Olympic National Park & Olympic Peninsula Multisport - Lodge Based

Meet your guides and fellow travelers this morning at our host hotel near Seattle-Tacoma Airport. After brief introductions we'll hop into our shuttle van and begin our journey to the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. Along the way our guides will fill us in on what to expect in the coming days. We'll also stop at the Olympic National Park Visitor's Center, which is a perfect destination to learn more about the area and enjoy a picnic lunch. We're then off on our first adventure along the rocky shores of the Salish Sea as it travels through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Named in honor of the region's original stewards, the Coast Salish tribe, the Salish Sea is an inland sea famous for its rich diversity of marine life. As we make our way along its gorgeous waterways we'll keep an eye out in the hopes of spotting sea stars, anemones, otter, and seal. Later we'll check into our cozy accommodations before enjoying our first dinner together in Port Angeles. Lunch and dinner included.

IMPORTANT NOTE: On rare occasions winds may prohibit us from following our planned sea kayaking route. Should that be the case for your itinerary, we will instead kayak on Lake Crescent, located in Olympic National Park.

Kayaking: 3-3.5 hours. Transfer: 3 hours.

Today's adventure takes us along a picturesque section of the Olympic Discovery Trail, a 138+ mile foot and bike trail stretching from the Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. A perfect path to explore on bike, we'll cover a generous swath of unique terrain that highlights the diversity of the Olympic Peninsula's ecosystems. Starting in the seaside town of Port Angeles, we'll travel along picturesque shoreline with fabulous views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and beyond. This section of the ODT also has plenty of local history, with a large segment of the trail made up of restored railroad trestles and abandoned Chicago, Milwaukee, St Paul, and Pacific railroad grade. As we cycle farther east, towards our final destination at the Dungeness River Nature Center, we'll pass through the quintessential rolling hills, prairies, and fragrant lavender fields the Olympic Peninsula is famous for. All meals included.

Cycling: 32.1 miles, elevation gain/loss: +931'/-954'

Our hike today is along the gorgeous and diverse Capa Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle). Our guides will provide directions on the flow of the day and orient us to the impact tides will have on the timing of our hike. Starting in a thick stand of Western redcedar, we'll wind our way along a maintained boardwalk which provides a bird's eye view of the dense forest floor. As we travel in and out of the forest the scenery shifts from meadowlands to bogs and, an area called Ahlstrom's Prairie, where two Swedish immigrants settled and cleared the land to farm livestock and produce. After just over 3 miles we arrive on the shores of the beautiful yet rugged Washington coast. This area is also home to one of the richest archeological sites in North America. Close to the migratory routes of whales, fur seals, and other marine mammals, for centuries the ancestors of today's Makah tribe lived in harmony with these sacred grounds and the bounty of the natural world around them. As we explore along the beach, our guides will set an adequate hiking pace for avoiding incoming tides. All meals included.

Hiking: 9.4 miles, elevation gain: 200'

We rise this morning in anticipation of a fabulous day of hiking and cycling. Our first destination is the Elwha River, where the largest dam removal in history has been a shining beacon for the successful reestablishment of native salmon and trout. As we hike through lush old growth forest our guides will fill us in on the rich native and human history of the area.

Later this afternoon we'll exchange our boots for bikes as we explore an additional section of the ODT and Spruce Railroad trail. Starkly different from our previous ride along the Olympic Discovery Trail, we'll cycle through dense forests of Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, and Western Redcedar while skirting the vibrant blue-green waters of Lake Crescent. All meals included.

Hiking: 5-6 miles, elevation gain/loss: 1,246'; Cycling: 16 miles, elevation gain: 686'

Our last adventure on the Olympic Peninsula culminates with an outstanding hike along Sunrise Ridge. On a clear day it feels like you can see forever. Even with an eerie layer of fog and clouds lingering about, the alpine wilderness surrounding Sunrise Ridge is spectacular. As we wind down our final adventure on the Olympic Peninsula, we'll compare notes and share stories of the wonderful 5 days we've spent in the magical Northwest paradise. Back at the trailhead we'll begin our return journey to the Seattle area, where we anticipate arriving sometime in the early evening. Breakfast and lunch included.

Hiking: 5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: Up to 1,100'; Van transfer: 4 hours