Washington & British Columbia Hiking
Let us introduce you to some of our all-time favorite spots in the Pacific Northwest. Begin with a visit to the San Juans, an idyllic cluster of islands that we've long adored for their natural beauty, solitude and easygoing pace of life. Then ferry to Vancouver Island and discover a montage of cultures in sophisticated Victoria, with quaint streets, colorful gardens and an Old English ambience. In Olympic National Park, marvel at glacier-capped peaks and rare temperate rain forests thick with mosses and enormous old-growth conifers. You'll enjoy the perfect balance of activities in some of the region's most magical locales.
Days 1-2 Orcas Island
Meet in Anacortes 
Ferry to Orcas Island, the largest isle of the San Juan archipelago Warm up with a walk around sparkling Mountain Lake Spend a full day exploring Moran State Park, a nature lover's paradise Challenge yourself with a hike up 2,409-foot Mount Constitution for a breathtaking panorama Visit Olga Artworks, showcasing potters, sculptors, jewelers and other area artists.
Day 3 Victoria
Ferry to San Juan Island and explore pedestrian-friendly Friday Harbor Stretch your legs with a hike along the beach at Cattle Point Another ferry ride delivers us to Vancouver Island and the enchanting city of Victoria.
Days 4-6 Lake Crescent
Tour Victoria's Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of exquisite flowers and plants Ferry back to the U.S., arriving in Olympic National Park
Meander along Canyon Creek through an old-growth forest lush with Sitka spruce, hemlock and Douglas fir, to Sol Duc Falls At mile-high Hurricane Ridge, a hike through flower-filled meadows offers views of Mount Olympus, the Bailey Range and the Strait of Juan de Fuca Ferry from picturesque Bainbridge Island to Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle.
A PACIFIC WELCOME: Casual Inns
Cascade Harbor Inn (2 nights): Perched on a hillside above Cascade Bay amid a grove of fir and madrone trees, this hotel offers stunning Eastsound views.
Laurel Point Inn (1 night): This sleek and stylish waterfront hotel is located on Victoria's Inner Harbour and features an indoor swimming pool and oceanside terrace.
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.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 4 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 4.5, 8 miles
- 2100 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 3 miles
- 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 1.5 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain
- Walking Tour of Butchart Gardens 2 hours
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
- 1.5, 4, 7.5, 9.5 miles
- 100 - 1800 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Options Available
- 3 miles
- 800 feet elevation gain
Trips 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.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Average Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biking | Walking & Hiking | ||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2009 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 6/28-7/3Price: $2298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $630 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/19-24Price: $2298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $630 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/23-28Price: $2298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $630 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/6-11Price: $2298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $630 for sgl. occ.)
Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
This was my first Backroads Trip... and I'm so excited to plan my next one! I've traveled quite a bit and it was so wonderful to leave ALL the details to someone else. This was a complicated trip with all the ferry connections... it was so well organized and went off without a hitch. I was very impressed with the level of professionalism on ALL fronts... my expectations were definitely exceeded! We had a blast!!- Pasadena, CA
This hiking sampler has it all! Ocean views, a sophisticated urban scene, and awesome glaciers are just a few of the attractions that make this trip so magical. One of the things that we love about it is that we use ferries as our primary mode of transportation - which is exactly how the Pacific Northwest should be explored!- Trip Development Coordinator, California & the Southwest