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Ozette Triangle

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.5 (42)
  1. Areas
  2. WA
  3. …Olympic Peninsula
  4. Olympic National Park
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“A wonderfully pleasant loop to the coast with very little elevation change ”

Megan W
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Map Key

9.6

Miles

15.4

KM

Loop

232' 71 m

High

4' 1 m

Low

578' 176 m

Up

571' 174 m

Down

2%

Avg Grade (1°)

13%

Max Grade (7°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Family Friendly The Ozette Triangle's moderate grades, abundant sea life, and proximity to the coast make for a wonderful multi-day backpacking loop with children.

Overview

How cool: this trail visits Cape Alava, the westernmost point on the US mainland (of the contiguous 48 states)! This loop is a popular undertaking for beginning backpackers, but makes a great outing for hikers too. Budget extra time to explore the tide pools and do some poking around through all the interesting flotsam that washes up on the beach.

Need to Know

Check the ranger's tide tables before heading out. The tides can be large and make travel on the beach difficult in places.

Description

This enjoyable loop can be done in either direction. What follows is a description of the counter-clockwise route. Start from the parking area and seasonal ranger station off Seafield Road. Cross the Ozette River and take the right fork onto the Cape Alava Trail heading west. The Cape Alava Trail is well maintained and composed mostly of (sometimes slippery) boardwalk and sections of stairs. Traverse mostly flat ground with a few rolling sections through ferny, wet forest.

The raised boardwalk keeps you out of the boggy areas. The last part of the trail descends a few flights of stairs over the bluff to the beach - use the rope to steady yourself as needed. At the beach, there are many campsites scattered about and a pit toilet. Depending on the tides, the shoreline can be a wonderful place for exploring tide pools and general beach combing.

The next segment of the "Triangle" is a scramble south on the beach to Sand Point. Follow the rugged coastline past driftwood obstacles and over sand and rocks. A little less than 1/3 of the way down the beach is the Wedding Rock petroglyphs, so called because of the suggestive pose of the figures. There are also a few campsites near here. Next, look for red/black circular signs which mark the two headlands to climb - use the ropes to pull yourself up the rooty parts. Along the rest of the way, enjoy views of Ozette Island, sea stacks, Cannonball Island and a neat natural arch.

Upon reaching the rocky peninsula of Sand Point, you leave the coast behind and head inland to catch the North Sand Point Trail. There are campsites at this junction in addition to the sites just south of Sand Point. Take the North Sand Point Trail uphill to the northeast, first through dry stands of forest. Then transition on boardwalks through more dense jungle-like vegetation on gentle slopes. Finally, arrive back at the junction with the Cape Alava Trail, and head east back to the parking area to close the loop.

Flora & Fauna

Bald eagles, seabirds, owls, harbor seals, deer, rabbit raccoon. Grey whales off the coast in late spring and summer. Cedar, spruce, hemlock, huckleberry, salal, ferns.

History & Background

In the 1890's settlers populated this area with farms, schools and shops. Some remnants of their homesteads remain. Just to the north, on the sheltered side of Cape Alava, is an important archaeological site. In the 1960's the coastline eroded to expose Ozette Indian stone artifacts, longhouses, and bones - some 2000 years old. In all, archaeologists recovered 50,000 pieces which are now housed in the Makah Museum in Neah Bay. After excavation was complete, the scientists reburied the site and planted vegetation.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Olympic National Park

Shared By:

Megan W
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 42 votes

#4

in Olympic National Park

#277

Overall
  4.5 from 42 votes
5 Star
64%
4 Star
29%
3 Star
5%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
2%
Recommended Route Rankings

#4

in Olympic National Park

#23

in Washington

#277

Overall
23 Views Last Month
13,734 Since Apr 1, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate
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6%
71%
9%
12%
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Photos

Some awesome sea stack views
Feb 25, 2015 near Forks, WA
The Ozette Coast is gorgeous in the throes of summer.
Jun 26, 2017 near Forks, WA
View towards the south from Sand Point.
Aug 20, 2023 near Forks, WA
Goodnight sun
Aug 26, 2017 near Forks, WA
Little bit of coastal meadow
Aug 26, 2017 near Forks, WA
So many rock towers along this route
Aug 26, 2017 near Forks, WA

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Weather

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 16, 2024
Rachel Affleck
Jul 31, 2023
Madison Martinez
9.6mi — 6h 00m
Oct 6, 2022
Kyle Harvey
4mi
Sep 8, 2022
Tilman Giese
Sep 1, 2022
Adam S
Out and along the coast to Tskawahyah Island, then south to the trail junction while racing the tide 11.7mi — 4h 15m
Aug 20, 2022
Gaye Scheel
Aug 7, 2022
Su Jin Kim
Aug 5, 2022
Vinh Tran

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