Sequim Area

Olympic Discovery Trail - Sequim Area Overview

Three segments of the Olympic Discovery Trail are located in the Sequim area. From east to west they are:

• Whitefeather Way to Carrie Blake Park
• Carrie Blake Park to Railroad Bridge Park
• Railroad Bridge Park to Robin Hill Park

Carrie Blake Park, Railroad Bridge Park and Robin Hill Park have designated parking, restrooms, picnic tables, and water. The Robin Hill Park sanikan is not ADA accessible. See the The Peninsula Trail Coalition website for a map of the Sequim area section of the Olympic Discovery trail.

Olympic Discovery Trail - Whitefeather Way to Carrie Blake Park

Directions:
Wheelchair users might want to start this trip at Carrie Blake Park because Whitefeather Way presently doesn't have a parking area at the entrance to the Trestle Bridge. Also, there is a steep hill just east of the Trestle Bridge which serves as a barrier for most disabled folks.

To start the trip at Carrie Blake Park, take the Sequim Ave. exit on Hwy 101 and head north on S. Sequim Ave.; turn right onto E. Washington St.; turn left onto S. Blake Ave. and turn right into the Carrie Blake Park.

For those slow walkers or bikers who think they can handle the hill and want to start at Whitefeather Way, take the Whitefeather Way exit on Highway 101 just east of Sequim. Whitefeather Way goes to Sequim Bay and John Wayne Marina. The Marina has parking, restrooms, and water.

Note: The trail heading east from Whitefeather Way is currently under development (Aug 2007).

Features:
Starting from Whitefeather Way east of Sequim, the trail immediately goes over a deep ravine via the Johnson Creek Trestle. Johnson Creek can be seen far below. The paved trail follows Highway 101 west eventually leaving the side of the highway at the 101 bypass. If you are lucky you might see the famous Sequim elk herd as this is their crossing. (Sadly, the bypass and new housing developments are now making it difficult for the Elk. The future of the elk herd is currently a major issue for the citizens of Sequim.) The trail continues following old Highway 101 or Washington Street as it is now known as. It turns right at the Visitor Center at the outskirts of town and heads north to the back of Carrie Blake Park.

The trail loops through the lovely park with several ponds to stop at. This loop off the trail can easily serve as your entire focus for the trip. The park has accessible parking and restrooms.

Olympic Discovery Trail - Carrie Blake Park to Railroad Bridge Park

Directions:
To start the trip heading west at Carrie Blake Park, take the Sequim Ave. exit on Hwy 101 and head north on S. Sequim Ave.; turn right onto E. Washington St.; turn left onto S. Blake Ave. and turn right into Carrie Blake Park. As of August 2007, the trail ends on the west edge of Carrie Blake park and doesn't begin again until Hendrickson and Sequim Avenue. However from the park, you can take the sidewalk on Fir Avenue with its curb cuts on the intersecting streets to reach N. Sequim Avenue. Head north past the school and turn left on Hendrickson. The city has constructed the Olympic Discovery trail along side the street all the way to Priest Road. This part of the trail is very convenient to many disabled folks and slow walkers as it it fronts the assisted living and retirement areas on Hendrickson.

East - Railroad Bridge Park has an accessible restroom and designated parking. However, as of August 2007, the section heading east from Railroad Bridge Park to Priest Road is not developed and you would have to ride on the shoulder of the road for that stretch. If you are starting at Railroad Bridge Park, you might want to head west on the trail toward Robin Hill Park, which is one of the most lovely sections of the trail in the Sequim area.

Features:

The Carrie Blake Park to Railroad Bridge Park segment of the trail runs through the city of Sequim. The Olympic mountains are beautiful, but the rural nature of this area is quickly becoming extinct with new housing development. However, the trail in this section remains a good transportation corridor for bicyclists to reach Railroad Bridge Park and serves as a neighborhood trail.

At Priest Road you must navigate the remainder of Hendrickson on the shoulder of the road to reach Railroad Bridge Park. Caution: This is not a busy road, but there is relatively little shoulder!

Olympic Discovery Trail - Railroad Bridge Park to Robin Hill Park

Directions:
Robin Hill Farm County Park is located just west of Kitchen-Dick Road. Park in the Pinnell parking lot to start the trail heading east to Railroad Bridge Park. To get there from Highway 101, take Kitchen-Dick Road north and at the stop sign, turn west on Old Olympic Highway. Turn south on Vautier Road, and then take a right onto Pinnell Road.

Railroad Bridge Park is located at the end of West Hendrickson Road, 2 miles west of Sequim's city center. Railroad Bridge Park is a good starting place for this segment of the trail because there is an ADA restroom and designated parking here, whereas Robin Hill Park's sanikan is not accessible.

