Guide to Visiting Cape Alava – Olympic National Park

Cape Alava, the westernmost point of Olympic National Park as well as the Continental United States. If you are like me and love visiting Extreme ends of places, this is a great place to check off your list as well. If you haven’t already, also check out my post on the Eastern Most Continental US Place at West Quoddy Head in Maine.

Getting to Cape Alava

Cape Alava is located in Olympic National Park and the Makah Indian Reservation in Washington State. While it appears that there are other places that may be further west, Cape Alava is considered the Western Most point in the US. There is also a small island when I was out there that connected to the land during low tide. Perhaps that is part of what makes it the most west.

Driving Directions

Cape Alava Trail is located on the Ozette Loop and starts at the Ozette Ranger Station.

To get here. Drive on WA-112W to turn left on Hoko Ozette Road. You’ll go through some more rural areas, when the road splits (after about 15miles, follow the road right on 27E. Continue along the road until you enter the area by Ozette and the Ranger Station. There’s parking in the area.

Walking the Cape Alava Trail

Cape Alava is only accessible by walking from the Ozette Ranger Station. It’s about 3 miles from the parking lot to the Cape. The trail is a mix of boardwalk and dirt track.

When you enter the trail, you’ll go straight for while and the trail will Split. The the Sand Trail will go left and the Cape Alava Trail will go right. If you have time it’s worth going to both. They connect in the form of a triangle. Each of the legs is about 3 miles, so it will take you obviously longer. Doing the full 9 miles will likely take over 4 hrs.

At minimum you’ll do 6 miles (3 miles each way), so unless you are camping at the beach, do make sure you plan enough time (and bring enough water/snacks) for the journey. Expect to spend at least 3 hrs. on the road trip and more if you do the full 9 miles.

The trail is well marked and pretty easy going. There are a few points near the end where you’ll need to watch your footing, but overall it’s a pretty easy trail.

The Beach

The best part of Olympic National Park and the beaches including here at Cape Alava is how wild they are. Nothing is removed from the beaches, so all fallen logs and plant / animals that wash up remains. So it can be a bit smelly and tricky to walk on the beach. I would definitely not recommend walking barefooted on the beach.

Still, the views and the ability to be in nature is stunning, and the ability to camp primitively on the beach is such a highlight.

Camping at Cape Alava

There is camping Available at Cape Alava and Sand Point although permits and space is limited. All Campsite should be reserved on Recreation.gov. Select Check Availability on the Right and then Select “North Coast” and enter in your dates and # of members of your group.

Sites at both places are considered backcountry. So expect primitive, leave no trace sites. Expect to pack-in and pack-out everything.

Fees for Camping

The Permit for use of the Site is $6.00 and then $8.00 for each person.

Example: 2 People would be $22.00

Important Dates

• September 15; 7:00 am PST: Reservations Open for Winter Season (October 16th through May 14th)
• April 15; 7:00 am PST: Reservations Open for Summer Season (May 15th through October 15th)

Cape Alava Campground

Camping in Alava is a perfect way to spend a night in Olympic National Park under the stars. It’s also remote enough to really feel far away from things.

# people: 43

• Bear Canisters Required
• Groups are limited to 12 people. Associated groups of more than 12 people must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart (such as splitting between Sand Point & Cape Alava)
• Campfires may be made on the beach and below the high tide line, at least 10 feet from drift logs and utilizing drift wood for fuel. 
• Pit toilet may be available for solid human waste. In the absence of a toilet, bury human waste 6-8″ deep and 200 feet from any campsite or water source in the forest.
• Fresh water should be treated by filtering or boiling.
• Always carry a tide chart and topo map that shows tidal restrictions. 

Sand Point Campground

# people: 99

• Bear Canisters Required
• Groups are limited to 12 people. Associated groups of more than 12 people must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart (such as splitting between Sand Point & Cape Alava)
• No Campfires
• Pit toilet may be available for solid human waste. In the absence of a toilet, bury human waste 6-8″ deep and 200 feet from any campsite or water source in the forest.
• Fresh water should be treated by filtering or boiling. 
• Always carry a tide chart and topo map that shows tidal restrictions. 

When to Visit

The area is open year round (weather permitting). However, the most popular and best times tend to be the Summer. Overall the best times are between April and October. If you can manage I prefer late Spring and Early Fall. The weather is great and it tends to be less crowded.

Basic Information

Ranger Station

There is a Ranger Station at Ozette close to the Trailhead and Ozette Lake. However, the ranger station is pretty intermittently open and only seasonally. You can I believe pick up permits here, although many of the reservations for camping are better done online at Recreation.gov.

Fees

Use of Olympic National Park does have a Fee of $35 per vehicle for 7 days. Or included if you have a America the Beautiful other other pass.

However you don’t cross any entrance posts when you go to Ozette Lake. I don’t know if they’ll check if you paid. I still hung my America the Beautiful pass in my car.

Other Posts you May Like

• OLYMPIC: Exploring Hall of Mosses Trail
• CRATERS: Guide to Craters of the Moon National Monument
• UTAH: Guide to Golden Spike National Monument
• UTAH: 21 Best Things to Do in Bryce Canyon National Park