| Brinnon, WA |
| The town of near-by Brinnon, boasts a small general store and gas station (propane is available), video/gift shop, a down-home-cooking cafe, post office and a flea market/Bingo hall (both activities are held each weekend). There are a few other miscellaneous businesses and newer ones in the construction stage. |
| external link info: |
| Brinnoninfo.com |
| North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce. |
| Boating / Kayaking |
| The canal being saltwater, is very accessible by power or sail boat. In just a few hours from Seattle, you can be moored with refreshments in hand, or sailing some of the most picturesque waters Washington has to offer! Public boat launches are available for those who prefer to trailer, and Pleasant Harbor Marina offers convenient moorage. Kayaking is very popular on the canal! You can launch from our beach for some great day trips or just for a couple of hours. The cabin is High-Bank waterfront property so single kayaks are a breeze to carry down the walk-way, double kayaks can be launched via this way too although launching your double would be easier at Pleasant Harbor which is 5 minutes away. |
| additional info: Moorage | Tide Tables |
| external link info: |
| NW Marinas |
| Hood Canal Adventures – Local kayak rentals (they will deliver) |
| Clamming |
| Clamming, crabbing, shrimping and scallops (all taken in season) are plentiful. The Dosewallips State Park has clamming and oyster beaches. Crab and shrimp pots can be dropped by boat anywhere around the front of our cabin (60′ to 150′ deep) but, don’t forget to check State Regulations. Licenses can be purchased at the Brinnon general store, caution: fisheries officers are always on the lookout for violators! |
| additional info: Tide Tables |
| external link info: |
| Washington Dept. of Fisheries |
| Dining |
| The Geoduck Cafe and Tavern, is located south of the State Park. Here good food or drink may be enjoyed by the entire family. Color TV broadcasting of sporting events and pool tables can be enjoyed. A wonderful outside dining deck, overlooking the Canal, is available. The Half-Way House in Brinnon offers great breakfast, lunch and dinner combinations at reasonable prices. Pizza as well as other food fare can be found at the Pleasant Harbor Marina, open daily. |
| Diving (Scuba) |
| Some of the best diving in the world can be done right here in Hood Canal. View the World’s largest Octopus, Wolf Eels, Ling Cod, Nudibranch, and Lobster. Dive Wall formations teaming with aquatic life. Come on in, the waters’ fine! |
| external link info: |
| Hood Canal Dive Reviews |
| Fishing |
| Trout fishing in close by rivers or lakes and fishing by boat in the Canal for salmon, where else in the world do you have these choices so close by? The Dosewallips river features Steelhead and Humpy Salmon, Mountain lakes stock Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout. Check the Washington Dept. of Fisheries link below for rules and regulations! |
| external link info: |
| Washington Dept. of Fisheries |
| Golfing |
| Pleasant Harbor Golf Course – Five minutes from the cabin, this 18-hole golf course, soon under construction near Pleasant Harbor will have stunning views of the canal and surrounding mountains. Alderbrook Resort & Golf Course – The PGA par-72 Alderbrook Golf Course is consistently ranked in the top 25 Northwest courses for playability and spectacular scenery. Ludlow Bay Golf Course – North from the cabin, near the historic town of Port Ludlow you’ll find this gem. 27 holes of challenging golf and scenic views split into 3 – 9 hole settings: “Tide Nine”, “Timber Nine” and “Trail Nine”. Course design by Robert Muir Graves. Sequim, WA – Two beautiful golf courses located in the town of Sequim, offer sometimes dryer conditions on immaculate fairways and greens: Sunland Golf & Country Club (18 hole par-72) and Dungeness Golf & Country Club (Championship 18 hole course). |
| additional info: Weather |
| external link info: |
| Alderbrook Golf Course |
| Ludlow Bay Golf Course |
| Sunland Golf & Country Club |
| Dungeness Golf & Country Club |
| Hiking |
| Day or multi-day hiking trips abound in the Olympic Mountainslocated immediately behind the cabin. Easier trails include: Dosewallips trail nature loop, Lena Lake trail, Duckabush river trail and the Tubal Cain Mine trail. Viewing the canal can be done from the Mt Walker view point, a short drive north from the cabin, the view point can either be hiked or driven to. For more challenging trips try these: Marmot Pass on the Big Quilcene trail, Mt Jupiter via the Mt Jupiter trail, Mildred Lakes in the Mt Skokomish Wilderness, Lake Constance on the Lake Constance trail, Lake of the Angels via the Putvin trail, or view more trips to be made from the top of Mt Townsend on the Townsend Creek trail. Be sure to have a Trail Park Pass displayed on your vehicle when you park at any trail head, a Pass can be purchased at the Brinnon General Store or the Ranger Station in Quilcene or Hoodsport. |
| additional info: Trail Heads | Weather |
| external link info: |
| Washington Trails Association |
| Olympic National Park |
| Hoodsport, WA |
| Located 30 minutes south of the cabin on Hwy 101, Hoodsport is a major gateway to outdoor fun! Scuba Diving, hiking, fishing, and boating are some of the activities this area has to offer. The town has great restaurants, a scuba gear store, antiques store and gift shops. The Hoodsport Ranger Station is also located in town. Lake Cushman is accessed through town and offers plenty of water type sports. The beginning of the Olympic Mountain range starts here, also known as the lower staircase area, and has a multitude of hiking trails that can take you into the wilds of the Olympics! |
| external link info: |
| Hoodsportwa.com |
| Olympic National Park |
| Makah Indian Reservation |
