Cape Alava

Olympic National Park is a stunning and diverse national park located in Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula. Covering nearly 1 million acres, it is unique for its incredible variety of ecosystems, including rugged coastlines, temperate rainforests, and glaciated mountains.  The park is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve due to its ecological significance.  It is located in Northwestern Washington, about 2-3 hours from Seattle.  There are over 600 miles of trails in the park ranging from easy nature walks to challenging mountain routes.

The park is often referred to as “three parks in one” since Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different: ecosystems‑rugged glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest. These diverse ecosystems are still largely pristine in character (about 95% of the park is designated wilderness) and are Olympic’s gift to the hiker.  The park is also known for its biological diversity. Isolated for eons by glacial ice and the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula has developed its own distinct array of plants and animals. Eight kinds of plants and five kinds of animals are found on the peninsula and live nowhere else in the world.  The Ozette-Cape Alava-Sand Point loop is a shore hike along the Washington coast. The views of the ocean, cliffs, headlands, islands, and sea stacks provide a unique experience. There is little elevation change on this hike so it is relatively easy, and there is a surprising amount of wildlife along the coast.