Each moment seems better than the last. Seeing a nesting bald eagle from the deck of your ferry. Soaking up the montage of cultures - from First Nations to British - in vibrant Victoria. Following Canyon Creek through an Eden of sword ferns, mosses and old-growth Douglas fir. Then arriving at magnificent Sol Duc Falls. Hiking mile-high Hurricane Ridge and seeing Mount Olympus in one direction, Mount Rainier and Seattle in another. Most vacations have that one defining moment you remember forever. This trip has those incredible moments daily.
Days 1-2 The spectacular panorama from the summit of Mount Constitution,
Orcas Island's apex - shimmering water, evergreen-clad isles and snowcapped Mount Baker on the horizon 
Explore Moran State Park, a nature-lover's paradise Partial to pottery? You won't want to miss the locally made, one-of-a-kind pieces at Orcas Island Pottery On San Juan Island, discover pedestrian-friendly Friday Harbor.
Day 3 Ferry between islands - and countries - in the idyllic San Juan archipelago
A hike to Mt. Work offers striking 360-degree views of Vancouver Island, the Olympic Mountains, and the surrounding Gulf Islands Settle into the luxury of the Brentwood Bay Resort with a full service spa, waterfront suites and an exquisite dining room.
Day 4 World-renowned Butchart Gardens,
a Canadian National Historic site with 55 acres of exquisite flowers and plants The enchanting city of Victoria on Vancouver Island is our setting for a historical walk before our ferry ride across the Straight of Juan de Fuca and hike to Lake Weymere.
Day 5 Olympic National Park,
where temperate rain forest, alpine lakes and waterfalls meet 
Meander through an old-growth forest of Sitka spruce, hemlock and Douglas fir to awe-inspiring Sol Duc Falls.
Day 6 Hike stunning Hurricane Ridge,
winding through flower-filled meadows that look onto Mount Olympus, the Bailey Range and the San Juan Islands Views of the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier cap off the trip.
Trip Highlights
- Ferry between the United States and Canada in the idyllic San Juan archipelago
- Mount Constitution, with 360-degree mountain and island views
- Discover Victoria's colonial harbor-side charm
- Explore the incredible assortment of colorful flowers at Butchart Gardens
- Olympic National Park, where temperate rain forests, alpine lakes and gushing waterfalls meet
Premiere & Casual Inns
Outlook Inn (1 night): It's a short walk to the private beach and the shops and galleries of downtown from this retreat at water's edge.
Friday Habour House (1 night): Described by Andrew Harper as an "appealing contemporary island lodge affording exceptional views of the San Juan Channel." (spa)
Brentwood Bay Resort (1 night): A luxurious waterfront resort and spa with understated elegance, serene ambiance and top-notch service. (pool, spa)
Lake Crescent Lodge (2 nights): Set on the shore of deep-blue Lake Crescent, this lodge treats us to an enormous stone fireplace and a front porch ideal for watching sunsets.
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 4.0 | 100 | 6.5 | 200 | ||||||
| 2 | 4.5* | 2100 | 8.2 | 2100 | ||||||
| 3 | 5.0* | 1100 | ||||||||
| 4 | 1.5 | 100 | ||||||||
| 3.0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 5 | 3.8 | 100 | 7.4* | 1700 | 9.6 | 1800 | ||||
| 6 | 3.2 | 800 | ||||||||
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/23-28 Price: $2698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $720 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/14-19 Price: $2898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $720 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/25-30 Price: $2698 pp dbl. occ., (+ $720 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/15-20 Price: $2598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $720 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/6-11 Price: $2598 pp dbl. occ., (+ $720 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
This trip far exceeded my expectations. We got a real feel for the beauty of the Northwest, Olympic peninsula and San Juan Islands. Our leaders were absolutely fantatstic and the food and accomodations much nicer than I anticipated. Great Job all!- Oakton, VA
Terrific! The experience was more than I could have imagined. Perfect logistics, great leaders, good company, breathtaking scenery. Perfectly designed,completely balanced between hiking, driving and ferry sailing. Great combination of destinations.- Mission Hills, KS
The trip was as described and a great one! Enjoyed the scenery, the hikes, the peopleĀ- Hesperia, CA
We had a most enjoyable time. We saw a lot of sights we would not have seen if we had tried to do the trip on our own. Backroads knows where to take their tours. They have done the research ahead of time.- Binghamton, NY
This is my fourth trip with Backroads and first domestic and it was fabulous! Your ability to maintain such a high level of quality is so appreciated!! We are already researching our next trip!! THANK YOU!!- Salinas, CA
This was my second trip and there was no drop off in quality. I signed up for this trip with an expectation I would see the San Juan Islands and have an appreciation for what that part of Puget Sound was like and that we would experience Olympic National Park. The trip met all those expectations and then some. We will definitely take another Backroads trip!- Salinas, CA