| Visit the Makah Indian reservation on the tip of the Olympic peninsula and rugged coast beaches of Washington. The Makah’s have a rich history and culture dating back several centuries. Explore their villages, learn about their tradition whale hunts and visit the Makah Museum. Annual event: Makah Days takes place in August, a grand parade, street fair, canoe races, traditional “slahal” games, dancing, singing, feasting and a spectacular fireworks show are part of the festivities. The Cape Flattery trail and Shi Shi trail see thousands of visitors each year and are rich in historical artifacts from the indigenous people of the area. |
| additional info: Trails |
| external link info: Makah Indian NationMarinas Conveniently located in many towns on the Hood Canal, these marinas offer full amenities for the seafarer during their voyage…including; Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock, Port Ludlow, Quilcene, Brinnon, Hoodsport and Seabeck. Check out our Moorage section for moore information! additional info: Moorage Museums Spend a day exploring the rich history of the area! There are many museums located just a short drive away… Quilcene Museum – located in Quilcene, WA has a history of the community, logging, mining and military artifacts. Port Gamble Historical Museum – Tracing the history of the lumber industry in Port Gamble, WA. The Sea & Shore Museum is also located in the main museum. Jefferson County Historical Society -located in Port Townsend, WA. Dedicated in 1892 offering 4 floors of exhibits covering local maritime, explorers and early settlers. There is also an excellent research library located in the museum. Makah Museum – Experience the life of the Makah Indians. The permanent exhibit includes the “Ozette” collection and Makah artifacts recovered from their ancient village. Discover the history of whale hunting, basketry and their Native American culture. Suquamish Museum – visit Suquamish, WA home of the Suquamish Tribe. The indian exhibit features a history of the original inhabitants as seen through the eyes of Chief Seattle (Sealth). Chief Seattle’s gravesite is also located in Suquamish. external link info: Port Gamble Museum Jefferson County Historical Society Makah Museum Suquamish Museum Music The hills are alive! Live music as well as theater and dance can be found in nearby towns… Olympic Music Festival – Located 25 minutes north of the cabin on Hwy 104, the festival features classical music usually assembled in quartets. The season runs June through September. Centrum Festivals – Centrum sponsors many music events at Ft Worden in Pt Townsend. These events happen throughout the year and include: Blues, Jazz and Blue Grass. Check the link below for more information. external link info: Olympic Music Festival Centrum Arts Olympic Mountains Discover the beauty of the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic National Park. Over 3 million visitors come to the Olympics each year offering something unique for everyone! The National Park covers 922,651 acres, with a variety of plants and five kinds of animals that flourish and live nowhere else in the world! The Olympics have 3 unique ecosystems: Old-growth and Temperate rain forest, 60 miles of wild Pacific coast line and Glaciated airy mountain peaks. You could easily spend a life time exploring this unique treasure! additional info: Trail Heads external link info: Olympic National Park Pleasant Harbor Approximately 2 miles south of Brinnon (1 mile south of the cabin) is Pleasant Harbor. The marina in Pleasant harbor has a small grocery store, gift shop, pizza parlor, swimming pool and a jacuzzi. A large, 1st-class restaurant is under construction as well. A public boat launch is also located in the harbor. Moorage is available in the marina as well as boat and canoe rentals. additional info: Moorage external link info: Pleasant Harbor Marina Port Angeles, WA Visit Port Angeles for a day! Dining, shopping, and antiques are all plentiful, 2 days might be needed to take it all in! Ferries leave daily for Victoria, BC, check the link below for more information. Another entrance to the Olympic National Park can be found near-by, Hurricane Ridge in the park has skiing during the winter, and access to many trails during the summer. The Sol Duc Hot Springs is a great place to take a soak or even enjoy a massage after a day hiking or even shopping! The Hoh Rain Forest is also located just a short drive from town, be sure to bring a jacket! additional info: Moorage external link info: Port Angeles Sol Duc Hot Springs Victoria Ferry Hurricane Ridge – Olympic National Park Port Townsend, WA A short drive north from the cabin is the historic victorian town of Port Townsend. Tour the town, eat, drink, shop, everything is here! Victorian buildings abound, music (live), and unique gift shops line the streets. A Ferry leaves for Whidbey Island daily and moorage is available in the marina. Near-by Fort Worden is a must see, as are the numerous music events held there annually. Be sure to visit the museum in town. Housed in the historic town hall building, the Jefferson County Historical Society has captured and recorded the local and maritime histories extremely well. additional info: Moorage | Tides external link info: Port Townsend Jefferson County Historical Society State Parks Dosewallips State Park – featuring modern campsites and on-the-river day-picnicking, is located on both sides of highway 101, immediately south of town. Nearby is a trail leading to the State Park beach-access where clamming and oyster gathering may be enjoyed by the general public. Fort Worden – Pt. Townsend, WA featuring campsites, hiking, biking, boating, historical military buildings and bunkers. Music festivals take place through out the year and are stage at their McCurdy Pavilion located in the park. external link info: Dosewallips State Park Fort Worden State Park Whitney Gardens Whitney Gardens is located just off highway 101 on the north side of town. The “World Class” Rhododendrons and Azaleas are definitely worth the time to visit. The grounds cover 7 acres and feature a full array of rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias, perenials, trees, and shrubs, you can even take one home! external link info: Whitney Gardens |
