For our second “local” road trip of the summer, we did a loop around the Olympic Peninsula. It had been 18 years since we last completed the full loop. In some ways, we were revisiting highlights from many past trips to the peninsula, but we still found some new places to explore.

We started our trip with a stay at Fairholme Campground on Lake Crescent. Getting there wasn’t easy, as a tanker truck had overturned on Highway 101, which led us to take the much longer State Route 112 around the lake. This also ended my plans of riding up Hurricane Ridge the next morning, as there would be no direct route back to Port Angeles.

The next morning, we did a short hike to Sol Duc Falls. It was the kids’ first visit, but Jamie and I had hiked past it in 1999 on a backpacking trip to Seven Lakes Basin. In the afternoon, Vivian and I rode a section of the Olympic Discovery Trail across the north end of Lake Crescent. It was a very scenic paved trail, with a fun tunnel at the turnaround point. While we were riding, Rachel attempted some paddleboarding on the lake, but heavy winds made for a less-than-ideal experience.

Kingston Ferry

Fairholme Camp

Sol Duc Falls

Sol Duc Falls Bridge

Sol Duc Falls Trail

Olympic Discovery Trail

Olympic Discovery Trail

Lake Crescent Paddle Boarding

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Olympic Peninsula Trip Rialto Beach

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July 18-19, 2025