Third Beach

Trip

Backpack - Third Beach

A 2 for 1 trip that include a Friday night ocean camping at Third Beach and a Saturday night at obscure South Fork of the Hoh camp deep in the Olympic Rainforest. It will include moderately difficult exploratory day trips.

  • Easy
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 20.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,000 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 1,000 ft
  • Pace: 2.0-2.5 mph

Meet at the Third Beach TH at 11 AM.  We will caravan on Saturday afternoon to the South Fork of the Hoh TH.  No pass is required at Third Beach, a Discover Pass is required at South Fork TH.

Directions to Third Beach TH:  From Highway 101, make your way to the intersections of Highway 110 and Highway 101, 1.5 miles north of Forks, or 10.8 miles south of Sappho. Turn west onto Highway 110, and proceed 10 miles to the Third Beach trailhead, on the right hand side of 110. A parking area for about 20 cars marks the trailhead.

Covid-19  All participants must bring a cloth face mask and wear it when with in 6' of others.  All participants must bring hand sanitizer.

This trip is easy for the backpacking parts.  It is about 1.5 to 2 miles to each of the campsites from the respective trailheads.  The hikes after setting up camp will be moderate.  Friday afternoon, following setting up camp at Third Beach, we will hike down the coast to Scotts Bluff area.  The trail there can be quite muddy and there is a steep section with a rope for assistance getting up. We will also seek to explore the bluff areas on both the north and south of  Third Beach, Friday evening and/or Saturday morning.  This will require some boot paths/off-trail exploration. Saturday we will pack-up and drive to the rarely visited South Fork of the Hoh--this is not the touristy Hoh you maybe be familiar with, but a different river to the south that is accessed by a series of Forest Service roads.   On Sunday, before we head home from Big Flat Camp, we will explore the up river trail to its end and may go further along the river or overgrown trail. This area is known to have a lot of bears.  Bear Canisters are required--Ursack is not an excepted substitute in ONP.  There is a $17 fee for the campsite and reservations.  This trip is weather dependent.  Some rain/showers okay.  Major rain the trip will be cancelled or changed.  Once the campsites are reserved and paid for by the leader, participant need to reimburse him even if the trip is cancelled or changed.  This trip is leader permission only, due the fact that it is really two trip put together and the second night is rather obscure.  Please tell me about your backpacking experience.  Please affirm that you are okay with off-trail, or boot path exploration.  Please affirm that you are okay being in a area with bears.

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
  • Cooking pot/pan with plate and utensils
  • Toilet paper and shovel or blue bag to deal with waste
Trip Reports