Hiking:

Enthusiasts the world over visit Olympic National Park & Olympic National Forest. Hundred miles of well defined mountain trails and the rugged Olympic Peninsula coast line attract hikers of all ages. Technical mountain climbs to to Mount Angeles, Steeple Rock, Mount Lawson and Mount Noyes, peaks may be arranged with local outfitters.

Fishing:

World class fishing abounds on the Olympic Peninsula. The west side of the peninsula boasts world class rivers, including the Hoh, Calawah, Sol Duc, Bogachiel and Quillayute. Nearly year around runs of salmon and steelhead ply these rivers along with several species of trout. Local fishing guides offer drift boat trips and bank fishing excursions. Deep Sea fishing at it's best can be found at Westport, on the south tip of Grays Harbor. Fishing boats clutter it's scenic harbor. Local charter offices offer excellent, salmon, tuna and bottom fishing trips. Neah Bay, Sekiu, Clallam Bay and Port Angeles, on the peninsulas north end, offer many resorts and charter outfits fishing trips into the abundant waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Whale Watching:

Along Washington's coast, 29 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises roam with absolute freedom. Charters from Ocean Shores, Hoquiam and Westport will take you out to see them. Orca (Killer Whales) travel year-round along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Charter boats from Port Townsend and Port Angeles are available to shuttle you into the midst of the pods.

Golf:

One of the Peninsula's best-kept secrets is the relative dryness of the region east of Port Angeles. The "banana belt" has lured thousands to Sequim for tourism and retirement, where the protected land beneath the mountains receives half of the rain that falls over Seattle. The mild weather has sprouted popular year-round, public golf courses in Sequim and Port Townsend.

Camping:

Whether it's beside a river, beach, in your camper, or tenting in the high alpine country, you can find many beautiful and safe places to camp. The Olympic & Kitsap Peninsulas have more than 2 million acres of Federal lands, and the National Park Service operates 16 campgrounds with a total of 910 sites within the Park. All are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it's good to plan ahead. The Olympic Peninsula offers many popular Washington State Parks as well. Advance camping reservations may be made at these parks. In addition, the Olympic National Forest hosts more than 20 individual campgrounds with hundreds of sites circling the National Park.

White Water Rafting:

For spectacular scenery and moderate challenges, the Peninsula has its share of white water. There are Class 1 and Class 2-and-over rapids on the Elwah River with glacial views, regularly April-August and variably September-March. Outfitters also serve the Hoh River, a scenic 1-2 class float, July-August.

Bird Watching:

Birders will find great interest in the Grays Harbor Refuge, which draws to its inter-tidal estuary an abundance of peregrine falcons, red-tail hawks, sandpipers, plovers and dowitchers. Lake Ozette fosters birds migrating along the Pacific flyway. On the north side of the Peninsula, the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and Dungeness Spit near Sequim are a mecca for eagles, quail and more than 200 species of waterfowl.

Scuba Diving:

Scuba diving the protected waters of Hood Canal is easily accessible along Hwy. 101. The world's largest octopus reside here amongst beautiful reef gardens of white and orange sea anemones, colorful starfish, nupibranch, scallops and cod-fish.

Skiing:The great outdoors is yours for the taking through the coldest months. Most activities lie in the heart of the Olympic National Park at Hurricane Ridge. From the ridge Visitor Center there are free snowshoe hikes, 2pm, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, December through March. Downhill ski tows (two rope tows and one Poma lift) are operated at the same location, weekends Dec. 18 through March 26. A private firm also offers lessons at the downhill site. Many use the park trails and closed roads for cross-country skiing. There are also trails open for hiking, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing through the winter season. Early spring hiking in wintery conditions is also permitted along portions of Seven Lakes Basin Loop and Happy Lake Ridge.