top of page
Z9J_8859.jpg

History Hikes

Throughout the North Olympic Peninsula

Explore Jefferson County and Beyond

Each year, the North Olympic History Center and JCHS team up to offer guided hikes at historically significant sites around the North Olympic Peninsula.

 

Led by NOHC Executive Director David Brownell, these popular hikes regularly sell out!

Z9J_8799.jpg

2026 Hikes:

  • Saturday, June 20 - Port Williams / Marlyn Nelson County Park (returning from 2024)

Did you know that Port Williams was once a town with its own post office, hotel, and wharf? What is now a simple county park with a boat ramp was once the bustling center of commerce for east Clallam County. 

​

​

  • Saturday, July 18 - qatáy prairie and lagoon

Once covering much of the northeast Olympic Peninsula, the Port Townsend camas prairie is a remnant of a critically important ecosystem that sustained many of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Join us on this tour of the prairie to learn about what happened to the prairies of the Olympic Peninsula, followed by a walk down to what is left of the qatáy lagoon. 

  • Saturday, September 19 - Dungeness and 3 Crabs

This walk explores the Dungeness and “3 Crabs” area north of Sequim. Recently the site of a major ecosystem restoration project, this landscape has many stories to tell—from the natural movements of the Dungeness River to the history of the town of Dungeness and the Dungeness Wharf, which once provided a vital commercial link between the North Olympic Peninsula and the markets of Seattle and Victoria. 

 

Preregistration is required for all History Hikes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About Your Guide: David Brownell

David Brownell holds a BA in History from Hanover College and an MA in Public History from Wright State University. After serving as Research Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office, David moved to Washington in 2015 to take a position as Cultural Resources Specialist for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and in 2018 he was designated as Jamestown’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by Tribal Council. In the fall of 2021, he became Executive Director of the North Olympic History Center. David serves on the board for the Jefferson County Historical Society.

General Info

  • Two hikes offered per date - 10AM and 12:30PM

  • Each hike lasts approximately 90 minutes

  • Distance ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 miles round-trip

  • Capacity limited to 12 participants per hike

  • Pre-registration required. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email from SimpleTix with additional details. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder.

  • Cost: $48 for JCHS or NOHC members; $64 for non-members. Proceeds support collections care, research, exhibitions, and public programs at both organizations.

  • Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from each site.

Membership Discount

Get discounted tickets by becoming a JCHS member and NOHC Member. 

bottom of page