From paved pathways and gentle gravel grinds to extreme downhill dirt trails, there’s a place for everyone to enjoy cycling around Port Angeles.
Cruise the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT)
This lengthy biking trail is the star of the Olympic Peninsula. Take a quick jaunt out to Ediz Hook—a three-mile-long sand spit extending out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca—from downtown Port Angeles for colossal Olympic Mountain views and plenty of beachfront stops. Glimpses of Mt. Baker, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and whales are common here, too. Continue east towards Sequim and Blyn for more beaches, creek crossings, lavender farms, and even a ride over an old railroad bridge from 1915.
The Spruce Railroad Trail is universally accessible following a stunning section of Lake Crescent where you’ll come across Devil’s Punchbowl, a 1,000-foot-deep swimming hole. Once the ODT trail is complete, you’ll be able to bike over 130 miles from Port Townsend through Forks and into La Push.
Mountain Biking
The hills around Port Angeles are peppered with mountain biking trails. Mountain bike lovers will revel in the variety of trails from beginner and intermediate to downright nuts. The NW Cup, an annual two series downhill bike race on Dry Hill, showcases the extreme side of our trails. While the Olympic Discovery Trail’s Adventure Route and Mt. Muller areas offer a mighty mix of gentler terrain.
Cyclocross is emerging on Port Angeles’ bike scene in 2021 with the new PNW Extreme CX Challenge series. The course at the Extreme Sports Park in Port Angeles was designed by Kevin Blair who is famous for the Cyclocross Crusade courses so you’re in for a treat.
Road Cycling Around Port Angeles
Road cycling can’t get any more scenic. Ascend up 5,000+ feet to Olympic National Park’s famous Hurricane Ridge. Watch for sea-to-mountain peak panoramas, wildflowers and wildlife. For one day every August during Ride the Hurricane, you can pedal up to the Ridge without sharing the road with vehicles.
Follow the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway 112 West from Port Angeles for an abundance of scenic side trips. Take Elwha River Road over the Elwha River and to the mouth of the river. Pedal down to Freshwater Bay for a quick snack, or onto Salt Creek Recreation area for an afternoon of tide pooling.
Dog-Friendly Bike Trails
If you’re planning to cycle around Port Angeles with your bike-loving pup, try these dog-friendly bike trails: The Adventure Trail Route, Dry Hill, NF-29 gravel trail, and the entire Olympic Discovery Trail. Please keep them leashed for their safety and trail etiquette.
Mountain Bike Tours, Rentals & Shuttles
If you didn’t bring your own bike or would like to schedule a mountain bike tour or even just a shuttle to and from the trailhead, visit our Tours & Outfitters page for a list of outfitters and bike shops on the Olympic Peninsula.
Something to Look Forward To
Once the border opens again, you can extend your bike route all the way to the bike capital of Canada with an easy 18-mile ferry ride from Port Angeles. Victoria B.C. (located on Vancouver Island) is where the Galloping Goose trail begins, which is considered the most picturesque biking trail in all of Canada.
Port Angeles Bike Events Not to Miss
NW Cup / May 14-16, 2021 & June 4-6, 2021
Gravel Unravel: Sol Grinder / June 5, 2021
Ride the Hurricane / August 1, 2021
The Big Hurt / September 25, 2021 / Watch the Video
PNW Extreme Cyclocross Port Angeles / November 27-28, 2021
Northwest Tandem Rally coming to Sequim in 2023
Written by Guest Blogger Lynnette Braillard
