welcome to shelton
The County Seat Of Mason
Shelton, Washington is also known as “Christmastown, USA” owing to its rich history in Christmas trees. In December, the streets light up with holiday celebrations and a historical mural of a 32’ tall Santa greets arrivals from the South. A fleet of steamboats once served Shelton. Traveling down Hammersley inlet on the tidal currents, these ships delivered supplies. Tugboats still ride these tides to deliver throughout Puget Sound. There is plenty of shopping and dining in Shelton’s downtown.
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Walks & Hikes near Shelton
The Easternmost peak in the Olympic Mountains, Mount Walker offers a commanding view of Dabob Bay sparkling below and the Seattle skyline shimmering across Puget Sound. The close up of massive Mount Constance, the third highest peak in the Olympic Mountains is pretty darn impressive too. But the real joy to hiking this trail is ambling through its profuse clusters of rhododendrons. Hit the trail to Mount Walker in May or June for an ascent up a purple mountain majesty!
The Olympic National Forest’s Buckhorn Wilderness contains more than 44,000 acres of some of the finest backcountry on the Olympic Peninsula. Within this rugged corner of the Olympic Mountains you can hike on miles of trails traversing deep valleys of old-growth forests and along high windswept ridges granting stunning views.
Whether you prefer the simplicity of tent camping or the comfort of RVs there are plenty of campgrounds on and around the Hood Canal to choose from. From your campsite you can take day trips to explore surrounding forests, rivers, and beaches or just relax under the trees and listen to the birds.
Prepare yourself with buckets, boots, license and check the tides & harvest map. Local State Parks support a healthy stock of clams and oysters for license holders – free for the taking!
Guidebook writer, Craig Romano, takes us on an illustrated journey around Ellinor. Churning Big Creek and its tributaries will charm you with their frothy displays and soothe you with their flowing melodies.
The deep, extensive forests of the Olympic Peninsula hide secrets. For some its the discovery of a new plant that can cure an illness; others seek the solitude of moss laden ancient trees; and, for a select few, the search continues for a hidden creature that makes himself popular on bumper stickers and dangly air fresheners throughout the Northwest – here’s some details behind this northwest favorite character.
Hosting a rich tradition spanning generations of first people and settlers, Union hosts fantastic views of the Olympics and Canal while embracing the arts and community. It is little wonder it was voted one of the 20 Prettiest Towns in USA by Forbes Traveller.
This easy 2-mile trail winds through old growth forest to a bridge over the North Fork Skokomish River with only a 200-foot elevation gain.
While popular mountain biking trail networks like Seattle, Port Angeles, and the Capital Forest network dot the outskirts, a circumnavigation of the Hood Canal will uncover some local favorites and family-friendly riding.
It's ok to be "shellfish" when your on Hood Canal. How about waking up to spectacular canal views for days filled with walks and beach treasure hunts? With spring weather on its way and the water warming up -t’s a great time to hit the Hood – and we’ve prepared a jam-packed customizable seafood itinerary for you.
The dog days of summer are here, and our four legged friends around the region can’t help but wag their tails enthusiastically. After months of rain, wind, and snow, we need little excuse to take our dogs out into the wilds of the Hood Canal.
Ten things you probably never needed to know about oysters, but we are going to tell you anyway.
There are over 150 varieties of oysters harvested and sold in North America, yet they comprise a total of only 5 species of oysters.
Case Inlet, at the mariner’s northeastern edge of Mason County, is home to many magical island getaways. Reach Island (AKA Treasure Island), verdant Stretch Island, secretive Herron Island, tiny McMicken Island, and Harstine Island all have interesting histories and unique characters.
It’s a common sight to see the “lucky” great blue heron patiently hunting on the shores of Hood Canal and South Puget Sound. Largest of the heron species, up to 4’ in height, they actually only weigh between 5-6 pounds. Here are a few things you may not have known about these iconic Northwest birds.
Just below the surface of the waters of the Hood Canal, a whole new world exists waiting to be explored. It is carpeted with sponges and seaweed, populated by wolf eels and octopus and visited by the occasional seal and even (rarely) a six-gilled shark.
Receiving hundreds of inches of rain annually, the Hoh, Quinault and Queets Rainforests are located on the coastal foothills of the Olympics, receiving 21+’ of snow and rain at its peaks! It’s no wonder there is a myriad of spectacular waterfalls lacing the area. Explore this sampling curated by celebrated guidebook author and avid hiker, Craig Romano. Some are small, secret, and unique, others are popular but magnificent. All are worth the journey!
Want to visit the farmers that wake up on the night tides to bring you the perfect oyster, clam or geoduck? Check out these farms on and around Hood Canal!
There are no bridges or causeways to little McMicken Island in Case Inlet. No ferry service either. But you don’t need a kayak or boat to visit. You can easily hike to this island which lies about 0.2 mile off of the eastern shore of Harstine Island. It’s all in the timing.
Occupying a peninsula on Oakland Bay at the mouth of Johns Creek, Bayshore Preserve provides exceptional wildlife habitat and several short delightful hiking trails. Once a golf course, this 74-acre parcel has been restored to a natural state on par with the state’s finest natural shoreline preserves.
Number #2 on our best hikes around Hood Canal according to Craig Romano is Twanoh State Park’s hiking trails. Famous for its large beach on Hood Canal with some of the warmest salt water in the state, many who flock to this park, go straight to the beach or the campground, leaving the 182-acre park’s hiking trails pretty quiet.
The fall colors on Hood Canal are heralding the close of summer. Time to head to the hills to embrace the much needed rains in the Olympic National Park as the hills and valleys go back to the Technicolor spectrum of green.
Ahh... road trips –there’s nothing that holds more appeal than the classic road trip – discovering new places, trying new things. Getting away from it all is as easy as heading to the South Sound via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge or by catching the Bremerton ferry for the 22 minute drive to Belfair, WA at the head of Hood Canal.
Love all things oysters? Then you’ll want to join us for OysterFest 2023 featuring the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship, live music and three days of community engagement.
Named for one of the Olympic Peninsula’s most majestic animals, the two small Elk Lakes located within the Hamma Hamma River Valley offer quiet wanderings and a chance to see their namesake. The Elk Lakes offer a great alternative to the nearby oft-crowded Lena Lakes. While this hike is short, the lake’s tranquil shoreline and surrounding old-growth forest invite lingering. Bird watching is good as well as fishing for rainbow trout. Rhododendrons add colorful bouquets to the forest in spring, while maples and cottonwoods brighten the forest with golden touches come autumn.
Imaginations are inspired by the Stump House, a large hollowed out Red Cedar that has been outfitted with a door way, window openings, and a split-shingle roof.
A convocation of eagles is not a feted occasion requiring black gowns and tasseled caps. Like a murder of crows or a gaggle of geese, a convocation is the unexpected collective noun for a group of eagles.
Here’s what to expect when you pedal the rails on the historic Simpson Logging tracks near Shelton.
Olympic National Forest’s Tunnel Creek Trail lies just a few miles south of the popular Big Quilcene Trail. But unlike the Big Quil which leads to Marmot Pass, a high windswept wildflower-rich gap providing sweeping views—the Tunnel Creek trail travels mainly beneath a thick canopy of primeval forest.
Whether you’re seeking a challenging multi-day backpacking adventure, looking for a unique team building experience, or hoping to collect some great photos and make some life-long memories during a vacation, Hike Your Own Hike (HYOH) can design an outdoor adventure on the Olympic Peninsula customized for you