Sand Point, Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) — Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024

Bottom Line:

We feel lucky to have encountered some benign weather on the coast this week, especially with the cloud inland. Ozette Triangle is simply a breathtaking hike, with 2 legs through the forest, and a 3rd on the beach, with a lot of seascape, beach and forest variety across its ~7 miles distance. Today we opted for an out-and-back on the (longer) Sand Point leg, and just chilled at Sand Point and beach. This is one of the finest beaches on the Peninsula - wish we had more time to explore the full length of the beach. As it was, we had a late start, and stayed within a smaller area to just drink in the sunset. And what a sunset it was - Washington coast style! :)

Stats:

• Distance: ~7-1/2 miles
• Duration: 3-1/2 hours
• Vertical: 480 ft
• Road/Parking: Ample parking at Lake Ozette trailhead with a surprising number of cars (~ a dozen, with some overnighters); toilets available; National Park Pass required but pass station available for a day pass; NOTE: From SR 112 towards Neah Bay, Ozette Lake Road is an additional ~21 miles to the trailhead... yes, it does seem long (although paved). The trailhead parking lot is at the very end of the road.
• Weather: Partly cloudy, to sunny with increasing clouds; 40Fs; light wind
• Trail: We arrived a little later than planned but were thrilled that the low clouds at Lake Crescent gave way to sunny skies on the coast! Low tide was < 1 foot today during the afternoon, making the tides optimal. NOTE: Several headlands cannot be navigated by beach at >4 ft tides. We originally planned Ozette Triangle, but the trail from Cape Alava south can initially be quite rough (deep seaweed, rocks and down trees - see my earlier trip report), so we decided on an out-and-back to Sand Point via the 3rd leg of the counterclockwise loop. IMHO, Sand Point and the adjacent beach are the highlight of the triangle anyway :) The Sand Point trail leg is about 70% boardwalk, and per the signs, it is very slippery in the winter. No frost this time, but still lost my footing a number of times. In spots, falling off the boardwalk will land you in deep boggy water. A number of large trees have crashed through the boardwalk, and there are missing or loose planks. This is not to say the boardwalk is not well-maintained - it absolutely is with lots of new planking. The weather is just rough out here! The trail begins in the rainforest, but the forest changes as you approach the coast, passing through the Olympic "ghost" forest (from land subsiding due to an earthquake many years ago) before returning to huge, windswept trees near the coast. Today, those trees were rocking with families of vocal eagles! The return after the sunset was very dark, especially in the dense forest near the trailhead - bring a headlamp!! (I once navigated these trails on a moon-free night by the light on my watch... that was mistake you only make once! I still remember the incredible darkness of this deep forest) I do love hiking in the dark... one's senses amplified, methodical steps to avoid a slit/faceplant on the boardwalk, our footsteps on the boardwalk sounding somehow distant, like the foley-artist generated footsteps that are not quite right in an old movie. Last time, I encountered bears again in the dark on the return - we were all surprised! The only light near the trailhead was the bright stars way overhead above the towering treetops. Magical :) NOTE: Dogs not permitted on this NP trail; also no bears time, unlike my last hike at Thanksgiving.
• Takeaway: This is a special part of Olympic National Park with the combination of rain forest, beaches and fantastic seascapes littered with sea stacks, boulders and tide pools (the latter with sufficiently low tide); Sand Beach itself is one of the best beaches around - wide, flat and long. Sand Point is the ultimate summer camping spot (permitted required). Want to do a full hike from Rialto to Shi Shi one of these days... if only "work" did not get in the way ;)

If you leave before sunset (yes, the forest is dark and slippery), you are "close" to Cape Flattery trail with spectacular sunset views and a much easier and shorter trail to navigate in the dark!

There are even lower late afternoon tides forecast later this week.

The attached, short 4K video captures the trail to the coast and sunset.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=9459450&legacy=1
• https://www.instagram.com/wta_alpinewanderer/