Recreation

Grays Harbor County is located in an area of extraordinary natural beauty, unprecedented climate and abundant natural resources. The County sits at the center of Washington's Pacific coast. Its eastern border is less than 15 minutes west of Olympia (the state capital), an hour southwest of downtown Seattle and 2 hours northwest of Portland, Oregon. The mild year-round-climate, lack of overcrowding and moderate cost-of-living provide an outstanding quality of life for Grays Harbor residents and an exceptional location for your business.

Ocean Beaches

Grays Harbor ocean beaches offer many recreational activities, including clamming, fishing and surfing. There are over 55 miles of open ocean beaches and because the beaches were once the only means of travel from coastal town to town, they are still treated as a state highway and motor vehicles are allowed on most of the beach (speed limit 25 mph-radar enforced). The bay and the ocean provide unlimited fishing, boating, hiking and horseback riding.

Olympic National Park

The Olympic National Park extends into the County's northern border. It receives over 4 million visitors a year and is one of the most visited National Parks in the U.S, even more visited than Yellowstone. Also located in the county is the Quinault Rain Forest, one of three rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula. The combined rain forest is one of three in the entire world and the only one in the world's northern hemisphere - the other two are in New Zealand and Chile. Average rainfall in the forests is over 140 inches a year.

Festivals and Events

Weekly festivals and events are a fixture of every community in Grays Harbor County throughout the year. From whale-watching to oysters, woodcarving to sand-sculptures, kite-flying to hot air-balloons, dog shows to rodeos, cranberry to zucchini-festivals.... Grays Harbor County has something for everyone... all the time.

Parks, Wildlife Areas and Trails

Grays Harbor County has a national park, 9 state parks, 9 wildlife conservation areas and numerous trails and walkways located within its borders. And each incorporated community has its own system of parks, interpretive trails and recreational facilities for contemplative walks or invigorating exercise. Bald eagles, herds of elk, migrating whales, and the peaceful solitude of massive firs and hemlocks are never too far away in Grays Harbor County.

Waterways

For Centuries, Grays Harbor County waterways have been a source of industry, resources and recreation. With direct access to the ocean, harbor, rivers, sloughs, creeks and lakes, Grays Harbor County is a great place to explore by water. More than 12,000 visitors from around the world have cruised into the Harbor aboard luxury cruise-vessels for a taste of northwest history and natural beauty. The coast provides a variety of boating activities including deep-sea fishing, pleasure boating and whale watching. From the coast, visitors and residents can sail upriver to restaurants and activities in Aberdeen and Hoquiam. Personal and guided river fishing, sightseeing, motor boating and kayaking trips on the many rivers and sloughs are relaxing recreational activities.