Port Townsend: Harbor Town, Trails, and Nature

Port Townsend is a Victorian harbor town with two National Historic Landmark Districts. Trails begin here, leading into the city and beyond across the Olympic Peninsula. Cultural history, birdlife, and varied landscapes offer several possible focuses for your trip: you can explore historic stories, take in birds and parkland, or consider a longer route across the peninsula.

Stories of the City and Its Residents

The interpretive čičməhán Trail runs through Port Townsend and documents the history of the S'Klallam and European settlers, as well as their efforts to live together. This shifts the focus beyond the city as a harbor town to the relationships between the communities whose histories are connected to Port Townsend. If you are traveling with children and want to explore historical topics together, this trail offers a concrete starting point for conversations about the history of the S'Klallam and European settlers.

The name of Chetzemoka Park also refers to this history: it was named after the S’Klallam chief čičməhán, whom the settlers called Chetzemoka. The name links two names for the same person and brings another part of the city’s history into view. Together with the čičməhán Trail, the park offers a cultural focus that includes both a trail through the city and a park—without requiring the two experiences to be part of the same walk.

Birdlife, Parks, and Views

More than 200 bird species have been sighted at Kah Tai Nature Park. The park is a particularly appealing destination for bird lovers. In planning your trip, you can therefore consider the park as a nature-focused option alongside exploring Port Townsend’s history.

Chetzemoka Park offers a different perspective on the landscape. It sits on a gently sloping hillside overlooking Admiralty Inlet and provides impressive views of the Cascade Mountains. At the southwestern end of the sloping lawn, there is access to the beach and tidal flats. The slope, the view, and access to the shore are distinct features of the same park, making it a specific destination for travelers who want to take in views of the water and mountains as well as explore the city’s history.

Trails for Different Travel Ideas

Port Townsend has more than 31 miles of urban and rural trails. They connect neighborhoods, parks, schools, and other points of interest. The trail network includes both urban and rural routes and takes in different kinds of places throughout the city. For families, this range may be a reason to consider whether city history, parks, or trails should be the main focus when planning a trip. The figure refers to the entire trail network, not a single route.

The Olympic Discovery Trail offers a different perspective: its westbound route across the Olympic Peninsula begins on the shore of Port Townsend. This gives the town a role as the starting point for this longer trail, without requiring you to plan the entire route as part of your stay. If you are interested in trails, you can distinguish between Port Townsend’s urban and rural trail network and the trail that crosses the peninsula.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Stay

When looking for a vacation rental, you can first decide whether Port Townsend itself should be the focus of your stay or part of a longer trip.

Discover More Places

You can also discover Chimacum, Marrowstone, Port Hadlock-Irondale and Port Ludlow as other places at this level.

View the broader travel overview: Jefferson County.