Ozette Coast Gear Checklist
The Ozette Triangle is two boardwalk legs and one beach leg, about 9 miles in all, with camps at Cape Alava and Sand Point and a tide-limited stretch between them. The gear that matters here is a park-approved bear canister for everything scented, a tide chart for two headlands, extra water for the camps whose creeks dry up late in summer, and poles and sturdy shoes for slick boards and kelp-covered rock. People who walked it also carried bear spray and a whistle, since bears wander through the camps.
What shapes your gear on Ozette Triangle
- Length and legs
- The park lists the loop at 9.2 miles with a sea-level to 100-foot elevation range and no river crossings. A 2024 hiker measured the three legs at 3.4, 3.44 and 3.08 miles. Another site says 9 miles round trip. All agree the trail legs are mostly boardwalk and the beach leg has no built trail.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop, The Adventuring Heidi and trailsnw.com
- Tides on the beach leg
- The park tells hikers to carry a map and a tide chart and to expect to cross steep headland trails at high tide. One 2024 hiker says the Wedding Rocks point is restricted at tides of 5 feet and higher, and the point a mile north of Sand Point at 5.5 feet and higher. A ranger handed that hiker the La Push tide table. A 2025 hiker waited about 20 minutes for the tide to drop and walked around easily.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop, The Adventuring Heidi and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
- Water at each camp
- The park names creeks at Sand Point and Cape Alava and says the Wedding Rocks, Sand Point and South Sand Point sources usually dry up later in summer. A September 2025 hiker found the Sand Point creek a trickle and carried extra water in. The Cape Alava creek was flowing well, especially a little upstream.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
- Quota and fees
- The Cape Alava and Sand Point area is a quota area, so permits are released in bulk and no more open up later. Adults pay $8 per night, youth 15 and under are free, and each reservation carries a $6 fee. Permits for trips booked more than a week ahead are issued about 3 days before the trip.
- Campfires
- Open fires are prohibited from the headland north of Yellow Banks to the headland at Wedding Rocks, which includes Sand Point. Elsewhere, only driftwood may be burned, and the park says there is little or none at Cape Alava in summer. In 2025 a burn ban kept one party from having fires at Cape Alava.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
What the agency requires on Ozette Triangle
A park-approved bear canister
All food, garbage and scented items go in an approved canister overnight and whenever you are away from them, along the whole Olympic coast. The park says canisters are not available at the Ozette Ranger Station.
A wilderness permit, printed
Backpacking permits are required year-round and are booked on Recreation.gov. There are no paper self-registration permits at trailheads.
A way to treat the water
The park says always filter or boil coastal water because Cryptosporidium and giardia are present, and iodine does not kill Cryptosporidium. Most coastal creeks look tea-stained from tannin.
A map and a tide chart
The park's coastal safety list asks hikers to bring both to plan the route, to camp above the high tide line, and to be ready for headland trails at high tide.
A plan for waste
Pit toilets are at Sand Point and Cape Alava. Elsewhere, bury waste 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet from camps and water, and pack out toilet paper.
What hikers carry on Ozette Triangle
Bear spray and a whistle, on top of the canister
A September 2025 hiker saw several bears on the beach and in the berries, and advised spray, a whistle and maybe bells. One bear acted like a curious dog and left when the party yelled, blew whistles and waved poles. A 2024 hiker saw a sow with two cubs move through Sand Point camps.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025 and The Adventuring Heidi
A canister sized for the trip
Two people on a 3-day, 2-night trip fit all their food, trash and scented items in one canister by choosing freeze-dried meals and flat pouches. A 2016 party picked canisters up at the Port Angeles wilderness office when collecting a permit. The park says there are none at Ozette.