Features:
This segment of the Olympic Discovery Trail starts at the Dungeness River Center where you will find parking, an accessible restroom, a picnic area, and a wheelchair accessible trail with interpretative signs and benches along the way. A short path of paver-stones parallels the Dungeness River and takes you to the east approach ramp of the Railroad Bridge.

See Trail Map

The ramp is sloped 4-5° and switchbacks up to the Railroad Bridge and trestle which are completely planked for pedestrian and bicycle access. Projecting alcoves and occasional seating areas along the railings of the bridge allow for quiet viewing out of the traffic zone.

If you are unable to wheel up the ramp at the bridge on your own, you can ask for assistance at the Dungeness River Center. Alternatively, you can park at the east end of the park off Runnion Road.

This is a excellent bird watching spot where woodpeckers. kinglets, finches, wrens, warblers, creepers, nuthatches, sparrows, and towhees can be found. Look along the river for wintering American Dippers. Spring and summer bring migrants such as Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Swainson's Thrush, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole.

From the bridge the trestle continues for some distance through a canopy of deciduous trees: Red Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Bitter Cherry, and Black Cottonwood. Many native shrubs line the trail through the park .

The Dungeness River Audubon Center offers programs of environmental interpretation and nature study. See http://www.dungenessrivercenter.org/

The trail then becomes chip-sealed pavement, opening up to fir trees, meadow and mountain views.

The Olympic Discovery trail continues from Railroad Bridge at Runnion Road, through farmland and woods and the Carlsborg Industrial Park, across Carlsborg Road, along the Sequim Valley Airport, across Kitchen-Dick Road then crosses Vautier Road and travels south to Pinnell Road. (Move your cursor over the pictures for a description. Click the pictures for a larger view.)

Directions:
West of Sequim on Highway 101, turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road. Continue 3 miles to Dungeness Recreation Area.

Features:
The park has 1-mile long scenic bluff trail with pocket picnic sites. Part of this trail is accessible (.75 mi rd trip to overlook). The path is sand/dirt with some hills so wheelchair users may need some assistance. The trail offers views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Note: I took this trail on my scooter clear to the end of the park boundry. There is one section toward the end that narrows and has a grassy slope to the brush. Scooters may want to turn around at that point unless the county makes this ten foot section of the trail more accessible.

Access the bluff trail at the west end of the parking area for the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge trail. There is handicap parking here and an accessible restroom plus a drinking fountain.

There is also a 100-acre upland bird hunting area with equestrian trails that is open Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays during the general hunting season. If you stay on the wider trail you can access this area by scooter or by wheelchair with assistance. (Wheelchair users: There is one 5 % hill and the dirt trail has some small embeded 1" rocks so it is not a smooth trail.) The accessible section traverses across the park at which time the trail becomes too narrow for scooters. There are lovely views across the uplands where you are apt to see wildlife and raptors. Throughout the park there are wild roses and honeysuckles. Dogs must be on leash on the bluff trail and the uplands (unless hunting).

Other Info:
This area serves as the trail head for the popular Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses the five and a half mile long Dungeness Spit which forms Dungeness Bay. An estuary, eel grass beds and salt marsh provide ample opportunities for observing wetland wildlife. Unfortunately, the spit is not accessible. There is an entrance fee to the spit or admission with Federal duck stamp, golden eagle, golden age, or golden access passports. Pets are prohibited on the rufuge (spit). Refuge is open daylight hours, 7 days a week.

The Dungeness Recreation Area campground has 67 campsites with firepits and picnic tables located in two camp loops with a full service restroom and showers in each loop. See the Clallam County web site for more information.

Robin Hill Farm County Park

Directions:
Robin Hill Farm County Park is located between Port Angeles and Sequim off Dryke Road, 0.25 miles north of US101. To find Robin Hill head off Old Olympic Highway, just West of Kitchen (Bill) Dick Road. From Old Olympic Highway, go South on Vauter Road, and then take a right onto Pinnell Road.

Features:
Plenty of parking available in the parking lot. It is a day-use area with 155 acres of forest, meadow and wetland. Twenty acres are maintained by WSU Cooperative Extension programs for pasture management, agricultural research plots and gardens, and special water conservation and composting programs.

Large Meadow with grassy trail crossing it.

Other Info:
There are approximately 3.4 miles of developed foot trails and 2.5 miles of equestrian trails. There are portable toilet facilities at both public parking areas. Maps are available at both parking areas. See Trail Map and see the Clallam County park web site. Warning: The park borders a gun club. Try to pick times (such as early morning) if the quietness is important to you.