Hike of the Week: Hoyt Beach
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| Enjoy a wild and deserted coastline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca |
Hoyt Beach
Shoreline of solitude at the Mouth of the Sekiu River
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
February 29, 2008
Quick Facts
Location: Northwest Olympic Peninsula
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Roundtrip: 2.0 miles
Elevation gain: none
Contact: Washington State Parks (360) 902-8844; http://www.parks.wa.gov
Access: From Port Angeles head west of US 101 for 5 miles. Turn right onto SR 112 and follow west for 46 miles to Clallam Bay. Continue west another 3.0 miles to junction with the Hoko-Ozette Road. Bear right remaining on SR 112. After 2.2 miles (near Milepost 10), locate a pullout with parking for several cars. Hike begins here.
Since 1991, Washington State Parks has busily been acquiring prime natural, cultural, and recreational lands along the Hoko River in the extreme northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula. Soon to be developed as a destination state park, the new Hoko River State Park comprises of several parcels including wild coastline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. While access issues are still being worked out on some of the coastal properties, the Hoyt Tract can easily be visited right now.
From the pullout, work your way around a few driftwood logs to a beautiful expanse of beach sans crowds and other signs of civilization. Walk west towards the mouth of the Sekiu River on a smooth sandy expanse of beach. Enjoy views across the Strait to the snow-capped and log-scalped peaks of Vancouver Island. Watch seafaring vessels of varying sizes and shapes ply the waterway passage to busy ports in Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, and Tacoma.
Being less than ten miles from the Pacific, the Strait is wide here and often produces breakers of ocean proportions. After you saunter the sands west, turn around and visit the east end of the public beach. Here away from SR 112 shiny barked alders and scaly barked Sitka spruce line the silver sands. Throughout most of the year streams of varying intensities carve snaking channels across the beach. None are difficult to cross, just prepare for wet feet. Prepare too to be serenaded by a plethora of birds; from eagles and gulls, to sand probing shorebirds and surf riding ducks.
Be sure to respect any adjacent private property owners by not trespassing as you explore this excellent tract of new park land.
For information on lodging and other attractions near Hoyt Beach visit
Click here for link to Olympic Pennsula
