Olympic Peninsula loop

US 101 wraps around the Olympic Mountains, passing Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, the Hoh Rain Forest and Ruby Beach. Rain is common, but the forest is green and the coast is wild. It suits campers and hikers.

The stops

1. Start

   Olympia

2. Town

   Port Townsend

   Victorian seaport town

3. Viewpoint

   Hurricane Ridge

   Mountain views

4. Beach

   Lake Crescent

   Deep clear lake with a lodge

5. Worth a look

   Sol Duc Hot Springs

   Soaking pools and a falls trail

6. Beach

   Rialto Beach

   Sea stacks and driftwood

7. Hike

   Hoh Rain Forest

   Moss-draped trees; short loops

8. Beach

   Ruby Beach

   Sea stacks on a red-pebble beach

9. Historic

   Lake Quinault Lodge

   1926 lodge on the lake

10. Back to the start

    Olympia

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Port Angeles

  Heart O' the Hills Campground (NPS)

• Night 2

  Forks

  Forks motels · Bogachiel State Park

• Night 3

  Lake Quinault

  Willaby Campground

When to go

Jun-Sep; rainforest is wettest Nov-Mar

On the road

Roads are open year round but heavy rain can close some. Hurricane Ridge road may have winter closures.