🏔 Wilderness
Olympic National Park Coastal Wilderness
About This Permit
Olympic's 73-mile wilderness coastline runs along the Washington coast — driftwood beaches, sea stacks, tide pools, and ancient Sitka spruce forests. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight coastal camping. The coast requires tide-table navigation around headlands and is one of the few true wilderness coastlines remaining in the contiguous US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a tide table to hike the Olympic coast?
Yes — several headlands along the coast are impassable at high tide and must be rounded at low tide or via overland trails. Tide tables are free at park visitor centers and essential for route planning. Rangers review your itinerary and flag dangerous headlands during permit pickup.
How do I get an Olympic coastal wilderness permit?
Permits are available on recreation.gov (advance) and at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles (walk-up). Summer permits (May 15 – October 15) become available April 15 at 7:00am PDT. Fall and early spring have much better availability.
What is the Ozette Triangle?
The Ozette Triangle is a popular 9.4-mile loop from the Ozette Ranger Station along the coast to Cape Alava (the westernmost point in the contiguous US) and back. It's doable as a long day hike or easy overnight and is one of the most accessible sections of Olympic's wilderness coast.
Key Facts
- State
- WA
- Season
- Year-round; storms and large surf common October – April
- Quota
- Most coastal areas have unlimited permits; specific areas like the Ozette Coast have quotas (e.g. up to 12 people per night in designated zones)
- Trailhead
- Rialto Beach, Third Beach, or Ozette Trailhead (Triangle Loop)
- Entry Point
- Olympic NP coastal backcountry; wilderness permit required for all overnight use
- Difficulty
- 3/5(Competitive)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
Set an Alert for This Permit