We made this a loop hike, starting at North Beach County Park, going clockwise along North Beach, around Point Wilson, and back through Fort Worden. No permit or Discover Pass is needed to park at North Beach County Park. Parking note:
The parking lot at North Beach County Park is small; avoid parking in the adjacent neighborhood.
It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day and the tide was out. We walked along the north beach looking for pretty pebbles and admiring the beautiful glacial stratigraphy on the bluff face. While walking the shoreline, a Bald Eagle swooped down and plucked a fish right out of the water not more than 20 feet away, a breathtaking sight. The tide was low enough such that we could walk in sand all the way around Point Wilson. We stopped and checked out the lighthouse, which was closed. We walked along the south beach past the campground to the little store, the Cable House Canteen, where we picked up a couple cold canned drinks. We chatted a little with the campground host who handed out a couple treats for our two dogs. Then up the hill we walked to the main Fort Worden area with all the former barracks and other buildings. A mobile coffee stand, Java Gypsy, was set up there. We bought a couple iced mochas from them and sat down at an outside table at the Common (which also has nice restrooms). From there we walked through the forest campground and picked up the Chinese Garden Trail back to North Beach County Park.
Total mileage was about four miles. Our route along North Beach can be done at low tide. Daytime lows generally occur in spring and summer.
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