Cape Alava-Sand Point Loop
Jan 17, 2009
by
Hikingqueen
—
last modified
Dec 30, 2009 11:34 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Ozette Triangle: Cape Alava - Sand Point Loop
- Region: Olympics -- Coast
- Agency: Olympic National Park
- Trails: Cape Alava-Sand Point Loop (##31)
- Avg Rating: 4.10
- Be Aware Of
- Blowdowns
1-17-09 Cape Alava
Spur of the moment trip decided on Thursday to head out to Peninsula. I’ve wanted to do this hike for over a year. After reading GaliWalker’s report from 1/3/09 I was inspired and figured why not..
So after finding a cute little cabin for the night at Chito Beach resort I set out. I left my house at 3:30 AM Saturday thinking I would arrive at trail head around 9:00 AM. But I didn’t realize that hwy 112 was closed. I saw the sign but figured I was getting off before the closure, so that little detour cost me about an hour. I have GPS, state map, and had to ask for directions in Joyce even..Oh well I got to the trail at 10.
I paid my $15 and set out. I had driven for 6 hours, the longest I’ve ever traveled for a hike. This had better be a good one! The trail started out fine until the dreaded boardwalks..I cursed these suckers.
slipped SO many times and jerked my whole body trying to catch myself. It was NOT fun at all. I got to the Y of Sandpoint/Alava and looked at where the sun was originally I was going to do the loop Cape Alava first to Sandpoint but switched at the last moment and did Sandpoint first. It was a good decision so the sun was not in my face. It was slow going on those sheets of ice, pieces of wood that had any slant both feet just slid all the way till the end of the piece.. Not cool.
Anyway, I finally arrived at the beach at 11:30 right when tides were at the lowest for the day! Perfect timing I’d say. And if I’d arrived any earlier the boardwalks would have been even worse. The sights were truly breath taking. I ran to the big grassy rock, I’m assuming it was Sandpoint and climbed to the top, looked at the views from all sides… then I cruised around in the tide pools. Then saw a bunch of eagles flying around. Continued down the beach talking with a really nice couple. Everyone I came in contact with was complaining about those pesky boards. I wished I had my traction devices but I switched backpacks and they were at home. The beach was like nothing I had ever seen, the stacks were jaw dropping. I’ve seen pics before and was so glad I was finally there live in person and the weather was fantastic, 50’s and t-shirt weather… sure in the shade was frost and ice but on the beach there was zero wind. Definitely worth the drive!
I finished the trail around 4:00 and next was trying to find my room which I thought was in Sekiu but turns out it was 8 miles west and I had no cell phone reception so I stopped at the local diner and called for directions. I pulled in just as the sun was setting, god it was a perfect sunset. They have about 4 cabins here and mine was $115 a night, not bad at all, generally they like 2 night min, but I sweet talked her to hooking me up with a room. I had the Wolf theme room right on the water and it was clean and neat, little kitchen even. I got some beer and chilled out and went to bed early. Sunday I set out for Cape Flattery @ Neah Bay. Didn’t have good luck here, first the garbage is littered all over as you drive in the reservation and it was really sad how dumpy the town beer cans where everywhere on the beach, posted signs were everywhere you had to buy a permit, but I was limited on time and figured I would see if I could pay at the trail if I even wanted to hike. I was SORE today.. I got about 2 miles maybe before Cape Flattery and a couple of trees were over the road and you couldn't park or go any further, so I just headed home after that. Bummer I wasted gas and time on this area. I saw pics and it looks cool. I just don’t understand how you could have this land and then not take care of it and take pride in your home. Oh, well I don’t have to live there.
Stats 10 miles with side trips hiking 6 hours driving, 6 hours hiking 3 hours home..GREAT TRIP!
Spur of the moment trip decided on Thursday to head out to Peninsula. I’ve wanted to do this hike for over a year. After reading GaliWalker’s report from 1/3/09 I was inspired and figured why not..
So after finding a cute little cabin for the night at Chito Beach resort I set out. I left my house at 3:30 AM Saturday thinking I would arrive at trail head around 9:00 AM. But I didn’t realize that hwy 112 was closed. I saw the sign but figured I was getting off before the closure, so that little detour cost me about an hour. I have GPS, state map, and had to ask for directions in Joyce even..Oh well I got to the trail at 10.
I paid my $15 and set out. I had driven for 6 hours, the longest I’ve ever traveled for a hike. This had better be a good one! The trail started out fine until the dreaded boardwalks..I cursed these suckers.
slipped SO many times and jerked my whole body trying to catch myself. It was NOT fun at all. I got to the Y of Sandpoint/Alava and looked at where the sun was originally I was going to do the loop Cape Alava first to Sandpoint but switched at the last moment and did Sandpoint first. It was a good decision so the sun was not in my face. It was slow going on those sheets of ice, pieces of wood that had any slant both feet just slid all the way till the end of the piece.. Not cool.
Anyway, I finally arrived at the beach at 11:30 right when tides were at the lowest for the day! Perfect timing I’d say. And if I’d arrived any earlier the boardwalks would have been even worse. The sights were truly breath taking. I ran to the big grassy rock, I’m assuming it was Sandpoint and climbed to the top, looked at the views from all sides… then I cruised around in the tide pools. Then saw a bunch of eagles flying around. Continued down the beach talking with a really nice couple. Everyone I came in contact with was complaining about those pesky boards. I wished I had my traction devices but I switched backpacks and they were at home. The beach was like nothing I had ever seen, the stacks were jaw dropping. I’ve seen pics before and was so glad I was finally there live in person and the weather was fantastic, 50’s and t-shirt weather… sure in the shade was frost and ice but on the beach there was zero wind. Definitely worth the drive!
I finished the trail around 4:00 and next was trying to find my room which I thought was in Sekiu but turns out it was 8 miles west and I had no cell phone reception so I stopped at the local diner and called for directions. I pulled in just as the sun was setting, god it was a perfect sunset. They have about 4 cabins here and mine was $115 a night, not bad at all, generally they like 2 night min, but I sweet talked her to hooking me up with a room. I had the Wolf theme room right on the water and it was clean and neat, little kitchen even. I got some beer and chilled out and went to bed early. Sunday I set out for Cape Flattery @ Neah Bay. Didn’t have good luck here, first the garbage is littered all over as you drive in the reservation and it was really sad how dumpy the town beer cans where everywhere on the beach, posted signs were everywhere you had to buy a permit, but I was limited on time and figured I would see if I could pay at the trail if I even wanted to hike. I was SORE today.. I got about 2 miles maybe before Cape Flattery and a couple of trees were over the road and you couldn't park or go any further, so I just headed home after that. Bummer I wasted gas and time on this area. I saw pics and it looks cool. I just don’t understand how you could have this land and then not take care of it and take pride in your home. Oh, well I don’t have to live there.
Stats 10 miles with side trips hiking 6 hours driving, 6 hours hiking 3 hours home..GREAT TRIP!
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Sunrise View from my cabin
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