Ozette Triangle

The Ozette Triangle is a classic loop hike on the remote northern coast of Olympic National Park, combining cedar plank boardwalks through old-growth rain forest with dramatic stretches of wild Pacific coastline. The loop connects Ozette Lake to Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, and Sand Point, returning along a three-mile beach section connecting the two coastal endpoints.

The trail to Cape Alava follows a beautifully constructed plank boardwalk for much of its length, winding through ancient Sitka spruce forest and boggy terrain where the wooden walkway protects both hikers and the fragile ecosystem. Cape Alava is a windswept headland where sea stacks rise dramatically from the surf and harbor seals bask on offshore rocks. The area holds deep cultural significance as the site of the Ozette archaeological dig, which unearthed a Makah village buried by a mudslide over 500 years ago. Petroglyphs carved into coastal rocks are visible at Wedding Rocks between Cape Alava and Sand Point, representing one of the finest concentrations of Native American rock art on the Olympic coast. The beach section between the two trail endpoints offers superb tidepooling and wildlife watching, with bald eagles, black oystercatchers, and river otters commonly seen. This loop rewards hikers with an authentic coastal wilderness experience on one of the most isolated stretches of shoreline in the lower 48 states.