Hood Canal stretches more than 70 miles through Washington’s pristine forestlands and is a bastion for outdoor recreation and nature viewing. The average width of Hood Canal is 1.5 miles with an average depth of 500 feet. Towns like Union, Potlatch, Hoodsport, Brinnon and Quilcene offer the traveler a wide assortment of accommodations, from RV parks to bed and breakfast cabins in secluded settings, to the fabulous Alderbrook Resort. Camping facilities are available in state parks and privately operated campgrounds.
Hood Canal is spanned by the Hood Canal Bridge, the third longest floating bridge in the world at 6,521 feet. According to the Washington State Department of transportation, the Hood Canal Bridge is the only floating bridge constructed on saltwater. The bridge also accommodates sixteen and a half foot tides.
Hood Canal’s attractions are plentiful: Sea kayaking is a popular sport off shore from the town of Union, where 80-degree summers help to warm the waters at the southern end of the canal. Sport fishing for cutthroat, spinrays, kokanees and rainbow trout is available at many of the lakes in the area.
Port Gamble, North America’s longest running company-operated mill town offers a unique glimpse into the area’s historic beginnings. Now a National Historic Landmark, the mill town has been restored to its 19th century décor. Hoodsport Winery, which has been in operation in Hoodsport since 1978, hosts seasonal events and highlights award-winning wines.
Alderbrook Resort offers fine dining and an 18-hole golf course with breathtaking views of the Olympic mountain range, along with upscale accommodations and shopping for the selective traveler.
