Ozette loop

Trail Description

From the trailhead at Lake Ozette this trail travels northwest for around 3 miles through the coastal rain forest and a small prairie to Cape Alava. There is a slight elevation gain to almost 250 feet at the highest point. There are narrow boardwalks through much of the trail to prevent hikers form having to slog through the mud, and because the trail would quickly become overgrown in places during the off season. At Cape Alava there is a stream that provides fresh water, but it is tan colored from all of the tannin in it that leaches out of the leaves and wood as it travels through the forest. There are also a few amazing campsites that are at the base of the hill and within a stones throw of high tide, but they are in a flat grassy area. There is also a pit toilet that was added to make a lower impact from the high useage this trail gets in the summer.
From Cape Alava, you travel south down the beach for about 3 miles to Sand Point. The beach is narrow and varies from sandy to rocky, and from clear to being covered with driftwood. The beach is so narrow at high tide that there are places where a tree that has fallen over on the steep hillside has a root ball on the side of the hill, and the top of the tree is in the ocean. There are also two headlans that project into the ocean except at low tide. There is a steep trail that goes over both of them so that they are passable at high tide also. For ease of hiking this trip is recommended for a low tide hike, with the added benefit that there are petroglyphs carved on the ocean side of the rocks on the south side of the northern headland. These are known as Wedding Rocks. From this point south there are no campfires allowed.
At Sand Point there are campsites in the trees and another pit toilet. The trail from sand point has very little elevation change, and also has boardwalks. The trail meets back up with the Cape Alava trail near the trailhead.