From The Adventuring Heidi, Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 and Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop
Hiking poles
The 2025 hiker said three miles of sand, rock, kelp and debris takes longer than expected and that poles helped with balance under a pack. The 2024 hiker recommended poles and good footwear for slick boardwalk.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025 and The Adventuring Heidi
Supportive boots rather than light shoes
The 2016 party recommended boots with real support for the three beach miles. The 2025 hiker flagged composite boards on the Cape Alava trail that are slippery when wet, and thin or missing planks were noted in 2016.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
Extra water for Sand Point and Wedding Rocks
The 2025 hiker packed water in to Sand Point because the creek was low. The 2024 pair carried about 11 liters between them for a 3-day trip and filtered more at Cape Alava, where the creek runs under the bridge. The 2016 party hiked a short way up the creek at both camps to reach water.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025, The Adventuring Heidi and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016
A fleece, hat and rain jacket for a coast that changes overnight
The 2024 hiker had hot sun on the first day, then fog and temperatures 10 to 15 degrees colder the next morning. Rain gear stayed dry in that trip, but the hiker still carried it.
Toilet paper and a bag to carry it out
Both camps have pit toilets but no paper. The 2016 party found the toilets smelly enough to notice from nearby sites and suggested pitching a little way off. The park says to carry out toilet paper if you bury waste.
From The Adventuring Heidi, Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 and Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Ozette Triangle
Timing the beach by luck
A 2016 party timed the hike to low tide and then lost track of time in the tide pools, missing the petroglyphs near Wedding Rocks. The 2024 hikers raced the tide and also missed them. Write down your tide windows before you leave Cape Alava.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 and The Adventuring Heidi
Counting on a campfire
Fire is banned from Wedding Rocks south, including Sand Point, and driftwood at Cape Alava can be scarce. The 2025 hiker missed planned fires at Cape Alava because of a burn ban. A stove is the sure plan.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
Relying on a phone to carry the permit
The 2025 hiker advises printing the permit at home because there is no reliable cell service. The 2024 hiker had a ranger print theirs at a wilderness office.
From Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025 and The Adventuring Heidi
Dogs
Pets are prohibited on the park's coastal beaches and trails, along with wheeled devices and stock.
Gear questions for Ozette Triangle
Do I need a bear canister on the Ozette Triangle?
Yes. The park requires all food, garbage and scented items to be kept in approved canisters overnight and when unattended along the Olympic coast. They are not available at the Ozette Ranger Station, so one 2016 party got theirs at the Port Angeles wilderness office, and a 2024 hiker says that office and the Quinault station lend them free to permit holders.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop, Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 and The Adventuring Heidi
How long is the Ozette Triangle?
The park gives 9.2 miles. A 2024 hiker measured three legs of 3.4, 3.44 and 3.08 miles, and another site rounds it to 9 miles. Campers often stay one night at Cape Alava and one at Sand Point.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop, The Adventuring Heidi and trailsnw.com
Is there water at Sand Point on the Ozette Triangle?
There is a creek, but the park says the Sand Point, South Sand Point and Wedding Rocks sources usually dry up later in summer, so carry in what you need. One 2025 hiker found it a trickle and packed extra.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
Do I need a tide chart for the Ozette Triangle?
The park says to bring one. Two points on the beach leg have headland trails over them for high tide, and one hiker was given the La Push table by a ranger. The headland routes are steep with a pack.
From Olympic National Park (NPS): Ozette Loop, The Adventuring Heidi and Washington Trails Association: Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025
How much is an Ozette Triangle permit?
Adults 16 and older pay $8 per person per night, youth 15 and under are free, and each reservation has a $6 fee. The Cape Alava and Sand Point area is a quota area booked on Recreation.gov.
Sources
- Ozette Loop · Olympic National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Wilderness Reservations · Olympic National Park (NPS) · Agency
- Ultimate Guide to Backpacking the Ozette Triangle in Olympic National Park · The Adventuring Heidi, Heidi · Blog
- Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, September 5, 2025 · Washington Trails Association, ChristyDal · Trip report
- Cape Alava Loop (Ozette Triangle) trip report, August 18, 2016 · Washington Trails Association, outdoor nut · Trip report
- Ozette loop, North Washington Coast · trailsnw.com, jcozad · Blog