I've have a lot of people ask me about my consecutive bus, bike, and hike adventures in the Olympic National Park and National Forest. Most trips only costing $3.00 round trip travel expense. That's not bad option when compared to driving a gas guzzler automobile.
Particularly I use the Olympic Connection service that connects Port Angeles to Olympia, Wa (weekends limited currently). This is a multi-bus route that is serves this rural area using Highway 101. To help answer questions about this service, I've decided to write up a some basic ideas for hiking by bus on the Olympic Peninsula. I will only cover the options from west of Port Angeles to the south ending in Quinault.
Taking a bus out of Olympia,Seattle or Seatac? Be sure to read my related article on public transportation to the Olympic National Park.
I suggest leaving Port Angeles via Gateway Center on the earliest bus, but not to early that the tourist won't be around to pick you up when hitch hiking up the various park roads; since there is no free shuttle service to trailheads and most are 15 miles or so off of Highway 101. I personally utilize the 0930 Forks Bus (Route 14), because it still gives me the ability to make some miles on the trail, after the bus drops you off (on Highway 101).
Elwha Valley Trails: 20 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike or hitchhike around 5 miles to Elwha Ranger station. Various trail systems can be accessed from this point. Elwha Trail starts another 5 miles up the Whiskey Bend Rd. (check if the access road is open) *travel cost $1.50 each way
Lake Crescent Trails: 30 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike really not necessary, since the unofficial trailhead is right under Highway 101; at the designated bus stop for Barnes Creek. Most popular of these trails are Storm King, Marymere Falls and Barnes Creek Trail which leads to the Aurora Divide Trails and gives an expert backpacker access to the whole Park. *travel cost $1.50 each way
Sol Duc Trails: 52 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike or hitch hike around 14 miles to the Sol Duc Trailhead. Most popular of these trails are Sol Duc Falls and the High Divide Trail Loop (Seven Lakes Basin). An expert backpacker can access the whole area. A weary hiker can relax at the Park owned Sol Duc Hot Springs; for a non-modest fee. *travel cost $1.50 each way
Hoh Rain Forest Trails: 1 hour 40 minute bus ride from Port Angeles (includes the Jefferson County Shuttle Transfer layover). Bike or hitchhike around 15 miles to the Hoh Visitors Center. Most popular of these trails is the Hoh Valley Trail which accesses the Rain Forest and Mt. Olympus (High Divide can also be accessed from the Hoh) *travel cost $1.50 + .50 for Jefferson County Shuttle each way
Lake Quinault Trails: Roughly 4 hour bus ride from Port Angeles (includes the Jefferson County Shuttle and Grays Harbor Transit Transfer layover and travel times). Bike or hitchhike a various distance of 13 to 20+ miles of paved to unpaved roads. Most popular of these trails are Enchanted Valley, Skyline Primitive Trail and North Fork Quinault which is also known as the Press Expedition Trial. I suggest getting off the bus at the Lake Quinault Lodge via the Grays Harbor Transit at the Quinault Merc. *travel cost $1.50 + .50 for Jefferson County Shuttle + $1.00 for Grays Harbor Transit each way
Olympic Coast: La Push and Rialto Beach can also be accessed by taking the La Push Bus (5 mile hitchhike or bike ride is required from Mora Road). Then you can continue backpacking from Rialto to Shi Shi Beach. If you continue to bus south from Forks, Kalaloch Beaches can also be accessed via Jefferson County Shuttle. (no overnight camping on Beach is allowed by the Park, but you can stay in the Kalaloch Campground which is right off Highway 101 *check for reservations)
Last updated in February 2017 by Barefoot Jake
Particularly I use the Olympic Connection service that connects Port Angeles to Olympia, Wa (weekends limited currently). This is a multi-bus route that is serves this rural area using Highway 101. To help answer questions about this service, I've decided to write up a some basic ideas for hiking by bus on the Olympic Peninsula. I will only cover the options from west of Port Angeles to the south ending in Quinault.
Taking a bus out of Olympia,Seattle or Seatac? Be sure to read my related article on public transportation to the Olympic National Park.
Bus Out of Port Angeles
I suggest leaving Port Angeles via Gateway Center on the earliest bus, but not to early that the tourist won't be around to pick you up when hitch hiking up the various park roads; since there is no free shuttle service to trailheads and most are 15 miles or so off of Highway 101. I personally utilize the 0930 Forks Bus (Route 14), because it still gives me the ability to make some miles on the trail, after the bus drops you off (on Highway 101).
Elwha Valley Trails: 20 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike or hitchhike around 5 miles to Elwha Ranger station. Various trail systems can be accessed from this point. Elwha Trail starts another 5 miles up the Whiskey Bend Rd. (check if the access road is open) *travel cost $1.50 each way
Lake Crescent Trails: 30 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike really not necessary, since the unofficial trailhead is right under Highway 101; at the designated bus stop for Barnes Creek. Most popular of these trails are Storm King, Marymere Falls and Barnes Creek Trail which leads to the Aurora Divide Trails and gives an expert backpacker access to the whole Park. *travel cost $1.50 each way
Sol Duc Trails: 52 minute bus ride from Port Angeles. Bike or hitch hike around 14 miles to the Sol Duc Trailhead. Most popular of these trails are Sol Duc Falls and the High Divide Trail Loop (Seven Lakes Basin). An expert backpacker can access the whole area. A weary hiker can relax at the Park owned Sol Duc Hot Springs; for a non-modest fee. *travel cost $1.50 each way
Hoh Rain Forest Trails: 1 hour 40 minute bus ride from Port Angeles (includes the Jefferson County Shuttle Transfer layover). Bike or hitchhike around 15 miles to the Hoh Visitors Center. Most popular of these trails is the Hoh Valley Trail which accesses the Rain Forest and Mt. Olympus (High Divide can also be accessed from the Hoh) *travel cost $1.50 + .50 for Jefferson County Shuttle each way
Lake Quinault Trails: Roughly 4 hour bus ride from Port Angeles (includes the Jefferson County Shuttle and Grays Harbor Transit Transfer layover and travel times). Bike or hitchhike a various distance of 13 to 20+ miles of paved to unpaved roads. Most popular of these trails are Enchanted Valley, Skyline Primitive Trail and North Fork Quinault which is also known as the Press Expedition Trial. I suggest getting off the bus at the Lake Quinault Lodge via the Grays Harbor Transit at the Quinault Merc. *travel cost $1.50 + .50 for Jefferson County Shuttle + $1.00 for Grays Harbor Transit each way
Olympic Coast: La Push and Rialto Beach can also be accessed by taking the La Push Bus (5 mile hitchhike or bike ride is required from Mora Road). Then you can continue backpacking from Rialto to Shi Shi Beach. If you continue to bus south from Forks, Kalaloch Beaches can also be accessed via Jefferson County Shuttle. (no overnight camping on Beach is allowed by the Park, but you can stay in the Kalaloch Campground which is right off Highway 101 *check for reservations)
Olympic Connection Transit Line
*Be sure to cross-check for route updates and changesLast updated in February 2017 by Barefoot Jake