Washington & British Columbia: San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking

Day 1

Meet your Backroads leaders (the folks wearing Backroads T-shirts) at 9:15 a.m. in the vehicle line at the Anacortes ferry terminal in Anacortes, Washington. Alternatively, you can meet a leader at the Majestic Inn & Spa in downtown Anacortes at 9 a.m. and take the Backroads shuttle to the ferry terminal. You must let your Trip Consultant know ahead of time if you’ll be meeting the group at the Anacortes ferry terminal or at the Majestic Inn & Spa.
Please arrive in your hiking clothes and bring a daypack containing your rain jacket and other items you may want for today’s hike.

Ferry to Orcas Island 1 Hour
Shuttle to Moran State Park 30 Minutes
Mountain Lake Route 4 Miles (100-foot elevation gain)
Longer Option: South End Campground 6.5 Miles (200-foot elevation gain)

After meeting at the Anacortes ferry terminal, we ferry to Orcas Island, the largest and most mountainous of the San Juan archipelago. We then shuttle to Moran State Park, a nature lover’s paradise of 5,000 wooded acres, five freshwater lakes, 30 miles of hiking trails, four waterfalls and Mount Constitution, the San Juan Islands’ highest peak at 2,409 feet. As you walk along sparkling Mountain Lake, the park’s largest, take a moment to relax at one of the many inlets and dip your toes in the cool trout-stocked water. Feel like you’ve just gotten started? Then head to the South End campground, located on the shore of Cascade Lake, for a few extra miles.

After completing the hike, jump in the shuttle for the 20-minute drive to the Outlook Inn, a historic country hotel located in the charming town of Eastsound. Settle into your room and savor a quiet moment before we celebrate our arrival on the island with a wine reception, followed by dinner at the New Leaf Café, which specializes in entrées created from organic produce and fresh seafood.

Lodging: Outlook Inn

Day 2

Mount Constitution & Mountain Lake Route 8.2 miles (2,100-foot elevation gain, 1,490-foot elevation loss)
Shorter Option: Mount Constitution 4.5 Miles with Shuttle (2,100-foot elevation gain)

After breakfast we take a short drive to the Mount Constitution trailhead. Follow an uphill trail through a fragrant forest of cedar and fir trees as you reach for the summit. On a clear day, your efforts are amply rewarded at the top with breathtaking panoramic views of the San Juan archipelago, Canada’s coastal mountains and snow-covered Mount Baker. Soak in the scenery (and rest your muscles!), then hit the trail again, hiking down steep switchbacks to beautiful Twin Lakes. Find a nice spot to enjoy lunch before descending to Mountain Lake.
This afternoon you can shop at popular Orcas Island Pottery. Nestled amid Douglas firs and western red cedars on the edge of a cliff with broad views of President’s Channel, the grounds of the studio serve as a unique showroom for one-of-kind pieces by local artists.

Tonight we enjoy a wonderful dinner in town at Allium, perched right on the water’s edge.

Lodging: Outlook Inn

Day 3

Shuttle to Orcas Landing 30 Minutes
Ferry to San Juan Island 1½ Hours
Shuttle to American Camp 45 Minutes Round-Trip
American Camp Coastal Route 3 Miles (500-foot elevation gain)
Ferry to Sidney 1¼ Hours
Shuttle to Victoria 30 Minutes

We begin our big travel day with a shuttle to Orcas Landing, where we board a ferry bound for Friday Harbor, the only incorporated town on the San Juan Islands. Upon our arrival, we drive to American Camp, a great place to learn about the history of San Juan Island. During the American and British occupation in the mid-1800s, troops from both sides established separate camps at opposite ends of the island and existed in relative harmony…until the Pig War, that is. The confrontation, which started with the shooting of a farmer’s pig, lasted more than 12 years—the only casualty was the pig!

Stretch your legs on a walk to a pebble beach and look across Haro Strait for stunning views (on a clear day) of the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island, making sure to scan the water for orcas. Along the way you might spot red foxes, bald eagles, or rabbits scurrying amid the grassland. Enjoy your packed lunch before we shuttle back to Friday Harbor.

Pedestrian-friendly Friday Harbor is filled with colorful shops and small art galleries perfect for browsing and souvenir shopping. Consider stopping by Pelindaba Lavender Farm Shop, which sells locally grown lavender teas, soaps and other products. Midafternoon we catch the ferry to the Canadian port of Sidney and then shuttle to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. ―The Garden City’s‖ endless allure is evident in its old-world British charm, pristine harbor and temperate climate—the mildest in all of Canada. Our beautiful inn is set on Laurel Point, a six-acre park peninsula on the Inner Harbor. After settling into your room, you’re on your own to sample Victoria’s cuisine, with exceptional dining options just a stroll away.

