By smacklow in July, 2009
"The trail is part of the Olympic Discovery Trail, and as of July, 2009, the Waterfront Trail extends under that name from the Coast Guard Station near the tip of Ediz Hook, to the bridge over Ennis Creek. It describes a long, flattened, open end loop along the waterfront, encompassing Port Angeles Harbor. The water is rarely more than a few yards over your shoulder. Daytime parking is free out at the tip of the hook.
The trail is paved and level for almost all its length, but does involve a short stretch of road sharing in the central third, as it passes through the waterfront industrial area. Since the ride parallels the waterfront, if you like big ships or small boats this is the place. There are plenty of places to eat right around the ferry dock downtown, where you can take a side trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Victoria, British Columbia. Make sure that you have your US documentation.
Just east of the ferry terminal at Hollywood Beach the ride changes from city downtown to virtual wilderness, as the railbed hugs the bottom of almost vertical bluffs. This is prime habitat and you may see bald eagles flying over the harbor in Port Angeles. At Francis Street there is an easy climb out of the trail for access to food or medical services. The trail passes through the old Rayonier plant at Ennis Creek and is diverted for a few hundred yards to avoid an industrial waste cleanup area. Beyond the bridge the trail continues as the Olympic Discovery Trail.
By stan macklow in March, 2001
"As of now [March,2001], the Waterfront trail extends from the city park near the tip of Ediz Hook, to the gate at the old Rayonier plant. The trail is paved and level for its length, but does involve a stretch of road sharing for the central third, as it passes through the waterfront industrial area. The ride circles the waterfront, and if you like big ships, this is the place. There are plenty of places to eat right around the ferry dock downtown. The Peninsula Trails Coalition and the County are currently negotiating with Rayonier to create a bypass route around the cleanup site at their old mill at the Eastern end of the trail. Once this is done, hopefully this year, work can finish on extending the trail for another four miles along the water to connect with the Olympic Discovery Trail[ODT]. This last four miles will be in virtual wilderness as the railbed hugs the bottom of almost vertical bluffs. This is prime habitat and you will see bald eagles flying over the harbor in Port Angeles. You will then be able to continue for about five more miles on the ODT. This stretch is hilly, and the surface is not really suited for road bikes. The ODT is spotty beyond this, but the roads and local vehicles are bike friendly, and there are great rides on the area roads North of Sequim, especially down around the Dungeness Recreation Area."