Reservation8/10
Olympic Wilderness permit
The single overnight permit for backpacking anywhere in Olympic National Park's ...
Ozette Triangle Permit
Olympic National Park · Washington
Booked one camp per night, in order
Coastal wilderness camping.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Ozette Coast were gone within 10 minutes.
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Ozette Coast Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
SeasonYear-round; the park rates April through October as the best season - Year-round
Cost$6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, plus $8 per person per night for adults 16 and over. Under 16 camp free.
Max Group Size12 people
Ozette Coast Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Ozette Coast in Olympic National Park, Washington requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Ozette Coast is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Ozette Coast route covers 9.2 miles, rated easy.
- Cancelled Ozette Coast permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
Lottery OpensNot a lottery - summer reservations are released April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific
SeasonYear-round; the park rates April through October as the best season - Year-round
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationOlympic Coast, WA
Pro Tips
- •Plan the beach leg around low tide, not around when you feel like walking. The park says the safest time to round a headland is within one to two hours before low tide.
- •Carry leather gloves. Several headland trails have fixed ropes and cable ladders, and wet manila is unpleasant without them.
- •In August, carry your water. The park says the Wedding Rocks, Sand Point and South Sand Point sources typically dry up later in the summer.
- •Check WSDOT for SR 112 before you drive. The Ozette Road itself is paved and was open as of 2025-11-13, but the highway to it closes regularly for flooding and landslides.
- •Walk the beach leg north to south. The petroglyphs at Wedding Rocks are easier to spot with the low sun behind you in the afternoon.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
9.2 miles
Route Type
Loop
Duration
2 days
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •9.2 miles as a loop - about 3 miles of boardwalk out, 3 miles of beach, 3 miles of boardwalk back
- •Sea level to about 100 feet, with no river crossings on the loop itself
- •Camps at Cape Alava, Wedding Rocks, Sand Point, South Sand Point and Yellow Banks
- •Wedding Rocks has no water and no pit toilets
- •Tide-dependent headlands with red-and-black target markers, cable ladders and fixed ropes
- •Bear canisters required, and raccoons rather than bears are the animal that takes unsecured food
- •Camping is prohibited on the Ozette Indian Reservation between Cape Alava and the south side of the Ozette River
Best Time to Visit
The park calls April through October the best season. July through September gives the driest boardwalk and the calmest surf, but it is also when the coastal water sources dry up, so plan to carry. Spring and autumn bring bigger swell, wetter planking and far fewer people. Permits are limited year round on this stretch of coast.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Tides. The park publishes specific restriction heights along this coast and says certain sections are physically impassable during higher tides
- !Slippery boardwalk - the park reported some weak planks with a few loose or broken ones on 2026-06-15, and notes the boardwalk can be extremely slippery if wet or frosted
- !Headland trails with cable ladders and fixed ropes, taken when the beach route is closed by tide
- !Raccoons raiding camps; the park says they climb trees to reach hung food bags
- !Dry water sources at Wedding Rocks, Sand Point and South Sand Point later in the summer
- !SR 112, the approach highway, has been subject to frequent closure and detours from flooding and landslides
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
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Backcountry Tips
- Today: 62% chance of precipitation. Pack rain gear.
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View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a National Park Service account
Sign up at National Park Service if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: July through SeptemberShoulder: April to June, and October
Conditions
Wet boardwalk, big swell, and the water sources still running. The park's best-season window opens in April.
Crowd Level
ModerateAdvantages
- +Coastal water sources still flowing
- +Grey whale migration offshore
- +Far fewer people than midsummer
Challenges
- !Slick boardwalk - the park warns it is extremely slippery when wet or frosted
- !Larger swell narrowing the beach at high tide
- !Persistent rain
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand2/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation2/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment2/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
First-time coastal backpackers and families who can read a tide table. Nine miles with 100 feet of elevation is genuinely easy walking.
Recommended Experience
None beyond basic backpacking, plus the willingness to read a tide chart and set your schedule from it.
Not Recommended For
Anyone who will not plan around the tide. The exposure rating here is entirely about being caught by a rising tide at a headland, and about the ladders and ropes you use to escape one - not about the terrain being hard.
About This Permit
The Ozette Triangle is a 9.2-mile loop: boardwalk from the Ozette Ranger Station out to Cape Alava, three miles of open beach south to Sand Point, and boardwalk back. The park rates it easy, gives elevation as sea level to 100 feet, lists no river crossings on the loop, and calls April through October the best season.
Camping needs an Olympic wilderness permit reserved on Recreation.gov - $6 per permit plus $8 per person per night for anyone 16 or over. The park lists the Ozette Coast from Yellow Banks to Point of the Arches as a quota area with permits limited year round, but publishes no per-night number for it; what Recreation.gov shows bookable is the practical limit. Summer-season reservations for May 15 through October 15 are released on April 15 at 7:00 am Pacific and nothing is held for same-day walk-ups.
