Full disclosure this was not a backpack but rather a multi-night camping road trip. We stayed in state parks, hit the beaches during the day, and dug clams at low tide each evening.

We were blessed with a five day weather window miracle. Nights were bitter cold but the days were glorious. We were quite impressed with the wildlife including seals, sea otters, many many migrating birds, deer, and a whole host of aquatics.

The trails were mostly deserted. Beaches, especially at low tide were full of folks razor
Clamming. I can’t blame them though since that is why we were there.

One day we drove up to Lake Quinalt. Another we went as far south as Tokeland. We availed ourselves to numerous crab and oyster shacks along the way.

I hiked this trail so you don't have to. The beach is lovely, but this trail along the spit is decently overgrown with sharp brush and other bushes. In some ways it's a glorified deer path. We did see some deer, and a harbor seal down at the river, but I'm not sure it was worth the hour long stomp through the brush and soft beach sand. Do yourself a favor and stop about 0.5 miles in where the look-throughs to the beach end.

This is definitely a hidden gem. There was only one other group of individuals on the beach. I’m surprised not more people come to this beach it’s so pretty and quiet. The trail get goes over the creek and past the dunes, then you can walk on the beach to the split, all very pretty and easy to navigate.

If you don’t like crowds and cars in the beach, this is the place to go!
We took the trail by the picnic shelter and worked our way north through the dunes. The trail is in good shape except for a couple spots that looks like it’s going to erode into the creek.
Eventually we cut across to the beach where we had the place to ourselves.
For the return, we decided to take the beach, which meant crossing the shallow and almost warm water of Cooper Creek. The beach is flat with firm sand that makes for easy walking. We cut back over to the creek and followed it until we found the bridge. Once we crossed the bridge, we had to backtrack a bit through the woods to get to the SP parking lot.
Love this beach!

We arrived mid- morning on a holiday Monday. There were only two cars in the lot. Discover pass required. The flush and sink bathrooms were open and stocked. The trail through the dunes is east to follow, with a few nice viewpoints out past the creek to the beach. Lots of game trails and evidence of lots of deer. There are a couple portions of the trail that has eroded away at the edge of the river, but alternate paths through the brush and dunes are available and easy to access. Once we got out to the beach, we saw lots of gulls and sandpipers. Also lots of sand dollars. And lots of sea trash- buoys, plastic, pallets, ropes, bottles, even a toilet and a sink. When we made it to the end of the spit, we could see Copalis rock in the mist. We walked along the Copalis river for a little while before turning around and going back the way we came. Weather was misty and windy, and we saw only two other people during our entire hike.