Biking & Bike Trails in Port Angeles and On the Olympic Peninsula

Port Angeles is one of the most bike-friendly destinations in all of Washington for both mountain biking and road cycling. Bring your bike — or rent one — to explore the 130-mile Olympic Discovery Trail, or join us for the Olympic Peninsula’s Pedal Power Weekend where you’ll get to cruise without cars at the Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge. If you’re still looking for more routes to pedal, hop on an 18-mile ferry ride across the Strait of Juan de Fuca into Victoria, British Columbia for a chance to ride in the biking capital of Canada.

Mountain Biking

Port Angeles’ mountain biking trails are still a closely guarded secret by some in the MTB community. But it’s not because the trails aren’t worth talking about or tackling. The area has trails ranging from beginner to very difficult. The Olympic Discovery Trail has an “Adventure Trail” route offshoot with 25-miles of single and double track trails. More miles of trails are in the works. The Dry Hill Trail offers about 6 miles of challenging downhill if you’re willing to work climb for it. Both sections of trail are dog-friendly since they’re not located within the Olympic National Park boundary.

MTB pros and weekend warriors looking to test their skills on world-class bike trails show up in late September for the Cascadia Mountain Bike Championships. For a spring downhill fix, the NW Cup, comes to Port Angeles’ Dry Hill Mountain Bike Trails network for a downhill bike event like no other. This popular series takes place at a number of premier mountain biking locales throughout the Northwest. If you can, we recommend extending your stay to roll on over to Vancouver Island in B.C. (British Columbia). Canada’s mountain biking trails get plenty of fanfare for their epic wooded trail rides and Victoria, B.C. is a quick ferry ride across the Strait.

Road Biking

Road biking around Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula is an absolute thrill for road cycling enthusiasts. Annual events like the Ride the Hurricane and Tour de Lavender, happening every August over one weekend, invite cyclists to explore just a sliver of the amount of cycling available to those who prefer to burn rubber on pavement. The Big Hurt is a multi-sport event every September with not only both mountain biking and road cycling, but a kayak leg and a 10K run. Trike riders will appreciate spinning their wheels along the 6.5 miles of paved path along the Spruce Railroad trail — stick to the west end of this trail for a smooth ride.

If you tire of cycling up the hills and through the Olympic Mountains, opt for a serene ride through lavender and produce farms. The Sequim-Dungeness Valley’s gently sloping hills make it easy to ride from farm to farm along quiet back country roads where you can pick up ingredients for dinner and gifts for friends back home. Breathe in the sea and mountain vistas and the fresh scent of lavender as you pedal.

Leisure Biking

Spend the morning or a portion of the afternoon exploring the Olympic Discovery Trail, a paved 70+ mile path that meanders between Port Townsend and downtown Port Angeles and beyond. This scenic trail is a fun ride for the whole family, including Fido. From the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Port Angeles, pedal onto the trail for about a 3.5 mile round-trip out to Ediz Hook, a lengthy sandy spit which is responsible for the calm waters along the city’s harbor. As you head west on the trail, you’ll ride through the City’s waterfront park. Pause to admire a small taste of Port Angeles’ art around town as you pass numerous art sculptures. The Ediz Hook route is punctuated with several more city parks — including the Sail & Paddle Park where you can easily launch a kayak or paddle board — a historic lighthouse now used by the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, and plenty of picnic spots for spotting marine life and the 200+ species of birds that inhabit the area. Or just admire the Olympic Mountains sitting atop the cityscape.