Webster's Woods at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center
The Rundown
Spoon Rating:
Distance:
2 spoons, partially wheelchair hikeable
0.4 mile loop
Elevation Change:
25 ft.
Typical Surface:
loose gravel on packed dirt
Typical Width:
Nearest Town:
4 ft
Port Angeles, WA
Cell Phone Reception:
Good
Amenities:
accessible restrooms (during open hours) accessible parking, picnic tables
Max Grade:
12%
*on the recommended route. For reference, an ADA ramp is 2-5%
Why go?
Webster's Woods features public art throughout a 5 acre forested park near downtown Port Angeles. Over 100 sculptures, poetry, and more create a unique experience. Port Angeles Fine Arts Center hosts multiple festivals in the Woods throughout the year, including the popular Light Art Experience with lighted sculptures over the winter holidays. There are several trails that wander through the woods; one loop is generally wheelchair accessible with some caution due to steep grades and loose gravel. During the winter lights, barriers on the trail prevent wheelchair access.
The Hike
The trails throughout the Woods generally have a single layer of loose, 3/4 inch gravel on top of a firm packed surface, with some soft or muddy spots and steep sections. Read on for more details, but note that wheelchair users may have difficulty.
For the most wheelchair accessible starting point, I recommend parking at the Port Angeles Community Players theatre. This large paved lot has two designated accessible parking spots. The spots aren't wide enough to be fully ADA compliant, and neither of them have a van access aisle, but the parking spot on the right is usable with an open area next to it. Check the schedule for performance times to make sure parking is available.
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If you do not need wheelchair accessibility, you can park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center lot or along Lauridsen Blvd.
Image Description: Two parking spots with ADA signs in front of the Port Angeles Community Playhouse.
From the Community Playhouse, head to the northwest corner of the parking lot, by the overflow parking. Follow the gravel path leading into the woods. The trail starts flat and 4 feet wide with some loose gravel. You immediately come to a metal sign pointing to the sculpture park. The trail then declines at 8% for about 30 feet, and you reach a T-intersection. The Arts Center parking lot is straight ahead -- that trail has a 10% grade for 50 feet.
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Go right into the Woods. After a few feet, you come to a 8-10% incline for 15 feet, then the trail levels out briefly. Pass next to some large western redcedar and big leaf maple, then take a slight decline. You'll cross a section with boulders on the right side that protect a drop off, with the sculpture "Pillow Stones" below. The trail is 5-6 feet wide here. Continue on a slightly rolling incline with logs bordering both sides of the trail.
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At about 0.1 mile you reach the meadow. At the time of this writing, there are three wooden benches on the left. The trail forks here - continue straight ahead on the main loop, circling the meadow. Two picnic tables sit out in the meadow; one can be reached by crossing bumpy grass on a slight hill, the other is down a steep hill. You immediately come to 10-12% incline for 15 feet, passing between large Douglas firs. A dirt footpath on the left cuts across the woods; continue straight on the wide gravel trail. There are more boulders on the right, protecting a drop-off as you curve right above the meadow on an 8-10% incline.​​​
During the winter lights exhibit, there is a large rubber protection bump across electrical cords on the other side of the meadow as the trail inclines. This "speed bump" style protector is too high and steep for most wheel-users. It is approximately 5 inches high and 8 inches wide, with a 1 inch threshold and a very steep slope on either side. People using walkers or rollators would need to actively lift their mobility aid over the bump, most wheelchair users would not be able to cross it, and people walking will need to take care not to trip, especially in the dark.
Continuing on the wide gravel trail, take a 2-5% incline for a few feet and pass a very large big leaf maple. You then take a 10-12% incline with a 2% cross-slope for about 30 feet. Come to another rubber bumper guard for an extension cord. This one has a 1/2 inch threshold and is about 4 inches high with a less steep slope, but would still be difficult for most wheel-users, and may not be secure.
Image Description: Section of gravel trail with rocks and then logs protecting a drop-off and "Pillow Stones" on the right.
