Regional Office

950 Pacific Avenue, Ste 615
Tacoma, WA 98402
T: 253-572-2281
F: 253-572-5879

About the Olympic Peninsula

Bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Hood Canal and on the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula encompasses the Olympic Mountains and temperate rainforests, including the Hoh, Queets and Quinault.

The Olympic Peninsula is a diverse blend of climates and natural wonders. Jutting out of the northwest corner of Washington state, it comprises some of the richest and most undeveloped forestland in the region. At its center lie the Olympic National Park and the Olympic National Forest, comprised of rainforest valleys, glacier-capped mountains, wild Pacific coast, old-growth forest, alpine meadows, rivers, natural hot springs, and lakes. The park, which receives more than three million visitors a year, is designated a World Heritage Site and Biosphere, and 95 percent of the Olympic National Park is designated as wilderness. The resource-rich waters of the Olympic Peninsula are home to abundant shellfish populations vital to the state’s culture and economy. Washington state is the leading producer of farmed clams, oysters and mussels; the state’s shellfish industry supports more than 3,600 jobs, and contributes more than $270 million annually to the state economy.   

The Olympic Peninsula is known for the Sequim Lavender Festival as well as famous landmarks including Rialto Beach, Kalaloch, the Victorian seaport of Port Townsend, Hurricane Ridge, Hood Canal, and Cape Flattery – the westernmost point in the lower 48 states. Tribal communities are an integral part of the Olympic Peninsula’s culture, with 9 of the state’s 29 federally-recognized tribes located on the Peninsula. The region has long benefited from its fishing and timber industries, while other communities have been designated national historic sites that contribute to Washington state’s robust tourism industry.