Backpacker Magazine – August 2012

Top 3: Beach Campsites

Fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves in these remote sandy spots—no boardwalks allowed.

by: Kristy Holland and Rachel Zurer

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Olympic National Park, WA 
Toleak Point   
Camp with panoramic sunset views.

The Lower 48’s longest wilderness coast—73 miles in all—serves up a dazzling variety of postcard-worthy sights. Offshore, sea stacks loom like a ruined city, while seals and sea lions bask on small rock platforms. Onshore, pebbly beaches strewn with polished driftwood give way to tidepools full of sea stars and rainforest-covered headlands. Spend at least two nights on the 16-mile point-to-point trek north from Hoh River to Third Beach, alternating between oceanside walks and scrambles up wood-and-rope ladders to trails through the dense coastal forest. Navigate headlands passable only at low tide to spend night one at Mosquito Creek and bed down on night two on Toleak Point’s sandy shores, overlooking a garden of rock towers. (360-565-3100; nps.gov/olym) Trip data backpacker.com/hikes/55411 

The way End: From Port Angeles, take US 101 S 54 miles to WA 110 W; park in 11.6 miles. Start: Continue 16 miles on 101 S. Right on Oil City Rd.; park in 10.3 miles.

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