Image Description: Wide gravel trail as it inclines above the meadow, with boulders protecting the drop off.
Image Description: The second rubber bump protector over electrical cords, with the meadow below.
Continue on a 5% incline for a few feet, and then reach a fork in the trail. The gravel trail on the left travels beneath a stainless steel sculpture of the Pi symbol, and then narrows to less than 32 inches and takes several rolling grades before coming out to the other side of the loop at a sculpture called "A Seat in the Trees."
Go straight ahead at the fork. The trail continues generally flat and 4 feet wide with some loose gravel. You then curve left and get a beautiful view across downtown Port Angeles and Ediz Hook to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The trail takes some slight rolling grades as you continue overlooking the water.
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At 0.2 mile, the trail curves left again and there a drop-off on the right protected by large boulders. The trail is 6-8 feet wide here, then narrows back to 4-5 feet wide. You'll pass another trail fork on the right, where the trail that went beneath the Pi sculpture comes back out. The trail then takes some long, steep grades. Take a 10-12% incline for 30 feet, pass between a big leaf maple on the left and a Douglas fir on the right, then decline at 10% for about 20 feet, and take another 10-12% incline for about 30 feet, decreasing to 10% for less than 100 feet as you approach the gallery.
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As you leave the forest and pass along the wide of the gallery building, there is a wooden bench on the left if you want to take a break. From here, you can either follow the sidewalk around the building and visit the gallery, or continue straight ahead on the gravel trail to finish the hike. The gravel trail takes a slightly rolling 10-12% decline for about 25 feet and then connects with the road that goes up to the gallery. Follow the road down for less than 100 feet, watching out for one cracked, raised section from a root in the surface. Go left and continue through the arts center parking lot to the gravel trail on the other side. Take a 10% decline for 50 feet, then continue straight past the initial intersection into the woods to return to the parking lot at the playhouse.
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Image description: A wide gravel trail curves along a hillside. Downtown Port Angeles and the Strait are in the background.
Image description: A gravel trail continues level through the woods. Another trail forks on the left to a sculpture.
Image description: The Arts center parking lot with the gravel trail into the woods straight ahead. A metal sign on the left gives info about the woods and gallery.
Image description: The "accessible" parking spot at the gallery entrance. It does not meet ADA guidelines, but provides direct access to the gallery.
The Gallery
There is one designated accessible parking spot at the gallery, but it does not meet ADA guidelines. There is a van access aisle, the surface is rough and cracked, and there is a shed and planters that may make access difficult. People frequently park there to un/load, so it may not be available. But it is the only direct access to the gallery.
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​Follow a sidewalk around the courtyard to the gallery door. The door has a lever handle on it, but is unlocked during open hours so that you only have to pull on the door, which is light. Navigating a wheelchair through the entrance may be difficult. Inside the gallery, go right down a hall to reach two single user restrooms. Both have grab bars and generally meet ADA guidelines, though the one at the end of the hall is the largest. ​To reach the art exhibits, go right from the front door and then left through a 42 inch wide entryway. There are two midsize rooms with exhibits, and generally at least 36 inches of clearance to navigate the space.
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Note that the direct route from the gallery to the trails is very steep at 14-16%, so I recommend following the sidewalk around the outer edge of the building to the gravel trail described above if you are on foot and can't do steep grades.
Finding the Trailhead
Pass/Entry Fee:
None. Entrance to the gallery is on a pay-what-you-will basis.
Getting There:
For the Community Playhouse, use 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles. Head south on Race St from Front St, and turn left on Lauridsen Blvd. Continue past the elementary school, and turn left before Liberty St.
Clallam Transit Route 20 stops on Lauridsen across from the arts center and playhouse.
Open Hours:
The Woods are open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk, except during the Light Arts Experience when it is open to 8pm. The Gallery is open Thursday - Sunday, 11am to 5pm.
Most Recent Visit:
November 2025
Trail Map
Click the image to access a PDF.
