Depart Sequim

Start the day by 8 AM. Departing Sequim, head west, back towards Port Angeles. Grab a bite to eat in Sequim or Port Angeles then pass around the south shore of Lake Crescent and around to the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. As you head west you will be exiting the rain shadow of the Olympics and passing into the windward side of the mountains. Notice the change in the forest as you travel from Sequim, which averages less than 16" of rain per year, to Forks, which averages 110".

Travel to Sol Duc Falls

Distance - 55.9 mi

Travel Time - 1 hr 30 min + stops (30 min)

Arrive at Sol Duc Falls

Take a stroll along the short path to Sol Duc Falls. Also check out the Ancient Grove on the way up the Sol Duc Valley.

Depart the Sol Duc Valley

Head back down the Sol Duc Valley and continue to drive to the western end of the Olympic Peninsula.

Travel to Mora/La Push

Distance - 51.5 mi

Travel Time - 1 hr 5 min

Arrive at Rialto Beach in Mora

Take a stroll up Rialto Beach to the Hole-in-the-Wall. Around on the south banks of the Quillayute River, take a short hike to Second or Third Beach. If you're lucky, you may even see some whales off the coast; just be mindful of the tides.

Depart La Push

Head back inland into the Pacific Temperate Rainforest. After passing though Forks, one of the few small towns on the western peninsula, head for the Hoh Rainforest.

Travel to the Hoh Rainforest

Distance - 46.5 mi

Travel Time - 1 hr 10 min

Depart the Hoh Rainforest

After exploring the rainforest, continue south along the coast, stopping at Ruby Beach and the Kalaloch Creek.

Travel to Ruby Beach

Distance - 30.0 mi (61.2 km)

Travel Time - 50 min

Arrive at Ruby Beach

Stop at Ruby Beach and make the descent down to the coast. From here continue south and stop at the numerous overlooks along the Southern Beaches of Olympic National Park. The drive to Kalaloch Creek is about 10 minutes. There, you can check out the Tree of Life, a large Sitka Spruce that seemingly floats over a cliff along the coast.

Depart Olympic National Park

After a long day exploring the Olympic Peninsula, head towards Puget Sound. If feeling adventurous, make a pit stop at Lake Quinault and check out the world's largest Stika Spruce and the Quinault Rainforest.

Travel to Lake Quinault

Distance - 34.1 mi

Travel Time - 40 min

Arrive at Lake Quinault

Make a brief stop to view the world's largest Sitka Spruce Tree. With a circumference of 58' 11", a diameter of 18' 9", and a height of 19', it is a behemoth of a tree (just a bit larger than the spruce trees in your yard).

Finish the drive to Gig Harbor

Drive to the base of the Olympic Peninsula and up the Chehalis River Valley on the way to Gig Harbor on the Central Basin of the Puget Sound.

Travel to Gig Harbor

Distance - 147 mi

Travel Time - 2 hr 55 min

Arrive in Gig Harbor

Reach the day's final destination at the southern end of the Puget Sound. Spend the night outside of Gig Harbor.