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General
Information A Wilderness Camping Permit is required for all overnight hikes year round. Obtain your permit at the Wilderness Information Center (WIC) in Port Angeles, the Forks Recreation and Information Center or the Quinault WIC at the South Shore Lake Quinault Ranger Station. When traveling to Cape Alava or Sand Point from the Ozette trailhead, you walk on three miles of boardwalk, which can be extremely slick. It is important to take your time and walk carefully. Soft-soled shoes, such as tennis shoes or lightweight hikers, grip the boardwalk better than stiff hiking boots with lug soles. Reservations are required for overnight hikes in the Ozette area between May 1 and September 30. Hiking on the wilderness coast includes both beach hiking and hiking on trails over forested headlands. On the beach, the hiking surface varies from soft to hard sand, gravel, cobble stones, boulders and large drift logs. Algae-covered rocks and wet logs can be slippery and unstable, often tipping or rolling. Hard lug-soled boots do not give traction on slick rocks. Wear lightweight hiking boots with flexible soles. It is best to stay low, take short steps and keep your hands free for balancing. The variable hiking surfaces of the beach, combined with headland trails and tides, usually limit even strong hikers to between five and ten miles per day. Avoid walking on or picking up tidepool animals. This can kill the animal. Contact the WIC for information about trailhead shuttles. (360) 565-3100 Coastal CampingCamping is permitted along the wilderness coast, except between the Quillayute River and Ellen Creek. Along the Kalaloch strip south of the Hoh River, camping is only allowed in developed frontcountry campgrounds. Quotas are in affect for camping in the wilderness between Yellow Banks north to Duk Point 1.5 miles north of the Ozette River; reservations are required for trips between May 1 and September 30. Read more about current quotas. Only a limited number of traditional forested campsites are located adjacent to the beach. Many visitors choose to camp on the beach itself, which can be done above the high tide line. These sites offer less shelter from wind, sun and weather than the forested sites, but reduce resource damage. Building a driftwood shelter or furniture is discouraged, as it takes away from the coast's wild character. Toilets and SanitationToilets are located at each of the main concentrations of campsites at Cape Alava and Sand Point, and at various other high use camp areas along the beach. In the absence of a toilet, dig a cat hole 200 feet from any campsite or water source in the forest to dispose of human waste. Food Storage On the coast, all food, garbage and scented items must be stored in hard-sided containers such as bear canisters. Bear canisters are now available for loan at the WIC and most park ranger stations for a $3 suggested donation. Along the coast, especially at Cape Alava and Sand Point in the Ozette area, years of heavy use, feeding of wildlife and improper food storage have habituated raccoons to stealing human food. Raccoons are clever, resourceful and aggressive. They can climb ropes, hang from tree branches and leap long distances. Raccoons have learned how to work toggles and zippers, and can unscrew containers. If your container
is not bear proof, it must be hung at least 12 feet high and 10 feet
from the nearest tree trunk 24 hours a day when unattended. Raccoon-resistant
“bear wires” with plastic discs are located between multiple-party sites
at Cape Alava and Sand Point only. Always carry 75-100 feet of rope
to hang containers. Fully hoist your food container to the height of
the main wire. Report any incidents of raccoons getting food. Do not
feed any wild animals! 
NEVER leave unsecured food unattended.
Turning your back for a moment is long enough for a raccoon to snatch
your food.
Store your food in a hard-sided container
with a tight-fitting lid at all times.
Keep a clean camp.
Any type of gear is susceptible
to raccoon thievery. Store any unhung, unscented gear inside your tent
(NO FOOD).
Raccoons can break into Tupperware,
coolers and other types of containers.
Containers known to work reliably
against raccoons and bears: Bear
Canisters Raccoons have been breaking into plastic buckets at Sand Point! Call the WIC to find out how to keep raccoons out of your bucket or use a bear canister. Campfires To assist in restoring damage from heavy use, campfires are not permitted north of Yellow Banks to the headland at Wedding Rocks. This includes the Sand Point area.  Hike
by the Tide! - Tides
can trap you. Do not attempt to round headlands without knowledge of the
tide heights and times.
Along the ocean, rising water can corner you below cliffs. People have died along the Olympic wilderness coast trying to beat the tide. Some headlands require low tides for passage. Some can NEVER be rounded safely even at the lowest tides, so overland routes must be taken. Before traveling along the coast, obtain a detailed topographic map. Your map should indicate areas where tides may be a problem, and the tidal height at which headlands become hazardous or impossible to round. Carry a tide chart. They are available at the WIC and some ranger stations. DON'T GUESS! Know when tides occur and carry a watch. Refer to tide charts before setting out on longer coastal hikes. On the same low tide, it may be possible to get around one headland but not the next. Strong winds or off-coast storms make tides higher than tide charts indicate (see “How to Use a Tide Chart” below), sometimes making normally passable routes impassable. Winter storms can significantly elevate tides and create seriously hazardous conditions. Never underestimate the Pacific Ocean. Always keep in mind that waves can move beach logs which can crush and kill. Strong currents, cold water and hidden rocks make swimming hazardous. Be vigilant for large swells. How to Use a Tide ChartTide charts give the time and height of morning and evening high and low tides in good weather. Look over your map for the route you will follow. Note any locations where you see the words “danger,” “caution” or “round at low tide.” If your map does not include this type of information, obtain a map with those references. See the map key for definitions of hazards. They will vary between maps. “Danger” usually means that a headland cannot be rounded at any time by walking on the beach. “Caution” usually suggests a low tide height below which it may be safe to round headlands. Check the time and height of the two low tides for the day you will be hiking. Note that occasionally there may be only one low tide per day. The safest time to round headlands is within one to two hours before low tide. Rounding a headland on an incoming tide can be dangerous. Headland
Trails Beach
Combing and Beach Debris Garbage and plastic, debris cast from ocean vessels, accumulates on coastal beaches. Do not decorate campsites with beach debris, as this detracts from the wilderness character of the area. Help keep your wilderness beaches clean by carrying out marine debris. Do not touch metal cylinders or other containers that have washed up onshore. They may contain hazardous or explosive materials. If you see a suspicious object, note the type of container, any markings and its exact location. Report this information to a ranger. Subtidal and Offshore AreaThe seastacks and islands located off the coastal strip are National Wildlife Refuges and designated wilderness. They are also part of Olympic National Park and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Rocks and islands that cannot be reached by foot at low tide, as well as Cannonball and Ozette Islands at Cape Alava, are off limits to visitors. This protects nesting birds and other wildlife from human disturbance as well as to protect cultural resources. |
See Below |
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& Disclaimer Author: Bryan Bell Last modified on: July 26, 2006 www.nps.gov/olym/wic/coast.htm |
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The
Olympic Wilderness Coast