The Long Way
Grays Harbor County
A dirt path winds through a dense temperate rainforest with moss-covered trees.
Plate I. Moss-draped trees along Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com
People kayaking and paddleboarding on a calm body of water near a shore.
Plate II. Kayakers along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com
A wet trail winds through a lush, moss-draped forest with large trees.
Plate III. Rainforest trail along Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From olympicpeninsula.org
A large waterfall flows down a steep rocky cliff into a pool of water.
Plate IV. Waterfall along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com
An elevated exterior view of a town with a large red brick courthouse and clock tower.
Plate V. Port Angeles along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com
A view of a spit and the ocean seen through trees.
Plate VI. Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com
A waterfall flows down a mossy rock face into a pool surrounded by lush forest greenery.
Plate VII. Waterfall along Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. From scenicwa.com

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway

Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington. National Scenic Byway; Open year-round.

Details

Map. Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington. Larger map
Where
Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, WA. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
Highway 101 begins in Olympia and heads west, sharing the road with Highway 8 for 1 short mile, until it turns off towards Shelton and the east side of the Olympic National Park. It then follows the Pacific Ocean around the Olympic Peninsula. At Cosmospolis it turns south heading for the Oregon border.
Fees
None.
Access
Also known as the Olympic Coast Highway, WA-101; drive it all or experience it in pieces, starting and stopping wherever and whenever you like.
Phone
(360) 288-2525
Website
fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov
Managed by
Department of Transportation.

The Olympic Peninsula is home to an ample segment of the 350-mile Pacific Coast Scenic Byway.

Notable Events

  1. 1931A public celebration at Kalaloch marked completion of the 330-mile Olympic Loop Highway. historylink.org

People

  • Mark Reed, Lumber baron and former Washington House speaker who attended the main dedication celebration (1866-1933).
  • Roland Hartley, Washington governor who attended the main dedication celebration.
  • Samuel Humes, Highway Department director who attended the main dedication celebration (1883-1941).
  • Simon F. Tolmie, British Columbian premier who attended the main dedication celebration.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/gateways/13798
  2. fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/2227
  3. scenicwa.com/pacific-coast-scenic-byway
  4. stateofwatourism.com/scenic-byways/pacific-coast-scenic-byway
  5. historylink.org/File/7213
  6. nps.gov/olym/learn/nature/geology.htm