Each moment seems better than the last. The sight of a nesting bald eagle. Experiencing Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia. Hiking in an Eden of ferns and old-growth trees. Majestic Sol Duc Falls and mile-high Hurricane Ridge. Most vacations have one moment you remember forever. This trip has those moments daily.
Days 1-2 Admire the spectacular panorama from the summit of Mount Constitution: shimmering water, evergreen-clad isles and snowcapped Mount Baker | Explore Moran State Park, a nature-lover's paradise | On San Juan Island, discover pedestrian-friendly Friday Harbor.
Day 3 Ferry between islands—and countries—in the idyllic San Juan archipelago | A hike on Mount Work offers striking views of Vancouver Island, the Olympic Mountains and the surrounding Gulf Islands.
Day 4 Get ready to explore Victoria and world-renowned Butchart Gardens, featuring 55 acres of exquisite flowers and plants | Join a historical walk of enchanting Victoria before our ferry ride across the Strait of Juan de Fuca and hike to Marymere Falls.
Day 5 Walk in Olympic National Park, where temperate forest, alpine lakes and waterfalls meet | Meander through an old-growth forest 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—the entire trip is visible from this amazing lookout point! | As we ferry back to Seattle, views of the city's skyline and Mount Rainier cap off the trip.
12 ladies left our husband behind and became a Band of Sisters- Sherman Oaks, CA
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It's a short walk to the private beach and the shops and galleries of downtown from this retreat at the water's edge.
Described by Andrew Harper as an "appealing contemporary island lodge affording exceptional views of the San Juan Channel."
Perched on a forested hillside with spectacular bay vistas, this chic boutique resort features a blend of West Coast and Asian styles. (pool, spa)
Set on the shore of deep-blue Lake Crescent, this national park lodge treats us to an enormous stone fireplace and a front porch ideal for watching sunsets.
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Comments about San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking Tour:
12 ladies left our husband behind and became a Band of Sisters
Comments about San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking Tour:
The team leaders were excellent: knowledgeable, helpful, funny, happy, and easy going fellows. Can't ask for any better! The food was delicious and nutritious, and the stays were pleasant and very pleasant. The group was awesome! I really enjoyed being surrounded by such genuine, friendly, and happy people. Will do it again! The team leaders were excellent: knowledgeable, helpful, funny, happy, and easy going fellows. Can't ask for any better! The food was delicious and nutritious, and the stays were pleasant and very pleasant. The group was awesome! I really enjoyed being surrounded by such genuine, friendly, and happy people. Will do it again!
Comments about San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking Tour:
San Juan Islands Walking & HIknig offers the best of the Pacific Northwest. Tranquil islands, unspoiled forests, unique accommodations, fresh and delicious food, and a taste of the historic and charming city of Victoria. The trip leaders offered plenty of activity while keeping with the relaxed pace of life on the islands. A visit to Olympic National Park offers a dramatic change of scenery and makes a perfect end to the trip.
Comments about San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking Tour:
This trip made me feel like I was in a different world. I half expected to see Ewoks and Dinosaurs as I was walking through the ancient forests. I had so much fun!
Comments about San Juan Islands, Victoria & Olympic National Park Walking & Hiking Tour:
The guides were wonderful, the accommodations reflected the regions so well and traveling by ferry was a wonderful way to see this very special part of our country.
Displaying reviews 1-5
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| 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* | 200 | 6 | 300 | ||||||
| 2 | 5* | 350 | 5* | 2100 | 8 | 2100 | ||||
| 3 | 3* | 800 | ||||||||
| Victoria Waterfront Walk (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 4 | 2 | 250 | ||||||||
| Buchart Gardens Walk (2 Hours) | ||||||||||
| Victoria Historical Walk (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 4 | 100 | 7* | 1700 | 10 | 1800 | ||||
| 6 | 3 | 800 | ||||||||
Note: The terrain on this trip includes rugged mountain trails, coastal and lowland forest paths, and garden walks.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Our San Juan Islands Trip Expert and several of our Trip Leaders make their homes in the islands and in other beautiful spots along the West Coast. They're passionate about sharing their spectacular backyard with Backroads guests, helping us link together great routes with island-hopping ferries and working with local friends to ensure you enjoy the very best of the Pacific shore – whether it's an ideal spot for sea kayaking or a feast of perfectly prepared fresh salmon.
On our San Juan Islands trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in San Juan Islands, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Our Trip Leaders in San Juan Islands live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
In San Juan Islands you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in San Juan Islands that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.
Backroads has been inviting active travelers to explore our own backyard since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. We offer more trips than anyone else in San Juan Islands, and we've spent more years finding the best ones. What keeps it real is having a consistent vision and the same passionately committed leadership for nearly four decades.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
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Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