Two rules matter more here than anywhere else in the park. The first is tides: the park publishes specific tidal restriction points along this coast - a 6-foot restriction 7.9 miles south of the Ozette Ranger Station trailhead, a 5-foot restriction at 4.9 miles, 5-foot and 4-foot restrictions 0.7 miles south of the Ozette River, and 4- to 6-foot restrictions between Point of the Arches and Seafield Creek - and states plainly that certain sections of the route are physically impassable during higher tides. Carry a tide chart; they are available at visitor centers and coastal ranger stations.
The second is food. Bear canisters are required along the entire Olympic wilderness coast, and here the animal that actually gets your food is the raccoon. The park's own wording: raccoons can easily get food bags hung in trees, so always store all food, garbage, and scented items in bear canisters on the coast. Canisters are free to borrow at Wilderness Information Centers.
One more thing worth knowing in August: the park warns that later into the summer the Wedding Rocks, Sand Point and South Sand Point water sources typically dry up, and that parties should carry in the water they will need while staying at those locations.
The Experience
Why It Matters
The Ozette Triangle is the easiest way into Olympic's wilderness coast, and the only one where the walking in and out is on boardwalk rather than headland scrambles. It is also on Makah and Ozette ancestral ground: the Wedding Rocks petroglyphs sit between the two camps, and the stretch between Cape Alava and the south side of the Ozette River is the Ozette Indian Reservation, where camping is prohibited outright.
The Route
The loop is 9.2 miles: boardwalk out to Cape Alava, three miles of beach south past Wedding Rocks to Sand Point, and boardwalk back to Ozette. Elevation runs from sea level to about 100 feet and the park rates it easy, with a best season of April through October and no river crossings on the loop itself.
The beach section is the part that needs planning. The park is direct about it: be prepared to hike over headland trails during high tides, some headlands cannot be rounded during the lowest of tides, and bring a map and a tide chart to plan your route. Headland trails are marked with red and black targets, and cable ladders or fixed ropes may be on site to assist climbing - leather gloves are worth carrying for the ropes. The safest time to round a headland is within one to two hours before low tide.
The Feeling
Three miles of cedar planking through bog and forest, and then the trees stop and there is the Pacific with Ozette Island offshore. Camp is on the sand above the tide line, driftwood everywhere, and the surf runs all night. In the morning the tide decides what time you leave.
Trailhead Information
Ozette Ranger Station
Both legs of the Triangle start here. NPS says the three miles of boardwalk out to Cape Alava or Sand Point can be extremely slick, and that soft-soled shoes grip it better than stiff lug soles.
Restrooms
No water
Getting There
NPS asks visitors to check with the Washington State Department of Transportation before travelling, because SR 112 has been subject to frequent closure and detours from flooding and landslides.
Notes
Bear canisters are required for any overnight stay in Olympic's wilderness. NPS loans them at two places, the Port Angeles Wilderness Information Center and the Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station, so pick one up before you drive out to Ozette.
Swan Bay Boat Launch
Paddle access to the Lake Ozette boat-in camps. Recreation.gov puts Erickson's Bay about 4 miles out and warns of high winds, 1-2 foot waves and cold water on the lake.
Restrooms
No water
Notes
NPS says the boat-in campsites on Lake Ozette are non-quota, so a permit for a lake site is not a reservation for that site. Sites stay first come, first served, and for anything other than Erickson's Bay the Wilderness Information Center books them by phone or email.
Rules & Regulations
- •A wilderness permit is required for every overnight trip and must be reserved on Recreation.gov
- •Groups are limited to 12 people; associated groups must camp and travel at least 1 mile apart, may not combine, and must camp in separate camp areas such as Cape Alava and Sand Point
- •All food, garbage and scented items must be stored in a park-approved bear canister along the entire Olympic wilderness coast
- •Open fires are prohibited between the headland north of Yellow Banks and the headland at Wedding Rocks, including the Sand Point area
- •Camp above the high tide water line when camping on the beach
- •Camping is prohibited on the Ozette Indian Reservation, between the Cape Alava and South Side of Ozette River campsites
- •Cannonball Island (Tskawahyah Island) is part of the Ozette Indian Reservation and is always closed to the public
- •Permits are issued around 3 days before your trip start date
Gear Checklist
Required
- An approved bear canister - required on the entire coast, free to borrow at a Wilderness Information Center
- A current tide chart, available at visitor centers and coastal ranger stations
- A stove; open fires are prohibited through the Sand Point and Wedding Rocks stretch
- Rain gear, and dry bags for anything that must stay dry
- Water treatment, plus the capacity to carry water in late summer when the coastal sources dry up
Recommended
- Leather gloves for the fixed ropes on the headland trails
- Footwear you do not mind soaking on wet, slick boardwalk and cobble
- Trekking poles for the beach cobble sections
- A watch you can read at 5 am, because the tide sets your start time
Plan Your Trip
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Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Ozette Coast
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Key Landmarks
Ozette Ranger Station Trailhead
End of the Ozette Road, 21 miles off Highway 112 and paved. Check WSDOT before driving - SR 112 has been subject to frequent closure and detours from flooding and landslides.
