Olympic National Park Wilderness Destination

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	South Coast General Location: Between Quillayute River and Hoh River along Pacific Coast Trailhead: Third Beach Trailhead (north) Oil City trailhead (south) Notices: Hard-sided food container like bear canisters are required. Pets, weapons, and wheeled devices are prohibited on coastal beaches and trails. Contact the WIC for information about trailhead shuttles*. (360) 565-3100	Be a Wilderness Steward. Always Leave No Trace of your stay in the wilderness. South Coast Sea Stack Click on Map for Larger Image Map of South Coast Headland Ladder Mosquito Creek
	Description
	Ecosystem type: Coastal Forest and Ocean Beach Trail tread types: Well maintained General elevation trend: Flat with steep overland trails and ladders. River crossings: Falls Creek can be from ankle to waist deep, Goodman Creek should be forded at low tide and can be from knee deep to 6-8 feet deep and is often unaffordable in winter or during heavy rains, Mosquito Creek should be forded at low tide and is usually knee to waste deep if crossed where it meets with the surf. Unique features: Ocean views, sea stacks (offshore land formations). From Third Beach to just south of Toleak Point are beautiful sand beaches. There are excellent opportunities to view bald eagles and seals, and bird life is common on sea stacks. Whale migration occurs in March/April and October. Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult Distance: 17 miles Elevation change: 1,900 feet gain - sea level to 320 ft. Best Season: Year round
	Trail Conditions
	South Coast Beach Travelway Oil City Trail Third Beach Trail
	Camping
	Permits/Reservations: Obtain permits by phone or in person at the WIC in Port Angeles or in person at Forks Recreation and Information Center. No reservations for South Coast. Group Size Restrictions: Groups are limited to no more than 12 people. Associated groups of more than 12 must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart and may not combine at any time in a group of more than 12. Food Storage Method: Hard-sided food containers are required. Campsites: Primary destinations are Third Beach, Scott's Creek Toleak Point, and Mosquito Creek. There are numerous other campsites and year-round freshwater sources. Toilet Facilities: Pit toilets are available at Third Beach, Scott's Creek, Toleak Point, and Mosquito Creek. In other areas bury waste 6-8" down and 200 ft from campsites and water sources. Water Source: See topographic map for permanent streams. Most coastal water sources have a tea-stained appearance. The light tan color originates from tannin leached from leaves. Boil, filter or treat your water. Giardia is known to exist at Sand Point and in other coastal streams. Stock: Prohibited on all park beaches and beach trails.
	Special Concerns
	Leave No Trace: Leave No Trace of your stay to protect vegetation and prevent further camping regulations. Camp in established sites or on sand to prevent damage to vegetation. Fires: To protect coastal forests, please burn only driftwood. Wildlife Precautions: Due to raccoon problems, all food garbage and scented items must be secured in hard-sided containers such as Bear canisters. To protect raccoons, bears and other wildlife, all food, garbage and scented items must be secured from all wildlife 24 hours a day.
	Safety
	Safety: When traveling along the coast, know the tides. Bring a map and a tide chart to plan your route. Be prepared to hike over headland trails during high tides. Some headlands cannot be rounded during the lowest of tides. When camping on the beach, camp above high tide water line. Privacy & Disclaimer Author: Bryan Bell Last modified on: July 26, 2006 www.nps.gov/olym/wic/dsoco.htm