Third Beach

Trip

Backpack - Third Beach

Experience the splendor of the Olympic South Coast, camping two nights at beautiful Third Beach and day hiking on Saturday to Toleak Point and back, taking advantage of a favorable tide that day.

  • Easy
  • Easy
  • Mileage: 3.6 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 280 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 200 ft
  • Pace: 2.0 mph

Meet at 9 AM Friday on the front porch of the Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WI(C), 3002 Mt. Angeles Road, Port Angeles, reached by turning left from US 101 in Port Angeles onto N. Race St, continuing up the hill as it becomes Mt. Angeles Road and turning right at the south edge of town into the WIC.  

At the WIC I will register our entire group and pay the $8 per person per night camp fees and pick up bear canisters for those who do not have them.  An approved bear canister is required at Third Beach by Olympic National Park for the overnight storage of all odor-emitting substances.  The WIC loans them free of charge.  Those borrowing a canister from the WIC must repack their gear so the canister can fit inside their pack.  That can be done either at the WIC or at the trailhead, depending on where more time is available for it.  At the end of the trip I will collect from each person their share of the camp fees.

From the WIC we will caravan to the trailhead by turning left on Mt. Angeles Road, left at Lauridsen, continuing straight through the traffic light onto US 101, right at SR 110 (signed to La Push) and stopping at the first trailhead (3rd Beach) on the left side of the road.  Cars are no longer permitted to park along the road and the small parking lot fills up early.  If a parking space is not available when your car arrives, drop off all gear and passengers and drive to the 2nd Beach overflow parking lot, which is a mile farther down SR 110.  Then you have to walk along the road back to the Third Beach trailhead, unless someone offers you a ride.  So, drivers parking at the Second Beach trailhead may arrive at the Third Beach trailhead a half hour later than the others.   This would be an opportunity  for those borrowing canisters from the WIC to repack their gear.

The backpack in to Third Beach is only 1.8 miles and is mostly level at the beginning and down hill at the end.  Because most people backpacking in there choose to camp at one of the more southerly beaches, we usually find a good campsite at Third Beach. where we camp Friday and Saturday nights.  After setting up camp, we'll have a trail lunch and spend the afternoon exploring Third Beach before preparing a camp dinner followed by smores around the campfire.

Saturday morning around 9:30 AM we'll begin an optional day hike south as far as we can go along the coast until Noon, when we stop for our trail lunch and then return by the same route.  That route involves climbing over at least two headlands on either rope ladders or ropes.  So although the backpack trip is rated EASY, the day hike is rated MODERATE, and therefore is optional.  Anyone beginning Saturday's day hike will be expected to complete it, so we don't split up the day hiking group, which would compromise safety. 

Sunday morning we will pack up camp and hike out at 9 AM or 10 AM, depending on the preference of the group.  We'll have an optional meal stop on the drive home at the Hungry Bear Restaurant, which is about a half hour drive from the trailhead, on US 101.  It is an iconic restaurant with good food, large portions and an intriguing decor.

Those borrowing bear canisters from the WIC will need to return them there on the drive home.  Those participating in this trip should plan on not being back home until at least 5 PM on Sunday.  Riders should fairly compensate their drivers based on the distance driven, so that we continue to have an adequate number of volunteers to drive.

 

Route/Place

Third Beach


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials plus overnight gear which may include:

  • Tent with footprint/ground tarp
  • Stove and fuel
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Water filter
  • Bear canister or extra stuff sack and cord designated for hanging food
  • Cooking pot/pan with plate and utensils
  • Toilet paper and shovel or blue bag to deal with waste
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