Olympic Discovery Trail

[ebikemom]

I just learned about the Olympic Discovery trail recently. Here's a link:
https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/explore/trail-segments/

One cool thing about this area is that it is in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains so gets less rain. I was wondering about this as a possible spot for a weekend away in the Fall ... hmmm ....

The "trail segments" map is illuminating because it shows what part of the trail is real trail (paved or gravel) and what part is highways (!) or other streets. If we went, it wouldn't be "touring", as in traveling from place to place by bike, but bringing our ebikes, staying in one location, and taking daytrips.

Thoughts?

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I just learned about the Olympic Discovery trail recently. Here's a link:
https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/explore/trail-segments/

One cool thing about this area is that it is in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains so gets less rain. I was wondering about this as a possible spot for a weekend away in the Fall ... hmmm ....

The "trail segments" map is illuminating because it shows what part of the trail is real trail (paved or gravel) and what part is highways (!) or other streets. If we went, it wouldn't be "touring", as in traveling from place to place by bike, but bringing our ebikes, staying in one location, and taking daytrips.

Thoughts?

The section from downtown Port Angeles to Blyn is really your best bet for the trip you are describing.

The section just east of Discovery Bay is heinous and dangerous and heartily not recommended (heavy traffic, narrow shoulders, blind corners, and steep hills). If you really need/want to get to Port Townsend follow highway 104 (very wide shoulder and good sight lines) up a long and rather dispiriting hill to Center Road, then go left and north through Chimacum and on fairly low-traffic roads (again with good sight lines) to connect to the Larry Scott Trail just outside Port Townsend.

From Blyn to Discovery Bay there is a short section on the highway, which has a good shoulder at that point but there is a lot of traffic. One alternate is to take Chicken Coop Road from Blyn (I haven't taken it but it looks like my kind of road).

There are a few short sections on the north side of Lake Crescent where you'll probably have to hike-a-bike.

Probably your best bet would be to base around Sequim.

Another fun and challenging ride in the area is to ride from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge. If you did it on a weekday in early or late season you would likely not have very much traffic. Much of the road is shoulderless, steep at times, and on summer weekends can have insane traffic. But the views are amazing and the screaming downhill is a blast.

 

[ebikemom]

Thanks so much! I'm thinking ... Autumn, non-holiday-weekend (so we can actually find a place to stay), and I think staying in Sequim sounds like a great idea!

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Ediz Hook and Dungeness Spit, while not on the ODT, are also nice rides in the area.

 

[BBassett]

I just learned about the Olympic Discovery trail recently. Here's a link:
https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/explore/trail-segments/

Thoughts?

Ride out of Port Angeles, make sure you see Hurricane Ridge and the Olympic Hot Springs. Regardless of the "rain shadow" plan on being deluged.

 

[john peck]

The section from downtown Port Angeles to Blyn is really your best bet for the trip you are describing.

The section just east of Discovery Bay is heinous and dangerous and heartily not recommended (heavy traffic, narrow shoulders, blind corners, and steep hills). If you really need/want to get to Port Townsend follow highway 104 (very wide shoulder and good sight lines) up a long and rather dispiriting hill to Center Road, then go left and north through Chimacum and on fairly low-traffic roads (again with good sight lines) to connect to the

There are a few short sections on the north side of Lake Crescent where you'll probably have to hike-a-bike.

^Yes, there are, & I wouldn't wanna try lugging an ebike through having done so with an old hard-tail Raleigh MB
I've ridden most of that from P,A, to Blyn. Coffee's right hwy 20 from Discovery Bay into P.T. There are parts on
steep windy road with zero shoulder & semis aplenty. I've seen a few daring or otherwise unsuspecting riders
on that stretch, but never the same one twice. Incidently, on the trail through Sequim opposite a pastured
area there's an off-the-grid hostel next to the south side of the trail. I'd guess it about 2 or 3 mi west of R.R bridge.
There's a sign on a fence, but easy to miss, (charging station)
.

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