Leadbetter Point State Park - Dune Forest Loop — Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

Southwest Washington > Long Beach Area

No official region on the selection map for this hike. North end of the Long Beach Peninsula. Drive past all the Kite shops, Ice Cream vendors and tacky tourist traps in Long Beach. Keep driving north, past the (unfortunately out or business) ARK Restaurant, past one of the most pretentious ego gates in the state, keep driving until you can't go no more. We started early and were greatly rewarded. First we headed east to see what was happening on Willipa bay. A sweep with the binoculars revealed about 20 Great Blue Herons in the near shore shallows. We walked north along the shore and saw some dunlin and plovers. Another group of herons with two unexpected visitors, brown pelicans. Turning west into the interior we spooked some sunning garter snakes. In about a mile and a half we came out onto an incredible stretch of (car-less) beach. Turning back inland the trail became slightly overgrown and in need of some clearing. The mosquitos were numerous and hungry along this part of the trail. We walked the entire 5 miles without seeing another person. The early hikers get the trail to themselves.