Sand Point Trail

Sand Point Trail is a 5.6-mile out-and-back from Ozette Ranger Station to a wide sandy beach on Olympic's Pacific coast. The park lists the beach at 2.8 miles one way; allow about 3 to 4 hours with a short stop at the shore. Most of the walk is boardwalk through coastal forest, with gentle ups and downs and about 150 feet of total gain. It's a good choice if you want a beach walk without taking on the full Ozette Triangle. The return trip is still a real half-day outing, even though the climb is mild.

The trails start behind Ozette Ranger Station and share a short stretch with the Cape Alava route. At the signed junction, turn left for Sand Point. The path runs through coastal forest, shifting from more open growth to thicker shade, with salal and small flowers along the understory. Most of the route is wooden boardwalk with a few steps and small rises. Some sections are uneven, and the boards get very slippery when wet or frosty; softer-soled shoes grip better than stiff, hard-lug boots.

Near the coast, you'll hear the waves before the path forks. Either branch reaches the beach; the left one is more direct to the campsites and privy. The final approach crosses driftwood piles, then the forest opens onto broad sand with room to wander. Tidepools and shorebirds are worth a closer look, and binoculars may help spot marine mammals offshore. For a photo, use the reflective pools and sea stacks to give the wide beach some scale when they're visible.

The boardwalk trail ends at the beach. Continuing north along the shore toward Cape Alava turns this into the separate Ozette Triangle, roughly a 9-mile loop with about 3 miles of sand and rocky beach between the two boardwalk legs. That shoreline has tide-dependent headlands; check a tide table before going farther and don't try to round a headland when the water is in.

Park at Ozette Ranger Station; the trail starts just beyond it. A picnic area and accessible restrooms are nearby. Pets aren't allowed on park trails or beaches. The day hike doesn't require a wilderness camping permit, but an overnight at the coast does; bear canisters are required and campfires are prohibited at Sand Point.