Shi Shi

Shi Shi is ever changing. Most of the changes are wrought by the ocean which shifts the sands, changes river mouths, and tosses all kinds of flotsam up onto the beach. The Makah Indians have made lots of changes themselves. They've created a new, spacious parking lot with permanent restrooms and a very nice trail with puncheons and bridges for about 1/3 of the way to the cliff. The other two thirds remain a combination of forest trail, ORV raceway, and series of sloppy, black, boot sucking mud holes. Hikers have beaten primitive paths around these morasses but even these succumb eventually to mud. These must be water table or spring fed because it had not rained lately as evidenced by other parts of the trail which used to be mud but now were dried out considerably. The zig zag path down to the beach is steep and can be slippery when wet, but was no problem this weekend.

Even with lots of people at the beach for the Memorial weekend, there was plenty of space for all. The tide was average so most pitched their tents right on the high beach among the dried out logs. Beach fires are permitted. Lots to see out there, especially point of arches which are accessible at low tide.

To get there, go to the Makah Indian reservation and take the road to Hobuck Beach. Past that beach, look for a white house at the top of a small hill. You can park there for $5 per day. Hike about a quarter mile around a bend and there is the parking lot and trailhead. If you are not staying overnight, you can go directly to the trailhead parking lot.

Final word - don't kick the red balls. These big floats from fishing nets are thick plastic and often full of sand. They are hard as concrete and unimpressed by the force of a mere human foot.