The Olympic Discovery Trail is a designated non-motorized, multi-use trail spanning the north end of the Olympic Peninsula

Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...

 in Washington. The route spans 120 miles between Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...

 and La Push, Washington

La Push, Washington

La Push is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is home to the Quileute tribe and is located along the Quileute River. La Push is known for its whale-watching and natural beauty.- Geography :...

. , 40 miles of this trail are complete between the towns of Blyn and Port Angeles. The remainder of the route can be ridden using a combination of public roads.

History

The trail was the brainchild of three area cyclists who formed the Peninsula Trails Coalition for the purpose of developing the trail across a derelict railroad grade. The railroad was sold off fairly quickly so the coalition has been working with a number of agencies to build a cohesive trail system along a similar route.

12 miles of the trail have been adopted by Clallam County

Using public roads and off-street non-motorized trails the trail is a contiguous 120 miles in length. There is an optional adventure route that can be substituted for the west central section of the trail from Elwha River

Elwha River

The Elwha River is a -long river located on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. From its source at Elwha snowfinger in the Olympic Range of Olympic National Park it flows generally north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most of the river is contained within Olympic National Park...

 to Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent

Lake Crescent is a deep lake located entirely within Olympic National Park in Clallam County, Washington, United States, approximately west of Port Angeles, Washington on U.S. Route 101 and nearby to the small community of Piedmont...

.

Route

The trail can be ridden in either direction. A basic outline of the route from east to west includes:

• Port Townsend
  Port Townsend, Washington
  Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
  
  
• Discovery Bay
  Discovery Bay, Washington
  Discovery Bay is:* A small bay adjoining the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State; this body of water was also historically called Port Discovery...
  
  
• Miller Peninsula
• Blyn
  Blyn, Washington
  Blyn is a census-designated place in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 162 at the 2000 census. It is located near Sequim, Washington on the shores of Sequim Bay.-Geography:Blyn is located at ....
  
  
• Sequim
  Sequim, Washington
  Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The 2010 US Census counted a population of 6,606. Sequim is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains...
  
  
• Port Angeles
  Port Angeles, Washington
  Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
  
  
• Elwha River
  Elwha River
  The Elwha River is a -long river located on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. From its source at Elwha snowfinger in the Olympic Range of Olympic National Park it flows generally north to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Most of the river is contained within Olympic National Park...
  
  
• Joyce
• Lake Crescent
• Timberland
• Forks
  Forks, Washington
  -Government:The City is organized under Washington State law as a Non-charter Code City. Its structure is that of an elected Mayor and a five member elected City Council...
  
  
• La Push
  La Push, Washington
  La Push is a small unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is home to the Quileute tribe and is located along the Quileute River. La Push is known for its whale-watching and natural beauty.- Geography :...
  
  

Trail status

Section	Off-Street Trail	On-Road Temporary	Total
East	7.8 mi	19 mi	26.8 mi
East Central	24.4 mi	2 mi	26.4 mi
West Central	15.7 mi	16 mi	31.7 mi
West	1.5 mi	40.1 mi	41.6 mi

Adventure route

The adventure route is an optional adjunct to the west central section of the main route. It routes riders from Elwha River to Lake Crescent using single and double-track unpaved trail. One third of this section is forest roads.

External links

• Peninsula Trails Coalition
• Olympic Discovery Trail Maps