The City of Port Angeles
The City of Port Angeles is located in Clallam County in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. As the largest City on the north Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles has a moderate climate with approximately 25 inches of rainfall yearly. Ediz Hook, a 2.5-mile-long sand spit that curves eastward around Port Angeles, creates one of the deepest harbors on the West Coast.
The area includes approximately 10 square miles of land and 53 square miles of surface water. Port Angeles is located approximately 80 miles northwest of Seattle via the Edmonds/ Kingston Ferry and 170 miles southwest of Vancouver, British Columbia, via the Port Townsend/Keystone Ferry.
History
Port Angeles, incorporated in 1890, is built on the site of I’e’nis and Tse-whit-zen, Klallam villages dating back at least 3000 years. “PA”, as locals call it, has been known mostly as a logging and mill town. Today’s Port Angeles is a thriving hub of tourism with its fine restaurants and outdoor activities alongside industries such as yacht-building, snow and skateboard manufacturing, paper mills, and forestry.
Shopping
Shopping in Port Angeles offers something for everyone. Check out the creative cuisine at Gastro Pub, Kokopelli, Bella Italia, and Michael’s, then shop the downtown clothing boutiques such as Alley Cat and Moxie, along with Olympic Stained Glass, Harbor Art, Port Book and News, and the year-round farmers’ market. Don’t forget to pay a visit to PA’s iconic Swain’s General Store which “Has Everything.” Take a day trip on the Black Ball ferry to Victoria, British Columbia to shop and sightsee a European-style city, one of Canada’s most popular destinations.
Outdoors
Port Angeles is home to Olympic National Park Headquarters and an easy 45 minute drive to Hurricane Ridge, a spectacular alpine vista in the heart of the Olympic Mountains. Stunning and pristine, Lake Crescent lies 15 miles to the west. Easy hiking paths are readily available in both locations. Recently voted one of America’s top towns by Outside Magazine, Port Angeles offers adventure surfing an hour’s drive from alpine skiing. Whether you walk, pedal, or paddle, you will find plenty to do outdoors in Port Angeles.
Events
Music, festivals, and cultural events abound in Port Angeles with its symphony, community theatre, thriving nightlife with local and regional bands, and Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts which produces concerts all year and the Juan de Fuca Festival on Memorial Day weekend. And don’t miss Crabfest in early October! Rated one of the top festivals North America, you can dine on delicious fresh Dungeness crab while attending cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs including Galloping Gourmet, Graham Kerr, the festival’s Resident Master Chef.
Community Map & Photo Gallery
