Cape Alava (Ozette Triangle)
Cape Alava (Ozette Triangle)
Forest, beaches, petroglyphs and tidepools… this single night adventure is an epic introduction to the Washington coast.
From Union, we drive 4 hours along the scenic highway 101 first north along the Hood Canal before meandering west towards the beautiful beaches on the Northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula. We begin our hike at the Ozette Ranger station on the north end of Lake Ozette, the largest unaltered natural lake in the state. We will stroll along a raised boardwalk through the lush coastal forest of cedars and salal for just over 3 miles. The crashing sounds of waves will mark our arrival at Cape Alava, our camp for the night.
On our second day we will pack up camp and head south along the beach. On this stretch of the journey you will revel in the views of the rocky outcroppings as we look for the petroglyphs, ancient evidence of life here long ago. If the tide is in our favor, we can find tide pools to investigate colorful starfish and anemone. Along the trek we have time to enjoy these beautiful beaches and keep our eyes out for sea lions, seals and bald eagles. After 3 miles we duck back into the forest and make our way 3 miles back towards the Ozette Ranger station on a new trail and upon return will have completed the famous Ozette Triangle loop.
We consider this to be a a great hike for first time backpackers. While the mileage and elevation gain on this hike are low, walking on sand can be very tiring and it is important to take our time navigating varied terrain and watching out for boardwalks – which can be slick in the rain.
Optional Stop
We highly recommend a stop at the Makah Cultural Research Center and Museum in Neah bay before we begin our expedition! On our hike we will be traveling on land traditionally inhabited by the Makah people. The museum shares the history and stories of the people who live here and their ancestors and displays artifacts including many of the 55,000 which were uncovered after having been preserved in mud for hundreds of years at the famous “Ozette Site.”
Because of how awesome this trip is, permits to camp at Cape Alava are limited. For the 2023 season we have permits for 2 trips with 3 guest spaces available on each. If you are interested in joining one of these trips, check out the calendar to find out if there are spaces available.
Summer 2023 Cape Alave – 2 Days, 1 Night:
June 24 – June 25
Sept. 16 – Sept. 17
*If this date doesn’t work for you please inquire about a Custom Trip with your preferred dates and we will do our best to accommodate!
RATES:
- 1 Person $1,500
- 2 people $800/ person
- 3 people $650/ person
- 4 people $600/ person
TRIP OVERVIEW
- Length: 2 days / 1 nights
- 9.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 0
- Trip meeting point: Union, Wa
Daily Mileage:
Day 1: 3.4 miles
Day 2: 6 miles
Our trips are customizable and fitted to you! After you inquire about or request to book a backpacking trip that we offer, we will contact you to talk about some of the trip specific fitness requirements, answer any questions you have and make sure the trip is a great fit for you and your group. After we confirm the booking of your trip, we will send you a detailed itinerary and packing list with some of our recommendations for clothing and other essentials as well as some training tips to help you best prepare for the trip.
Each backpacking trip varies in its level of physical demand but guest pack weights tend to be 35- 45 lbs total depending on the length of trip. We will give “packing light” tips to our guests before the trip to help keep these weights as low as possible.
Additional Porter service
Depending on our availability, we may be able to offer an additional “porter” service on a multi-day trip for individuals or groups who would like additional support carrying gear. A porter will carry up to 35 lbs of gear. The porter Rate: $250/ per day. If you are interested in adding a porter to your trip let us know when you fill out a booking inquiry.
- Fun and knowledgeable guide(s) As HYOH guides, we are stoked to share our favorite places with you and share what we know while experiencing all the lush beauty that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. All our multi-day guides have received Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and carry first aid kits and satellite devices when we visit wilderness areas. Safety is our number one priority!
- Gear. HYOH will get you set up with a tent, backpacking pack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, eating kit (bowls, utensils, cups) and trekking poles. This is a great way to test out some gear before making a huge investment into your own personal backpacking gear!
- Food. From the morning we pick you up until we drop you off we will take care of keeping you fed! We provide snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trip (except for the last day as we will get you dropped off after one final lunch together.) Your guide will take care of water filtration and cooking set-up! Before your trip, we will check in with you about your diet restrictions and preferences.
- Permits. For our trips that require reservations and permits through the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park – we got you covered!
- Transportation. The trip price that you see includes transportation for 1-4 guests from Union, Washington to the trailhead and back. When you book your trip, we will ask where you would like to be picked up in Union. We can also provide a meeting place in Union if that is more convenient for guests. If you prefer to meet at the trailhead, that works too (just keep in mind that you will have to provide your own vehicle pass and park entry fee when required.) If there are more than 4 guests in your group or you would like transportation from another location inquire about a custom trip and we will work with you directly to plan your trip. We are often able to provide a shuttle service for an additional fee.
- Personal hiking clothing and comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Sun protection and insect repellant (depending on season)
- Personal medications and hygiene products
- Water bottle(s) or water bladder
- Headlamp + batteries
Tipping your guide is not expected but always appreciated! Industry standard is 10-20% of cost
Our trips are customizable and fitted to you! After you inquire about or request to book a backpacking trip that we offer, we will contact you to talk about some of the trip specific fitness requirements, answer any questions you have and make sure the trip is a great fit for you and your group. After we confirm the booking of your trip, we will send you a detailed itinerary and packing list with some of our recommendations for clothing and other essentials as well as some training tips to help you best prepare for the trip.
Each backpacking trip varies in its level of physical demand but guest pack weights tend to be 35- 45 lbs total depending on the length of trip. We will give “packing light” tips to our guests before the trip to help keep these weights as low as possible.
Additional Porter service
Depending on our availability, we may be able to offer an additional “porter” service on a multi-day trip for individuals or groups who would like additional support carrying gear. A porter will carry up to 35 lbs of gear. The porter Rate: $250/ per day. If you are interested in adding a porter to your trip let us know when you fill out a booking inquiry.
- Fun and knowledgeable guide(s) As HYOH guides, we are stoked to share our favorite places with you and share what we know while experiencing all the lush beauty that the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. All our multi-day guides have received Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training and carry first aid kits and satellite devices when we visit wilderness areas. Safety is our number one priority!
- Gear. HYOH will get you set up with a tent, backpacking pack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, eating kit (bowls, utensils, cups) and trekking poles. This is a great way to test out some gear before making a huge investment into your own personal backpacking gear!
- Food. From the morning we pick you up until we drop you off we will take care of keeping you fed! We provide snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the trip (except for the last day as we will get you dropped off after one final lunch together.) Your guide will take care of water filtration and cooking set-up! Before your trip, we will check in with you about your diet restrictions and preferences.
- Permits. For our trips that require reservations and permits through the Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park – we got you covered!
- Transportation. The trip price that you see includes transportation for 1-4 guests from Union, Washington to the trailhead and back. When you book your trip, we will ask where you would like to be picked up in Union. We can also provide a meeting place in Union if that is more convenient for guests. If you prefer to meet at the trailhead, that works too (just keep in mind that you will have to provide your own vehicle pass and park entry fee when required.) If there are more than 4 guests in your group or you would like transportation from another location inquire about a custom trip and we will work with you directly to plan your trip. We are often able to provide a shuttle service for an additional fee.
- Personal hiking clothing and comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Sun protection and insect repellant (depending on season)
- Personal medications and hygiene products
- Water bottle(s) or water bladder
- Headlamp + batteries
Tipping your guide is not expected but always appreciated! Industry standard is 10-20% of cost
