Olympic Rainforest Discovery Adventure

Traverse over 150 miles of one of the largest intact temperate rainforests in North America and discover why the Olympic National Park is the best-kept secret in the Pacific Northwest. Dive into the marine and forest ecosystems with local biologists and cultural ambassadors alike. Discover firsthand the history and the people that make this region so special. From visiting local farms and breaking bread with native American tribal members to searching for orcas on a private whale-watching cruise and soaking up the old-growth forests while bathing in natural geothermal heated pools, this is a bicycle adventure like no other.

• Traverse the Olympic Discovery Trail and follow the Sol Duc River from the foothills of the Olympics all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
• Visit the Pacific Ocean at Rialto Beach and pass through Hole in the Wall.
• Discover the art of making farmstead craft cider, tour the orchards and taste exceptional ciders right where they are brewed.
• Explore the Salish Sea Ecosystem with Marine Biologists.
• Hop on a one-way Private Whale Watching Cruise from Port Townsend to Port Angeles.
• Experience local sustainable agriculture and meet the farmers who grow your food.
• Enjoy wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting, gourmet food, and classic Pacific Northwest cuisine.
• Visit the largest dam removal in U.S. history and learn how it spawned a Salmon revival.
• Unwind in natural geothermal heated pools surrounded by old-growth forests within the Olympic National Park.
• Dive into the crystal blue waters of lake crescent and ride the Spruce Railroad trail around the lake’s protected north shore.
• Immerse yourself in the sounds of the rainforest and meet the Park Rangers working to preserve the silence.
• Stay in historic hotels, log cabins managed by the Olympic National Park, and deluxe private campgrounds with all the amenities.
• Exchange ideas and share culture over fire-roasted Salmon with indigenous tribal members.

Prefer to set up this trip as a private group tour on the dates of your choice? Call us at 360-966-4059 or visit our custom trip page HERE.

• All Accommodations
• Breakfast, Picnic lunches, Light Snacks, and Dinners
• All organized activities (farm visits, cider and wine tasting, whale watching, geothermal hot springs, cultural exchange)
• Two experienced guides throughout the trip
• Chaser vehicle and nightly bike tuneups
• Downloadable Photo Album of Trip to Cherish Priceless Memories
• Experience International Reusable Water Bottle

You will need a bicycle and helmet, water bottle, mask, an openness to learning, and a sense of adventure!

Need a bike? Bicycle rentals can be arranged through a local provider for an additional fee. Email BikeNW@expint.org or call 360-966-4059 for details.

• Trip Length: Eight Day/Night Adventure |
• Price: Inquire for Pricing
• Trip Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced
• Mileage: 30-40 Miles per day with one rest day
• Total Ride Time: 3-4 hours per day
• Age Range: Teens-Adults (minors must be accompanied by a supervising adult)
• Terrain: Street with safety vehicle, compacted gravel, and maintained trails
• Total Elevation Gain: 1,000 – 2,000 ft + per day
• Group Size: 10-12 people max

Example Itinerary

Evening Arrival Friday: Port Townsend

Lodging: Included at Manresa Castle Hotel, Port Townsend
Meals: On Own

Day One | Saturday: Port Townsend

Miles Ridden: 21 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: 1,200 ft.
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Lodging: Included at Manresa Castle Hotel, Port Townsend
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Cider Tasting, and Dinner included

Day one begins at 8:00 am outside the Manresa Castle Hotel on the historic seashores of Port Townsend. The group will meet in the hotel lobby and get to know each other over an outdoor breakfast provided by Blue Moose Cafe, a family-owned local favorite.

After a satisfying breakfast, we will do a brief orientation and then ease into the trip with a relaxed ride along the waterfront and through Fort Worden Historical State Park to an organic diversified family-run farm just outside of town.

After exploring and tasting our way around the farm we will enjoy a delicious locally sourced picnic lunch on the farm. After a break to digest, we will ride 14 miles south along Discovery Bay to visit Finnriver Farm and Cidery. After touring the organic farm we will discover the art of fermenting craft ciders and engage our senses with a tasting of their seasonal selections.

We will then enjoy an outdoor seasonal dinner served by Finnriver Kitchen (alcoholic beverages with dinner may be purchased separately). After dinner, relax and enjoy a socially distanced shuttle ride back to the Manresa Castle Hotel in Port Townsend. The rest of the evening is free to explore the historical downtown and waterfront.

Day Two | Sunday: Port Townsend to Port Angeles

Miles Ridden: 5 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: 200 ft.
Start and End Times: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Included at the Red Lion Hotel on Port Angeles Harbor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

On Sunday breakfast is included at the Manresa Castle Hotel. Afterward, we will take a short ride to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, where we will have the chance to explore the Salish Sea ecosystem with the guidance of local marine biologists.

After enriching our understanding of the diverse creatures that call this area home, we will spend the afternoon on a one-way private whale-watching cruise that will cross into the strait of Juan de Fuca and includes transportation to Port Angeles, where we will pick up our bicycles 30 miles west of where we left them (a locally-sourced picnic lunch is included on the cruise).

Upon arriving in Port Angeles we will check into our waterfront rooms for a two-night stay at the Red Lion Hotel on Port Angeles Harbor. Unwind overlooking the water while enjoying an included dinner at the onsite restaurant at the time of your choice.

