Washington Parks Detours - La Push and Hoh Rain Forest

[BikingBrian]

I was looking at the western half of the AC Washington Parks route, which is also covered in "Bicycling the Pacific Coast" by Kirkendall and Spring.

In their 2nd edition book, K&S have the out and back detours off 101 to La Push and the Hoh Rain Forest as part of their main route. But in their 4th edition, they no longer have them as overnight stops, but just as side trips. So are they worthwhile overnight stops?

[adventurepdx]

...in their 2nd edition book, K&S have the out and back detours off 101 to La Push and the Hoh Rain Forest as part of their main route. But in their 4th edition, they no longer have them as overnight stops, but just as side trips. So are they worthwhile overnight stops?

Yes, they are worthwhile stops, at least in my opinion.

If you just stick to the main (US 101) route, you will only pass through Olympic National Park at two places, about 15 miles around Lake Crescent, and about 15 miles around Kalaloch Beach. The rest of the route between the Grays Harbor area and Port Angeles go through a mix of private and state/federal forest lands, with a few small towns. The scenery is ho-hum to okay for most of that part, but nothing spectacular, and you won't see the ocean except for that section around Kalaloch. The spots inside the park are way better and more interesting than what you just see on the main road (excepting the portions 101 goes through the park.) I wouldn't do a tour out that way without factoring in the "side trips" to places like La Push, Hoh, Sol Duc, etc.

[BikingBrian]

Great, thanks. I already factored in some time for some detours, which I will certainly use for La Push/Mora and Hoh. I have a bit of a dilemma since the AC route uses 112/113, while Sol Duc and others are accessible from 101. And I have an extra day in my back pocket, is Hurricane Ridge Road worthwhile? I might grab a room in Port Angeles and ride it unloaded.

[adventurepdx]

Great, thanks. I already factored in some time for some detours, which I will certainly use for La Push/Mora and Hoh.

And I would also factor in some time to hike and do other stuff off the bike. The 20 mile ride up the Hoh River Valley is decent enough, but you still need to actually hike a bit in the Hoh Rainforest to make that side trip worthwhile.

I have a bit of a dilemma since the AC route uses 112/113, while Sol Duc and others are accessible from 101.

Sol Duc wouldn't be too much of a detour from 112/113. If I were to ride that area again, I'd do 112/113 vs 101 in that section. While Lake Crescent is pretty, the 10 miles that 101 parallels it is narrow and high-trafficked.

And I have an extra day in my back pocket, is Hurricane Ridge Road worthwhile? I might grab a room in Port Angeles and ride it unloaded.

I haven't done Hurricane Ridge, but I know it's a popular ride!