Lodging: Inn at Laurel Point

Day 4

Shuttle to Butchart Gardens 1 Hour Round-Trip
Butchart Gardens Walk 2 Hours
Ferry to Olympic Peninsula 1½ Hours
Shuttle to Lake Crescent Lodge 30 Minutes
Optional Marymere Falls Route 1.5 Miles (100-foot elevation gain)

This morning we shuttle to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens—55 acres of horticultural splendor! The gardens first bloomed under the loving care of Jennie Butchart, who in 1904 began gardening on a quarry site abandoned by her husband, a pioneer in cement manufacturing. Jennie poured her heart into transforming the desolate area into a vibrant wonderland of flowers and plants. In the 100 years since, visitors have flocked here to marvel at the exquisite gardens, still cared for by the Butchart family.

For lunch on your own you may wish to take part in the English ritual of afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress hotel. You’ll feel like royalty as you relax and savor delicious sandwiches, pastries and scones in the restored Tea Lobby. (Afternoon tea is not included in the trip price. Reservations are required and should be made for after 12:15 p.m.; please keep in mind that we must be in line for the ferry at 2:30 p.m. To avoid disappointment, make your reservation one to two weeks in advance by calling the Fairmont at 250-389-2727.)

This afternoon we take in striking views of the Olympic Mountains during a ferry ride across the swift-moving Juan de Fuca Strait to the Olympic Peninsula. Then it’s a short drive to our lodge, set among giant hemlock and fir trees on the shore of Lake Crescent, in the shadow of Mount Storm King. After arriving you can set out on an optional hike to Marymere Falls. The trail, marked with crown ferns, trilliums, hemlocks, cedars and firs, is a tranquil introduction to our surroundings. We dine at the lodge before retreating to quaint renovated cottages.

Lodging: Lake Crescent Lodge

Day 5

Shuttle to Sol Duc 1½ Hours Round-Trip
Sol Duc Falls & Lover’s Lane Route 3.8 Miles (125-foot elevation gain)
Longer Options: Sol Duc Falls & Deer Lake 7.4 Miles with Shuttle (1,700-foot elevation gain)
or The Whole Enchilada 9.6 Miles (1,825-foot elevation gain)

We spend today exploring the Sol Duc River Valley in Olympic National Park. With more than 600 miles of trails, the park is home to the largest remaining undisturbed old-growth and temperate rain forests in the Pacific Northwest. Drenched in more than 12 feet of rain a year (be sure to have your rain gear handy!), Western hemlocks, Douglas firs and Sitka spruce trees flourish, while ferns and moss cloak the trees and forest floor—even the air seems green here. En route to Sol Duc Falls, one of the park’s largest and most scenic waterfalls, pass through a forest of wooded giants and cross the river on a bridge beneath the falls. Continuing on Lover’s Lane Trail, make your way through the woods and fern glades, crossing footbridges made from ancient fallen logs.

If you’re up for a challenge, tackle the rocky trail up to Deer Lake, which rises steadily to 1,700 feet. Aptly named, the alpine lake is the summer home of black-tailed deer—and the occasional black bear. Before heading back to the lodge, consider making a detour to Sol Duc Hot Springs and soothe your muscles in the outdoor thermal pools.

This evening we recount our adventures at a festive farewell dinner at the lodge.

Lodging: Lake Crescent Lodge

Day 6

Shuttle to Hurricane Ridge 1 Hour
Hurricane Ridge Route 3.2 Miles (800-foot elevation gain)
Shuttle to Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal 2½ Hours
Ferry to Seattle 30 Minutes

We spend our last day together hiking one of the most impressive locations in Olympic National Park—Hurricane Ridge. Most of our route, which runs along the upper spine of the Elwha Ridge to Hurricane Hill, winds through open meadows scattered with subalpine conifers. In early summer these meadows are ablaze with colorful wildflowers, including lupine, paintbrush, columbine and mountain asters. From the hilltop (if the coast is clear!), we’re treated to sweeping views of the Olympic Range, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island—our whole trip is visible from this one lookout point. After enjoying a packed lunch, we shuttle to Bainbridge Island and hop on a ferry bound for Seattle. There’s no finer way to approach the city than by watching the skyline come into view with Mount Rainier in the background.