The M.V. Coho connects Port Angeles with Victoria, British Columbia—a daily, year-round ferry service for passengers and vehicles. The city also offers waterfront trails, views of the Olympic Mountains, and cultural sites that present different perspectives on the history of the city and region. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether the ferry ride, scenery, art, or history will be the main focus of your visit.
Ferry Service and Downtown Waterfront
Terminal 2 in Port Angeles offers ferry service to Victoria for vehicles and passengers. The ferry connection also makes the city appealing to travelers who want to combine their stay with a trip to British Columbia. Schedules can change; check current times as you plan.
City Pier and Hollywood Beach are on the waterfront in downtown Port Angeles. The pier is next to the ferry service to Victoria and offers views of the inner harbor, the city, and the Olympic Mountains. For different waterfront perspectives, Sail & Paddle Park offers views of the harbor, Port Angeles, and the mountains. From Valley Creek Estuary Park, views also extend to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Canada. The Waterfront Trail runs along the waterfront.
Trails and Views
The Olympic Discovery Trail runs for 6 miles along the Port Angeles coast and through the Marine Bluff Area. Another route description covers more than 13 miles that the city owns or operates between the Morse Creek Trestle and the pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Elwha River. These different mileage figures offer two specific points of reference as you consider the length of your planned outing.
The Port Angeles Art Mural Trail is a self-guided tour through downtown that can be explored on foot or by bicycle. It combines public art with getting around the city. At Sail & Paddle Park, kayaks or stand-up paddleboards can be launched. The trails, waterfront views, and this opportunity to get out on the water each offer a different focus for a stay.
Art, History, and Cultural Sites
The Carnegie Museum displays cultural and historical artifacts related to the history of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and other tribes of the Olympic Peninsula. One exhibit focuses on the Elwha River Dam Removal Project and the ecological development of the surrounding area. The museum asks visitors to schedule an appointment in advance.
History is also presented in different ways at other sites: Built in 2007, ʔaʔkʷustəŋáwtxʷ House of Learning, the Peninsula College Longhouse, is the first longhouse in the United States on a community college campus. Exhibitions at the Longhouse Art Gallery change, and the gallery gives artists a space to share their work, traditions, and culture. The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center offers experiences centered on art, nature, and community at the Esther Webster Gallery and in Webster's Woods Sculpture Park. The sculpture park is open from dusk to dawn; check current details before visiting.
The Port Angeles Underground Heritage Tour leads to rediscovered basement spaces and long-forgotten tunnels downtown. The mural tour offers another kind of walking tour: the Strong People Mural tells the story behind the Elwha Klallam name, “Strong People,” or “Nəxwsƛáyəm.” On the north wall of the Black Ball Ferry Building is also a 10 × 20-foot mural painted by Jackson Smart in 2009. It depicts the Spanish ship San Carlos arriving in Port Angeles Harbor in 1791, welcomed by members of the Klallam Tribe.
The Olympic Coast Discovery Center provides information about marine animals, habitats, and conservation at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and is fully wheelchair accessible. The Feiro Marine Life Center complements this subject with hands-on experiences at touch pools featuring, among others, starfish, hermit crabs, and sea cucumbers. The Olympic National Park Visitor Center is within the area designated as Port Angeles. For those interested in aviation history: Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles was commissioned on June 1, 1935, on Ediz Hook and was the first Coast Guard air station on the Pacific Coast. Ediz Hook Light was built in 1865 and decommissioned in 1908.
Market and Seasonal Events
The Port Angeles Farmers Market takes place every Saturday at the Gateway Transit Center Pavilion, at the corner of Lincoln Street and Front Street downtown. Offerings include fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade baked goods, farm eggs, flowers, seasonal meats, and locally made crafts. Vendors may vary; check the market day and location before your trip.
Between July and August, the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys arrive at Hollywood Beach next to the Port Angeles pier. Landing dates and arrangements vary from year to year, so check current details if you want to plan your trip around them.
When looking for a hotel in Port Angeles, these themes can help guide your stay: a ferry ride, waterfront trails, cultural sites, or a visit during the market or an event. Choose the focus that suits your travel plans, and check the dates for activities that take place at specific times.
Discover more destinations: Carlsborg, Sequim, Forks.
See the regional travel overview: Clallam County.
