I'll have to respectfully both agree and disagree.

Both sides are rideable, and weather is weather whether it's east or west, a little more soak is to be expected if you've chosen to ride thru a rain forest, after all, isn't it? Bring a raincoat and a pile jacket or something, you'll be fine.

The 'less rain' thing also means -no rain forest. Missing the forest for the forecast. (ha!) That's why they put the national park there. the 101 on the east misses it entirely.



I guess it depends on if the OP has four days versus a week and a half, and whether the OP wants to see the Olympic Peninsula and real natural spendor, natural park sites and ecologic diversity it has to offer, or choose a perfectly nice, but far more sterile and busier ride down the Hood Canal and thru logged over, casino country to the coast and points south.

Yes, I can certainly recommend the Discovery trail, a fantastic off road cut across nice lavender fields and bays of the straight of juan de fuca, (John Wayne Marina) and keep on going to port townsend is very nice historical city- but it's a day ride to and from from Port Angeles to Port Towsend and back. It's a great ride though. Stop at Fat Smitty's for a burger. Last time i rode the trail it was less than a 20 miles detour.

Do it as an out and back from the Black Ball ferry terminal if the OP makes hotel reservations in Port Angeles the first day, or camping out of town at Salt Lick State park right on the coast, about a 15 mile ride out of PA towards Neah Bay. Very nice state park with coast, tide pools, views from the campground and nice trails, 19th century military cannon batteries, a snack stand, and great sunset/ low tide wandering.

I can't recommend taking time to focus on the 105 at all, as I'd liken it to a service road to a resort community and a bunch of vacation homes and timeshares. It's more like riding Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head Island than the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, but about 30 degrees cooler. If you like a lot of resort traffic, indian casinos, and souvenir shops, be my guest.

Riders that would like to do an actual Olympic Peninsula, National Park, coastal wilds and rain forest wonders of the Pacific Northwest tour head WEST on the 101, and deviate substantially from it in a hunt for the goods.

You'll get to the beach spit towns of SW Washington eventually, if you need to see another t-shirt shop that looks out on a beach.

Even with a 3 day itinerary from Port Angeles I'd still hustle west on the 101.

Day 1, Port Angeles to Forks. 56 miles. Stop at the Lake Crescent lodge for lunch and a walk in the rain forest.

Day 2, Forks to Lake Quinault Lodge. stops at Kalaloch for lunch and coast/beach stop, then to Lake Quinault for dinner. Rain forest and BIG trees at Quinault, worlds biggest right there on the interpretive trail. the long day, 67 miles. Stay at the lodge, or camp.

Day 3, Lake Quinault to Ocean Shores. 46 miles. Breakfast at the Lodge, then lunch in Ocean Shores, ride the timeshare resort sprawl to meet the Westport ferry to Westport and the 105. 8 bucks with your bike.

There you go, easy pleasy, three days, only one day over 60 miles, three extensive dips into the national park, and with a LOT more to offer the cyclo tourist. I'ts not even that hilly.