Shi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway

This route is consistently rated as moderate to strenuous. Its difficulty stems from the rugged, varied terrain, including sandy beaches, challenging cobble sections, and steep, muddy overland trails with rope assists. The need to carefully plan around tide charts also adds to its complexity.

The Shi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway covers approximately 15-16 miles. While the moving time might be around 8-9 hours, due to the challenging terrain and tide dependency, most hikers plan for a multi-day backpacking trip, often 2-3 days, to fully experience it and allow for tide windows.

The terrain is highly diverse. You'll encounter muddy forested sections, fine and coarse sand, gravel, and challenging stretches of cobbles and small boulders often called 'ankle-twisting beaches'. Expect to navigate around or over large driftwood. Headlands require detours onto steep, muddy overland trails, many equipped with rope assists for climbing and descending.

The travelway offers spectacular coastal scenery. Highlights include the iconic Point of Arches Reef with its stunning sea stacks and natural arches, perfect for tide pooling. You'll also pass by Cape Alava and the beautiful Shi Shi Beach. Keep an eye out for wildlife like sea otters, eagles, and seals.

Yes, several permits are necessary. For overnight trips, a Wilderness Camping Permit is required from Olympic National Park. Reservations are recommended. Additionally, a Makah Recreation Permit is needed to access Shi Shi Beach. All food and scented items must be stored in a park-approved bear canister. You can find more information on the NPS website.

Parking is available at both ends of the travelway. For Shi Shi Beach, parking is typically found at the Makah Indian Reservation near Neah Bay. For the Ozette River end, parking is at the Ozette Trailhead. This is a point-to-point route, so hikers often arrange a shuttle or car drop-off at either end.

No, dogs are generally not permitted on the wilderness coast trails within Olympic National Park, including the Shi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway. This is to protect the fragile coastal ecosystem and wildlife.

The best time to hike is typically during the drier months of late spring, summer, and early fall (May through October) when weather conditions are generally more stable and daylight hours are longer. However, even then, be prepared for coastal fog and rain. Winter hiking is possible but significantly more challenging due to increased rainfall, colder temperatures, and potentially higher tides.

Yes, the route is part of the larger Olympic Coast North trail system. It also overlaps with sections of the Shi Shi to Ozette River Beach Travelway (as defined by OpenStreetMap) and briefly touches the Ozette Loop trail near its southern end.

The most critical consideration is tide-dependent travel. Many sections of the beach and especially the Ozette River crossing become impassable at high tide. You must carry and meticulously consult a tide chart for the Olympic Coast and plan your hiking segments to coincide with low tides to ensure safe passage and avoid being stranded or forced onto difficult overland bypasses.

Given the challenging terrain and coastal weather, essential gear includes sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with excellent ankle support, rain gear, layers of clothing, a map and compass/GPS, a first-aid kit, and a water filter or purification tablets (water sources can be limited or seasonal). Don't forget a tide chart, and gloves can be helpful for the rope sections on overland trails. A park-approved bear canister is mandatory for food storage.