Located only a few miles away from the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, the silent rainforests of the coastal Olympic Wilderness beckon all who will listen to their stories of an era gone by. Over two hours from the small town of Port Angeles, and six hours from Seattle, the ancient, verdant haunts of the Lake Ozette area are nearly forgotten by the common tourist, and ignored by the casual hiker, both unwilling to make such a drive. Nonetheless, the boardwalk trek leading over three miles from Lake Ozette through the temperate jungles of North America to Cape Alava and the cold wilds of the northern Pacific, is stunning to say the very least. Eight inch Banana slugs, Bald Eagles, black-tailed deer, and diverse tide pool creatures are just some of the rainforest fauna which await you on what is most sure to be quite an unforgettable experience.
Stats:
Category: Easy
Miles: 6.2
Elevation Gain: 300' (Mostly on sitars throughout various parts of the trip)
Location: Olympic National Park, Olympic Wilderness
The Trail: From the Lake Ozette trailhead and Ranger Station, begin the hike by walking over a quaint bridge atop the drainage of Lake Ozette, the third largest lake in the state of Washington. The trail gains some elevation along the riverbank before splitting. To the left is the more popular, and slightly shorter Sand Point Trail going southward, and to the left, the Cape Alava Trail-your choice for this trip. As is stated on the sign, one with more time could use the Pacific Northwest trail along side the beach to connect the two trips making a loop of 9.2 miles.
Going ahead, the trail meanders through intensely dense old-growth fir forests and its underlying brush, together nearly blocking out the rays of the sun completely, allowing for total shade most of the trip. Transitioning from trail to the wooden boardwalk, the route gently climbs and falls over the next few miles before entering into pristine coastal wilderness prairies. From here, surrounded by high grasses and lined by noble conifers, the roar of the crash of the waves of the Pacific onto the rocky coastline can be heard from afar. Keep a sharp lookout for extravagant yellow and black Banana Slugs, commonly found in the Pacific Northwest from the Redwoods of Northern California to the fjords of southern Alaska. They grow typically from six to eight inches in length, and as wide as a man's thumb. Indeed they are a rather beastly sight to behold.
Before finally descending to the coast, the forest thins out offering the first smells and views of the mighty ocean. Once down on the beach front, walk into the tide pools, and explore the thousands of crabs both large and small hiding under rocks during low tide as well as the the vast expanse of mussels and anemones lying in the still pools of salt water. Bald Eagles soar over head on the hunt for the next meal, while the pine dotted coast looms around and the thunderous crash of the sea sings, all of it telling a part of the wonders of Creation, and the exquisite beauty of life on this planet. After enjoying the views, creatures, and ocean, either return the way you came or connect 1 mile south to the Sand Point Trail for a longer loop.
Hiked July 31st, 2016. Clallam County, WA
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| Trailhead Parking....the softest grass in the world! |
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| Trail begins... |
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| Crossing a small bridge |
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| First Banana slug...yuck |
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| He is sure ugly, yet amazing |
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| Lake Ozette drainage bridge |
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| Ozette River |
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| The Still forest |
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| Trail split |
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| The non-boardwalked beginning |
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| The boardwalk begins |
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| Goodness |
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| Truth |
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| Beauty |
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| Banana Slug again...a brown one that looks a lot like....well...you know what... |
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| A trail bridge |
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| Prairies |
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| Saplings |
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| Trail through the prairie |
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| Lush vegetation |
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| The forest thins as you approach the Ocean |
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| First views of the ocean.... |
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| Cape Alava |
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| the Rocky shore |
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| Distant rocks |
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| Small Crab |
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| Medium Crab |
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| BIG crab |
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| A pair of Bald Eagles in the tree on the waterfront |
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| Zoomed in |
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| "God Bless America..." |
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| A trailside black-tailed deer on the return |
Located only a few miles away from the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, the silent rainforests of the coastal Olympic Wilderness beckon all who will listen to their stories of an era gone by. Over two hours from the small town of Port Angeles, and six hours from Seattle, the ancient, verdant haunts of the Lake Ozette area are nearly forgotten by the common tourist, and ignored by the casual hiker, both unwilling to make such a drive. Nonetheless, the boardwalk trek leading over three miles from Lake Ozette through the temperate jungles of North America to Cape Alava and the cold wilds of the northern Pacific, is stunning to say the very least. Eight inch Banana slugs, Bald Eagles, black-tailed deer, and diverse tide pool creatures are just some of the rainforest fauna which await you on what is most sure to be quite an unforgettable experience. 
Going ahead, the trail meanders through intensely dense old-growth fir forests and its underlying brush, together nearly blocking out the rays of the sun completely, allowing for total shade most of the trip. Transitioning from trail to the wooden boardwalk, the route gently climbs and falls over the next few miles before entering into pristine coastal wilderness prairies. From here, surrounded by high grasses and lined by noble conifers, the roar of the crash of the waves of the Pacific onto the rocky coastline can be heard from afar. Keep a sharp lookout for extravagant yellow and black Banana Slugs, commonly found in the Pacific Northwest from the Redwoods of Northern California to the fjords of southern Alaska. They grow typically from six to eight inches in length, and as wide as a man's thumb. Indeed they are a rather beastly sight to behold. 
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