Cape Alava
The westernmost point in the contiguous United States and the north camp. Ozette Island sits offshore.
Wedding Rocks
Between Cape Alava and Sand Point, with the petroglyphs. A camp area, but the park notes water and pit toilets are not available here.
Sand Point
The south camp, at the far end of the beach section. No campfires here or anywhere between the headland north of Yellow Banks and the headland at Wedding Rocks.
Cannonball Island (Tskawahyah Island)
Part of the Ozette Indian Reservation and always closed to the public.
Ozette Coast FAQ
Do I need a permit to camp on the Ozette Triangle?
Yes, for any overnight. Olympic National Park wilderness permits are reserved on Recreation.gov at $6 per permit plus $8 per person per night for anyone 16 or over. The park lists the Ozette Coast from Yellow Banks to Point of the Arches as a quota area with permits limited year round. Day hiking the loop needs no permit.
How long is the Ozette Triangle loop?
9.2 miles, by the park's own trail page - roughly three miles of boardwalk out to Cape Alava, three miles of beach, and three miles of boardwalk back from Sand Point. Elevation runs from sea level to about 100 feet and the park rates it easy. The park does not publish separate distances to Cape Alava and Sand Point.
Do I need a tide chart for the Ozette Triangle?
Yes. The park says to bring a map and a tide chart to plan your route, and states that certain sections of this route are physically impassable during higher tides. It publishes specific restriction heights - including a 5-foot restriction 4.9 miles south of the Ozette trailhead and a 6-foot restriction at 7.9 miles. Charts are available at visitor centers and coastal ranger stations.
Is there drinking water at the Ozette Triangle campsites?
Not reliably in late summer. The park warns that later into the summer the Wedding Rocks, Sand Point and South Sand Point water sources typically dry up, and that parties should carry in the water they need while staying there. Wedding Rocks has no pit toilets either. Treat whatever you find.
Do I need a bear canister on the Olympic coast?
Yes. All food, garbage and scented items must be stored in a park-approved bear canister along the entire Olympic National Park wilderness coast. The park is explicit that this is partly about raccoons, which climb trees and can easily get food bags hung there. Canisters are free to borrow at Wilderness Information Centers.
Can I have a campfire at Sand Point or Cape Alava?
Not at Sand Point. Open fires are prohibited between the headland north of Yellow Banks and the headland at Wedding Rocks, including the Sand Point area. Bring a stove.
Can I camp anywhere along the beach on the Ozette Triangle?
No. Camping is prohibited on the Ozette Indian Reservation, which is the stretch between the Cape Alava and South Side of Ozette River campsites, and Cannonball Island is always closed to the public. Where you can camp on sand, the park requires you to camp above the high tide water line.
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Sunset from Cape Alava with Ozette Island offshore - you are at the westernmost point in the contiguous US, so the sun goes down over open water.
Best Light
Low afternoon sun raking across the Wedding Rocks petroglyphs brings out the carving that midday flattens out.
Beat the Crowds
The boardwalk carries day-hikers to Cape Alava and back, and they are gone by late afternoon. Camp at Sand Point rather than Cape Alava if you want the quieter end.
Classic Shots
- 📍Sea stacks off Cape Alava at sunset
- 📍The cedar boardwalk running out through the bog
- 📍Wedding Rocks petroglyphs in low side light
- 📍Driftwood and surf from camp above the tide line
- 📍Tide pools at Sand Point on a minus tide
Can't Get a Ozette Coast Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Olympic Coast Trail
Similar ExperienceThe longer wilderness coast routes, north and south, on the same permit system and the same tide rules.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Much more committing - more headlands, more rope ladders and more sections that cannot be rounded at any tide. The Ozette Triangle is the introduction to it.
Enchanted Valley
Same Area13 miles up the East Fork Quinault to a waterfall-ringed meadow and the 1930s chalet.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Inland rainforest instead of coast, and no tide to plan around - but river fords instead, plus a washout a third of a mile before the chalet.
Olympic Wilderness Permit
Same AreaThe park-wide overnight wilderness permit for Olympic's non-quota areas.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Easier to book, but the coast from Yellow Banks to Point of the Arches is limited year round and has to be booked as the quota area it is.
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Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Ozette Coast trip
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