrating the local crab harvest with food booths and music.
- Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts May May in Port Angeles, a multi-day arts and music festival with performances and workshops.
- Sequim Irrigation Festival May May in Sequim, the oldest continuous festival in Washington state, with a parade and community events.
- Sequim Lavender Festival July July in Sequim, tours of lavender farms and lavender-themed products.
- Clallam County Fair August August in Port Angeles, traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and exhibits.
A maritime climate with mild, wet winters and dry, warm summers, moderated by the ocean and mountains. The rain shadow around Sequim makes it drier than the west side of the peninsula. Best: July through September, when days are dry and sunny, especially in the Sequim rain shadow.
Talk like a local
- “Skwim”
- How locals pronounce Sequim
- “The Peninsula”
- The Olympic Peninsula
- “The Strait”
- The Strait of Juan de Fuca
- “The Coast”
- The Pacific coast beaches
Getaways
- Victoria, BC Ferry ride across the strait to the British Columbia capital, with gardens and museums.
- Port Townsend Victorian seaport with historic buildings, art galleries, and a lively waterfront.
- Oak Harbor On Whidbey Island, with naval air station and scenic beaches.
- Duncan, BC Known for its totem poles and Cowichan Valley wineries.
Local flavour
Teams
- Port Angeles Lefties West Coast League
Also rooting for Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Seattle Kraken (NHL), Seattle Storm (WNBA)
Eat and drink
- Dungeness crab Fresh from local waters
- Olympic Peninsula oysters Grown in cold, clean bays
- Smoked salmon Native tradition and local staple
- Huckleberry pie Wild berries from the mountains
- Geoduck Prized local clam
- Fish and chips A coastal classic
Where people go
- Tide pools Teeming with starfish, anemones, and crabs
- Old-growth rainforest trails Mossy giants and ferns
- Coastal beaches Driftwood-strewn and windswept
- Fishing harbors Where boats bring in the day's catch
- Lighthouses Guarding the rugged coastline
- Hot springs Soaking in the Sol Duc Valley
- Small-town main streets With local cafes and shops
Heritage and traditions
The Olympic Peninsula is proud of its wild, unspoiled landscapes—from the Hoh Rain Forest to the rugged Pacific coast—and the deep heritage of the Makah, Quileute, and Hoh tribes, along with the small-town charm of Port Angeles, Sequim, and Forks.
This time of year in Port Angeles
- Salmon runs Fall In fall, salmon return to rivers like the Elwha and Sol Duc, drawing spectators and anglers.
Say it like a local: “The Peninsula” — The Olympic Peninsula.
Festivals
- Makah Days August A celebration of Makah heritage with canoe races, traditional dancing, and salmon bakes.
- Forever Twilight in Forks September A fan festival in Forks celebrating the Twilight series, with tours, costume contests, and local vendors.
Landmarks with a story
- Makah Cultural and Research Center In Neah Bay, this museum preserves Makah history, including the excavated Ozette village artifacts.
- Elwha River Restoration The site of the largest dam removal in U.S. history, now a symbol of ecological renewal.
- Forks Timber Museum A museum dedicated to the logging industry that shaped the region, with vintage equipment and photos.
- Sequim Museum & Arts Center Showcases local history, from pioneer days to the modern lavender industry.
- Olympic Discovery Trail A rail-trail built on a historic railroad grade, connecting Port Angeles to the coast.
- Ozette Indian Village An archaeological site within Olympic National Park, once a Makah village buried by a mudslide.
Food traditions
- Salmon bakes At tribal celebrations and community events, salmon is cooked on cedar planks over an open fire, a tradition from the Makah, Quileute, and Hoh peoples.
- Lavender-infused treats In Sequim, lavender is used in lemonade, shortbread, and ice cream, reflecting the area's lavender farms.
- Huckleberry picking Families forage for huckleberries in the national park and make pies, jams, and syrups.
- Clam digging On the coast, digging for razor clams is a popular activity, with the catch often fried fresh.
- Fresh seafood from the docks Buying crab and fish straight from returning boats in Port Angeles and Neah Bay is a local custom.
Music and arts
- Native American carving and weaving Makah and Quileute traditions include totem poles, masks, and cedar bark weaving, visible in museums and galleries.
- Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra A local symphony that performs classical and pops concerts throughout the year.
- Folk music scene Small venues in Port Angeles and Sequim host folk and bluegrass jams, often tied to community events.
- Twilight-inspired fan art The Forks setting has inspired a global fan community, with local shops selling art and memorabilia.
A little history
- Pre-contact The Makah, Quileute, and Hoh peoples have inhabited the peninsula for thousands of years, with the Makah whaling tradition central to their culture.
- Late 18th century European explorers, including Spanish and British, charted the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the late 1700s.
- Early 20th century The logging industry boomed, with Port Angeles and Forks growing around timber mills.
- 1938 Olympic National Park was established, preserving the rainforest, mountains, and coastline.
- 2011-2014 The Elwha Dam was removed, the largest dam removal in U.S. history, restoring the river ecosystem.
Rivalries
- Port Angeles Roughriders vs. Sequim Wolves High school football and basketball games draw big crowds.
- Game day North Olympic Discovery Marathon
- Outdoors Soak in Sol Duc Hot Springs
- Outdoors Watch the sunset at Cape Flattery
- With kids Visit the Makah Museum
- With kids Go to the Forks Timber Museum
People speak with a Pacific Northwest accent, relatively neutral, but with local terms like 'the mountain' for the Olympics and 'the coast' for the Pacific shoreline. They pronounce 'Sequim' as 'skwim' and 'Forks' as is. The region also uses terms from Native American heritage, like 'potlatch'.
Only here
- The Olympic marmot, a species found only in the Olympic Mountains.
- A temperate rainforest (Hoh) and a rain shadow (Sequim) exist side by side, creating wildly different climates within a short drive.
- The Makah whaling tradition, one of the few in the U.S., is practiced by the Makah Tribe at Neah Bay.
- The Dungeness Spit, one of the longest natural sand spits in the world, stretches over 5 miles into the Strait.
New here? A few tips
- Bring rain gear and layers—the peninsula gets heavy rain, especially in winter, but Sequim is drier due to the rain shadow.
- Learn to pronounce 'Sequim' as 'skwim'—it's a common local test.
- Take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC for a day trip; it's a scenic and popular excursion.
- Get an Olympic National Park pass—you'll want to explore Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest, and the coast.
- If you're a Twilight fan, visit Forks for the themed shops and the Forever Twilight in Forks festival in September.
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Nearby
Every areaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaWhere the ocean whispers and gardens bloom.Port TownsendWashingtonWhere the mountains meet the sea, and history sails on.San Juan IslandsWashingtonWhere the Salish Sea meets the sky.Cowichan ValleyBritish ColumbiaWhere the forest meets the lake.Oak HarborWashingtonIsland calm, Pacific Northwest soulDuncanBritish ColumbiaWhere the river meets the sea and totems stand tallBremerton–SilverdaleWashingtonSmall towns, big waterSkagit ValleyWashingtonWhere tulips bloom and tides turn.
Port Angeles, WA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.