Day Three | Monday: Port Angeles

Miles Ridden: 31 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: 2,000 ft.
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Included at the Red Lion Hotel on Port Angeles Harbor
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Wine/Cheese Tasting included (Dinner on Own)

After breakfast, we will ride into the Olympic National Park and follow the Elwha River upstream to the site of the largest dam removal in US history. After looking over the edge of the old spillway and gazing upon the former reservoir it once held, enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking Clines Canyon below.

After lunch, we will cruise back downhill and break to enjoy a wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting provided by Harbinger Winery before heading back to our hotel on Port Angeles Harbor.

After a chance to freshen up, enjoy a free evening on your own to explore the city or dine in at the onsite restaurant.

Day Four | Tuesday: Port Angeles to Crescent Lake

Miles Ridden: 25 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: 1,700 ft.
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Included at the Log Cabin Resort on Lake Crescent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

After breakfast we will ride west along the waterfront and make our way to the mouth of the Elwha river. There we will meet with local experts and experience why this is one of the few areas in the world where Salmon runs are increasing annually.

After a picnic lunch on the beach, we will ride back roads to lake Crescent, the deepest lake in the Olympic National Park. There we will stay at the famous Log Cabin Resort, operated by the National Park Service. There we will have the chance to spend the afternoon swimming in pristine waters and/or strolling under the shade of an old growth temperate rainforest.

Day Five | Wednesday: Crescent Lake to Sol Duc Hot Springs

Miles Ridden: 24 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: 1,800 ft.
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Included at the Sol Duc Hot Spring Resort inside the Olympic National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

After breakfast, enjoy a unique ride through old growth forests along the recently opened Spruce Railroad Trail through the national park and around the entire north side of Lake Crescent.

We will break along the lake shore for a picnic lunch and meet with local experts to learn about the many partnerships that were needed to make this spectacular area accessible for recreation and learning.

After lunch, we will ride south along the Sol Duc River and gently climb 15 miles into the foothills of the Olympic National Park, where we will be rewarded with a two-night stay at the Sol Duc Hotsprings Resort. Dinner is included at the Springs Restaurant.

Day Six | Thursday: Sol Duc Hot Springs

Miles Ridden: 0 Miles – Rest Day
Start and End Times: Free All Day
Lodging: Included at the Sol Duc Hot Spring Resort inside the Olympic National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

On Thursday, soak up a well-earned rest day at Sol Duc Hotsprings. Relax in the geothermally heated pools and/or enjoy an optional day hike through the primary temperate rainforest up to Sol Doc Falls.

For meals, you will prepare breakfast in your room with ingredients carefully selected to your preferences, enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the forest or at the hot springs, and finish the day with a gourmet dinner at the Springs Restaurant.

Day Seven | Friday: Sol Duc to Forks

Miles Ridden: 45 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: +1,100 ft | -2,700 ft.
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Included at Private Glamping Campground along Quillayute River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included

Refreshed and recharged, after a filling camp style breakfast, we will pack up and head out for the longest day of the journey. Following back roads and traversing part of the Olympic Discovery Trail, we will wind our way downstream following the Sol Duc River all the way to where it converges with the Bogachiel River to form the Quillayute, west of Forks near the Pacific Ocean.

There we have reserved a private campground complete with glamping tents for each family right along the riverfront. After settling into camp, we will celebrate our journey with a traditional Salmon bake and bbq at the convergence of these waters while learning about both the history and future of the Quileute people.

Day Eight | Saturday: Rialto Beach then Shuttle Bus to Port Townsend

Miles Ridden: 5 Miles
Total Elevation Gain and Loss: Mostly Flat
Start and End Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Lodging: Not Included (Optional night stay at Manresa Castle Hotel in Port Townsend can be added for an additional fee)
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch included (Dinner on Own)

After breakfast, we will take a short ride to the Pacific Ocean and visit the Mouth of the Quillayute River at Rialto Beach.

From there we will leave our bikes and walk two miles along the beach to the world-famous Hole in the Wall. Here we will take our final group photo, savor our accomplishments, and look back with fresh perspectives.

After a delicious picnic lunch on the beach, you can relax and/or take a nap during a shuttle ride back to your vehicle in Port Townsend where we will arrive by 5:00 pm.

Once in Port Townsend, you will have several options to choose from:
-Say farewells and head home
-Grab a final dinner with your guide and new friends (check is on own)
-Stay an extra night at the Manresa Castle Hotel

After your reservation is confirmed one of our experienced staff will be in touch to help you determine which option is right for you.

To begin reserving your private Bike Northwest tour, please take a moment to fill out the custom trip information form by clicking the button below.

We will confirm all reservations via e-mail or phone within 24 to 48 hours. No reservation is valid without our confirmation.

• $350 (per person) trip deposit: due upon booking your reservation.
• Full payment: due 60 days before trip departure. (A reminder email will be sent to you 90 days before the trip date.)
• Cancellations made more than 60 days before your trip date are refunded in full, minus $100, or you can request a credit voucher toward a future EI trip.
• Cancellations made fewer than 60 days before the trip date will receive a credit voucher for the full value of the trip, minus the deposit, toward a future EI trip.
• If Experience International is forced to cancel the event for any reason (such as unsafe weather conditions) all participants will receive full credit toward a future trip (or refund if you are unable to use the credit).