The tour crosses the Skokomish River delta, a thinly wooded and swamp tideland. The highway swings across the Skokomish River, and around the upper end of Hood Canal, which bends northeast at this point. Placid tides ebb and flow over the flats below the steeply pitched foothills; beyond, the snow-crests of the Olympic range may be glimpsed occasionally. The panoramas of water, sandy beaches, massed banks of pink rhododendrons, and tall timber are ever-changing in the morning fog, afternoon sun, and long twilight shadows.

The Skokomish River is really two rivers, the north fork and the south fork which come together near the Great Bend of Hood Canal. The north fork is generally considered the main river and drains a large section of Olympic National Park.