Best Spots to Watch the Sunset in Port Angeles

1. Ediz Hook

If Port Angeles had a designated front-row seat for sunsets, Ediz Hook would be it. This long, narrow sand spit stretches into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, giving you panoramic views of the mountains to the south and the water to the north. On a clear evening, you can see the sun dip behind the Olympic Mountains, setting the whole sky on fire.

The catch? It’s always at least ten degrees colder than you expect, and the wind has no mercy. So, dress like you’re heading into a mild Arctic expedition, and you’ll be fine. Bonus points if you bring a hot drink and pretend you planned for the chill all along.

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2. Hurricane Ridge

If watching the sunset from sea level feels too ordinary, take it up a few thousand feet. Hurricane Ridge, sitting at 5,242 feet, delivers one of the best sunset views in the entire Pacific Northwest. Think layers of mountain peaks, clouds rolling in just right, and a front-row seat to the sun vanishing behind endless ridges.

It’s an easy drive—assuming the road is open, which it often isn’t because, well, mountains. Check the forecast before heading up, because there’s nothing quite as anticlimactic as driving all that way just to stare at a wall of fog.

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3. Salt Creek Recreation Area

If you like your sunsets with a side of rugged coastline, Salt Creek is the spot. Here, the waves crash against rocky cliffs, tide pools glisten in the fading light, and the sky stretches wide over the Strait. It’s the kind of place where you half expect to see a bald eagle soaring by in slow motion.

It’s also a great spot for photographers, or anyone who enjoys pretending they know how to use the "sunset mode" on their phone camera. And if you stay long enough for the stars to come out? Even better.

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4. The Waterfront Trail

Maybe you don’t feel like driving anywhere. Fair enough. The Waterfront Trail offers plenty of places to sit and soak in the view without going too far from town. This path runs right along the shoreline, meaning you can take a sunset stroll, bike ride, or just plop down on a bench and let nature do the work.

Plus, if you time it right, you can catch the ferries coming and going. Few things are as picturesque as a glowing sunset with a silhouetted ferry drifting across the water.

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5. Lake Crescent

Want your sunset with a side of glassy water and towering mountains? Lake Crescent is the place. The way the light reflects off the lake at dusk is almost too perfect, like something out of a painting. The stillness, the colors, the sheer lack of cell service—it's all part of the experience.

Whether you watch from the shore, a dock, or a kayak (if you're feeling ambitious), it’s a view that never gets old. Just don’t get so caught up in the moment that you forget how dark it gets out there. Trust me, navigating back to your car in complete blackness is an adventure you don’t need.

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