Cape Alava-Sand Point Loop
Jul 09, 2009
by
walkingman
—
last modified
Dec 30, 2009 11:34 AM
- Type of Outing
- Multi-night backpack
- 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
Picked 3 nice days this week in July to visit this scenic stretch of coastline. Headed down the Cape Alava leg of the trail, intending to camp one night at the Cape then the next day, hike down the beach past the petroglyphs on to Sand Point and camp there the second night. The boardwalk is in pretty good shape, but be careful! Even slightly damp planks can cause a nasty spill! My poles saved me more than once! Lots of nice camps just off the beach. I did manage to have a small fire, but finding wood at the Cape isn't easy! Don't count on having a fire unless you want to walk a ways down the beach for wood!
Do NOT leave any food out for even a few seconds unguarded! I left some cheese and crackers out for maybe 30 seconds to take a look at the beach and in no time several crows or ravens (not sure which) swooped down to peck away at my snack! Racoons stroll around like they own the place and will no doubt do the same if you don't use the required bear canisters! I was "visited" several times by these bandits, but fortunately, I was prepared and my food was either with me or "locked up". Visit the small "longhouse" memorial a bit north off the beach. It tells about the archeological Makah site found and escavated there many years ago and has lots of whale bones and Native American symbols/artifacts inside. One can almost sense the ghosts of Early Americans roaming and living in that area from long ago!
Strolled down to Sand Point the next morning and saw a handful of the Native Petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks: not sure where the other 40 or so are! Maybe will explore for more next time. Be aware there are a LOT of downed trees along this stretch of beach and going is slow and slippery, even at low tide! I hit the deck hard once, having slipped on a rock and almost did so a couple more times!
Great Sandy Beach at Sand Pt. Lots of nice camps, in spite of being a Friday night. A bit different "feel" than Cape Alava, due to the terrain and scenery there. Not as many raccoons or ravens either! Saw eagles at both camps. Bugs were there, but at a minimum. Both areas are very nice and well worth visiting. The water source at both is running at a bit more than a trickle and I'm not sure what did it, (tannins? sediment?) but my filter plugged up more than once and had to be cleaned!
Overall, a highly recommended (approx. 9 mile)loop trip!
Do NOT leave any food out for even a few seconds unguarded! I left some cheese and crackers out for maybe 30 seconds to take a look at the beach and in no time several crows or ravens (not sure which) swooped down to peck away at my snack! Racoons stroll around like they own the place and will no doubt do the same if you don't use the required bear canisters! I was "visited" several times by these bandits, but fortunately, I was prepared and my food was either with me or "locked up". Visit the small "longhouse" memorial a bit north off the beach. It tells about the archeological Makah site found and escavated there many years ago and has lots of whale bones and Native American symbols/artifacts inside. One can almost sense the ghosts of Early Americans roaming and living in that area from long ago!
Strolled down to Sand Point the next morning and saw a handful of the Native Petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks: not sure where the other 40 or so are! Maybe will explore for more next time. Be aware there are a LOT of downed trees along this stretch of beach and going is slow and slippery, even at low tide! I hit the deck hard once, having slipped on a rock and almost did so a couple more times!
Great Sandy Beach at Sand Pt. Lots of nice camps, in spite of being a Friday night. A bit different "feel" than Cape Alava, due to the terrain and scenery there. Not as many raccoons or ravens either! Saw eagles at both camps. Bugs were there, but at a minimum. Both areas are very nice and well worth visiting. The water source at both is running at a bit more than a trickle and I'm not sure what did it, (tannins? sediment?) but my filter plugged up more than once and had to be cleaned!
Overall, a highly recommended (approx. 9 mile)loop trip!
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