Head out of Port Townsend at about 9:30 AM via Hwy 19 / Chimacum Rd and make a leisurely circuit south through the quieter east-county backroads toward Ludlow Falls. On a good traffic day this is about a 45–60 minute run, but with photo stops and a little rural-road pacing it’s smart to budget more like a half day of driving between waterfalls. Parking can be tight at the smaller pullouts, so leave the big spots to the trailheads and avoid blocking mailboxes, gates, or farm access. Your first stop, Dickerson Falls, is a quick, shaded woodland walk and a nice way to get your legs moving before the longer waterfall stop later; plan on about 45 minutes total, including a slow look around and the drive in and out.
Continue south to Rocky Brook Falls in the Dosewallips / Brinnon area, which is the “worth the detour” waterfall of the day. The trail is short and usually very doable, but the payoff is big: a classic Olympic Peninsula cascade with a dramatic, mossy setting that photographs well even in softer light. Give yourself about 1 to 1.5 hours here once you include parking, the walk, and lingering for photos. After that, head up the highway for lunch at Lake Crescent Lodge—the setting is the real draw, with calm water, mountain views, and a reliably easy sit-down break. Expect about $20–35 per person and roughly an hour if you keep it simple; it’s the kind of place where you want to sit by the windows, reset, and not rush back to the car.
On the way back east, time Mt. Walker Viewpoint for the clearest big-picture look at the day: sweeping views over Hood Canal, the Olympic Mountains, and on a clear day a very satisfying sense of how much ground you’ve covered. The road up is steep but short, and the stop itself only needs 30–45 minutes, including the viewpoint and a few photos. It’s one of those classic peninsula pull-overs where the weather can change fast, so bring a layer even in July. If you still have energy, descend toward Port Ludlow Village and finish with an easy harborfront dinner at one of the seafood spots near the marina; it’s a relaxed way to end the loop, with dinner usually running about $25–45 per person.
From Port Ludlow, head back to Port Townsend on the most straightforward return route, usually the same Hwy 19 / Chimacum Rd combination depending on where you want to drop back in. Give yourself a little cushion if you’re leaving after dinner, since dusk and deer both show up quickly on the rural stretches. If you want one last bonus stop on the way home, a quick harbor look or coffee in Chimacum is the easiest add-on, but otherwise this is a good day to roll straight back and call it early.