A safe day to travel to

Port Angeles, Washington

Port Angeles is a harbor town nestled on the shores of the Strait of Juan De Fuca and at the foot of the forested Olympic Mountains in Washington state. The town of only about 19,000 people is located just a few miles outside of Olympic National Park and serves as an excellent home base for exploring all the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.

Support Port Angeles

Like the rest of the Pacific Northwest coast, Port Angeles is located along the coast nearest to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Coastal areas along the subduction zone are at highest the risk for damage when the Cascadia earthquake occurs. Despite this, Port Angeles only has .3 square miles of developed land within the inundation zone should Cascadia and its subsequent tsunami occur. You can visit Port Angeles fearlessly despite its location when you travel there so long as you are prepared and well educated for whatever could come your way. We’re here to help guide you through that.

Best Time to Visit Port Angeles

Most people who travel to Port Angeles make sure to visit Olympic National Park. There are a few different windows of time to visit depending upon what you’d like to do and see. If you’re interested in seeing wildlife, April and May will provide the most opportunity as animals move out of hibernation and begins to roam more freely. If the amount of precipitation is your sole concern, then you’ll want to visit during the summer months of June, July and August. If you’re looking to explore far into the backcountry, then late August and September will suit you well as snow will be melted and new snow does not typically arrive until October. Lastly, if you’re in search of solitude, winter is fabulous time to visit Port Angeles. There will be less hustle and bustle around town and you will likely get whatever pick of accomodations you like.

Travel Safely in Port Angeles

Terra Frma strongly believes that disaster prone towns and cities deserve to be visited and supported. Some of the most spectacular areas in the world happen to be disaster prone areas. If we stop visiting them, we stop seeing the world at its fullest. Just as you deserve to be resilient at home, you deserve to be resilient while traveling as well. And we can. We can safely travel to the places we love. By simply taking simple preparedness steps.

Travel safely to Port Angeles by taking these simple preparedness steps, which include packing smart and researching helpful resources ahead of time. 

Pack the following items

• Disaster Deck
• Vehicle Kit
• Printed map of Callam County
• Map of tsunami evacuation routes from Port Angeles
• Map of tsunami evacuation route on foot and by car from accommodations
• On-Foot Kit in day pack for visiting beaches

Local safety resources for Port Angeles

• Sign up for the Callam County Alert System. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
• Print and save to your phone the Port Angeles Tsunami Evacuation Map Brochure.
• Enter the address to your accommodations and use the interactive and real-time weather mapping program from Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) to stay up to date on your specific location.
• Print and read this document on the Port Angeles Tsunami Hazard Zone.

Port Angeles is at risk for

• Earthquake
• Tsunami

A Day in Port Angeles

Take a leisurely stroll through Port Angeles’s charming downtown and waterfront area. Here, you’ll find a large collection of boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, book shops and plenty more to keep you busy all afternoon. No matter what time of year you visit, bring along your Disaster Deck and even your Grab + Go Box for extra security.

Get Outside in Port Angeles

Olympic National Park. You could devote years to exploring this park and still not see it all. With just under one million acres of wilderness, Olympic National Park features versatile terrains fit for hiking, biking, beach combing, sightseeing and snow sports.

Hurricane Ridge offers a plethora of diverse hiking trails in the summer, and access for recreation in the winter as well at Hurricane Ridge. Plan your excursion by stopping at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center on your way in.

The Hoh Rainforest is located about 2 hours from Port Angeles but is well worth the excursion. The area receives a staggering 12-14 feet of precipitation each year and the result is an amazingly lush, green rainforest covered in mosses and ferns. The Hoh is the largest temperate rainforest in the U.S.

Marymere Falls is a perfect adventure for those wanting to stay closer to Port Angeles,. Take a stroll down the well-maintained dirt path to Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park. This picturesque waterfall is well-suited for all ages. On your way to or from, be sure to stop at Lake Crescent for beautiful views and wildlife sightings.

Where to Eat in Port Angeles

First Street Haven is a locals' favorite breakfast and lunch spot for fueling up before your day of adventuring. The Haven is known to be busy but is always well-worth the wait. Order one of their much-talked-about cinnamon rolls for a treat.

The Chestnut Cottage Restaurant is well known for delicious breakfasts like lemon pancakes and innovative lunch options like fresh salads and individual California pizzas. Homemade bakery items, a diverse beer and wine list and espresso ever-flowing is sure to satisfy everyone in your group. Definitely family friendly and the outdoor seating is a must in the summer garden patio.

Where to Drink in Port Angeles

Next Door Gastropub satisfies even the most picky drinkers. This elevated American bar offers a long list of craft beers, house cocktails, ciders, and wines while enjoying their cozy interior or outdoor seating.

Where to Stay in Port Angeles

Port Angeles Inn is located on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, just steps away from the center of the National Historic Downtown District. Family owned and operated, this small three-story inn has 25 rooms, many of which overlook the harbor, an elevator and great in-room amenities. It's the perfect, affordable base-camp for any Port Angeles adventure. 

The Olympic Lodge is known to be one of the most comfortable, rustic and charming hotels on the Olympic Peninsula. With a heated pool, hot tub, workout space, outdoor gardens, meeting rooms, expansive grounds and golf course, and plenty of sitting areas including large couches by a wood-burning fire place, this is a perfect home away from home. A short mile to downtown, Olympic Lodge offers convenience and privacy all in one.

The Five SeaSuns Bed & Breakfast Inn is a historic bed and breakfast whose elegance and romantic charm lingers on nicely from the 1920s, when it was originally built. Centrally located near downtown Port Angeles, Five SeaSuns B&B is just minutes from the Hurricane Ridge Entrance of Olympic National Park, and only ten blocks from the Ferry Terminal to Victoria, BC., a perfect place for respite during your Port Angeles vacation.

 

The Grab + Go Box

No matter where you live or where you travel, the Grab + Go Box is your resource for practicing vital steps to outsmart any disaster. It is the only step-by-step product that prepares you before and guides you during any natural disaster. Interactive expert resources and wellness-focused guidance help build physical and emotional resilience in you and your family.