Hike of the Week: Beards Hollow

Face it! Beards Hollow is a beautiful place!

Beards Hollow

Just in the Nick of Time for razor clam season






by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

March 24, 2006

Quick Facts
Location: Long Beach Peninsula
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Roundtrip to Beards Hollow: 1.0 mile
Elevation gain: 50 feet
Roundtrip to North Head Lighthouse: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Access: From Ilwaco, take Loop Spur State Road 100 in either direction to Beards Hollow Trailhead parking in Cape Disappointment State Park.
Notes: Dogs must be leashed. Washington State Park Pass ($5 day/$50 annual) required.


Bivalve connoisseurs take note-grab your pale and shovel and head to the coast this weekend for a little razor clam harvesting. And while several Washington beaches are open to digging, I can’t think of a better place to grab a razor than at Beards Hollow. Located within the shadows of the Cape Disappointment headlands, Beards Hollow makes for one scenic place to comb for clams.
And while harvesting the succulent mollusks certainly can be a rewarding and therapeutic endeavor-you may want to do a little hiking while you’re in such a beautiful location. The hike to Beards Hollow is short-a mere .5 miles, but you can extend your adventure on the nearby trail to the North Head Lighthouse. Leaving from the same trailhead, the North Head Trail climbs 300 feet through a luxuriant old-growth Sitka Spruce forest. Peek-a-boo views down to Beards Hollow tease you along the way. However, once you get to the North Head Lighthouse you are granted with a sweeping view down the 28-mile long, Long Beach Peninsula. That’s a whole lot of territory for razor clamming. But take note, you’ll have plenty of company on those beaches. Of course you can always buy a bucket of Willipa Bay oysters to tide you over just in case you come up short handed in the clam department!