Sequim, Washington lies within the rain shadow of the mighty Olympic Mountains and on average, receives less than 16 inches of rain a year. It’s nickname is sunny Sequim and it is the lavender capital of North America. It’s a bit early still for lavender, but when it is in bloom we will definitely visit. Our ride this time was east on the Olympic Discovery Trail from Port Angeles to Sequim.
This time our route was mostly through farmland and countryside but we did cross the Dungeness River. This part of the path is all paved and separate from any traffic lanes except for a few road crossings. One highlight of the ride is Railroad Bridge, built in 1915 by Milwaukee Road.
From 1915 to 1980 the Milwaukee Road operated the rail line, which transported passengers and timber, from Port Townsend to Port Angeles and west to connect with several logging railroads. The line was abandoned in 1985. Today the truss and trestle represent the longest bridge over the Dungeness River.
The next bridge we came to is the Johnson Creek Train Trestle Bridge. Built by the Seattle, Port Angeles and Western Railway Company in 1914, the last train traveled across the Johnson Creek Train Trestle in 1983. In 2002, the trestle was converted to pedestrian use as part of the Olympic Discovery Trail. At 410 feet long and 86 feet tall, it’s the largest trestle bridge on the peninsula.
I really enjoyed this peaceful ride through the countryside and the miles can really tick by since it’s relatively flat. Our ride was under 30 miles and just about 950′ of climbing. This trail has something for everyone with so many options for places to park and do short sections. Enjoy!
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