The views were fantastic, and the short side trail down to the cove was well worth the scramble down and back. Trail conditions were poor - about half of it was mud, and there were a few downed trees across the path as well.

The Striped Peak trail is located on state forest land, beginning in Clallam County's Salt Creek Recreation Area. This is a unique area, rising from dramatic coastline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, straight up to an 1100-foot peak hovering over the saltwater. Although the county park portion is justifiably popular and not too far from Port Angeles, I saw very few people on my hike. The trail is in excellent shape all the way to a big-picture overlook at its uppermost point, where there is an alternate trailhead. From here, Vancouver Island stretches out across the horizon beyond the great blue Straight. Mount Constitution is visible in the San Juans, though is overwhelmed by Mount Baker behind it. Other Cascades peaks are also easy to pick out. The forest, where the 2-mile (one-way) trail spends much of its time, is primarily second growth. However, one fairly substantial segment is indisputably old growth, with several large Douglas-firs, grand firs, and red cedars. Adjacent to this grove on either side are sections that were apparently logged many decades ago, with only a few select Douglas-firs removed. Viewing the old growth area at a distance from a grassy area in the county park sometime later, primeval forest appeared to extend from the shore to nearly the summit of Striped Peak along its north face, and was perhaps a half-mile in width. Obviously, this is small potatoes compared to the extensive old growth forest remaining in nearby Olympic National Park, but it does offer a rare opportunity to experience a glimpse of what was once an extremely remote and wild coastline. One would think the area deserving of Natural Resources Conservation Area status through the DNR, similar to Tiger Mountain or Mount Si. Another treat of this area is accessed by a short, steep spur trail down to a little cove on the shore. The beach here is surprisingly picturesque -- extremely rugged and covered everywhere by intertidal organisms. The sea life is so thick, it's impossible to avoid crushing some of the little creatures regardless of how carefully you walk, and the area above the high tide line requires a spider's talents to traverse. I walked a short distance out to a point to get the lay of the land, but turned around out of the guilt that grew with every crunch beneath my feet. My suggestion: Once getting to the cove, walk a few steps out on the rocks until you can witness firsthand the magnificent intertidal community before you, then simply sit and ponder the waves. Let the critters keep on doing their thing.