The Peninsula
Fort Worden
Fort Worden is an interesting place to explore and has a little bit of everything. It was built over the span of about 20 years during the first quarter of the 20th century as part of a three pronged defense for Puget Sound. It has been transformed into a well loved center for family gatherings, conferences, a museum, a light house, and an aquarium. Across the straight is Whidbey Island which holds Fort Casey, Deception Pass, delightful Mukilteo and a naval base. On a clear day Mount Baker can also be seen to the North.
On the beach there are the ghostly remains of concrete bunkers hidden among windswept evergreens and scraggly brush. As you walk along the sandy shore, it transforms into a rocky beach with imposing cliffs sweeping up to the sky. This is a fantastic area for tide pooling at low tide. Beware of high tide as, particularly in winter, the waves can crash against the cliffs with ferocity.
There are several trails that leave the beach to take you through the woods to the bunkers that sit atop the cliffs. The trail continues along the cliff about a mile west to North beach. Walking through the woods and returning via the beach make for a wonderful hike that encompasses all Fort Worden has to offer.
There is camping at Fort Worden, which includes high quality bathrooms as well as showers. There are no facilities at North beach. If you head south, you will come across a charming park. This is Chetzemoka Park, which has a numerous hidden gems to discover. The park also has restrooms.
Mount Zion
This hike is hidden gem at the northern most point of the Olympics. It is steep, boasting a 36% grade, and travels through dense woods. The beginning is quite delightful with sun dappled moss covered logs scattered on the ground. Contrasting tall lanky rhododendrons, salal bushes and ferns. The central portion of the hike shows clear signs of an old burn. The trees close in, the mountain casts a shadow, and the underbrush disappears for about tree quarters of a mile while you travel down hill. The turn up to Mount Zion includes a return of undergrowth, the steep climb and at this time of year, a dusting of snow. There are few glimpses of the view you know must be there, so when you finally step out onto the small butte and behold the valley and Olympics stretching before you, it quite takes the breath away.
There are no facilities, and only a small pull out for parking. The dirt road to the trailhead is quite good, with very few to no potholes.
Dungeness Spit
This is one of my favorites for the Olympic peninsula. The campground is medium sized with full amenities, including a play area. The campsites are mostly private and the sites located along the cliff access the trail that follows the cliff. This trail connects to the trail that travels through the woods to the beach. The spit is approximately five miles long and is home to a wide variety of marine life. There are no restrooms at the beach, make sure to visit the facilities at the trail head.
Ruby Beach
This beach is quite stunning. Eroded rock formations jut from the sea and a brackish pond separates the stream from the ocean. This is a wonderful beach for tide pooling, skipping stones, and paddling in the pond. The gravel parking lot is medium sized and there is a composting toilet. The hike down to the beach is relatively short, but steep.