After having to cut short our week-long backpacking trip at Mount Rainier due to smoke and fire danger, we headed to the coast for cleaner air and ocean breezes. We choose to do an expanded version of the Cape Alava loop -- starting at the Ozette Ranger station, hiking the Sand Point trail out and heading south to camp at Yellow Banks, turning north and going past Cape Alava to camp at South Ozette, and then returning via the Cape Alava trail.
Yellow Banks: There is a good water source about midway on the beach, and several well-protected camping areas tucked into the hills. No pit toilet.
South Ozette: Even when we went fairly far upstream to filter water, the water was still salty. Don't plan on the river as a drinking source. There is a stream on the north side of Cape Alava -- fill up there instead (approx. 20 minutes north of the marker for the Cape Alava trail). The South Ozette campsite is accessed by a short rope assist, and has a pit toilet and numerous camping areas in the trees.
This part of the coast is rocky, rugged, and beautiful. Lots of tentative walking on slippery rocks and seaweed, but also otters, eagles, and seals (and we saw bear tracks on the beach too!). Though it wasn't the trip we had originally planned on, we donned our rain gear and had a great few days in this stunning corner of the world.
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