July 28, 2009, 2:57 pm
Nestled in the northwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula, Shi Shi Beach is a jaw-dropping part of the state -- where forested bluffs, tangy salt air and majestic stacks rising from the ocean are dizzying reminders of nature's bounty in this part of the world.You'll forget the logistical hassles and roughly seven hours spent getting to this part of Olympic National Park from Bellingham as soon as you start hiking the trail, which begins on the Makah Indian Reservation and winds 2.2 miles through woods and muddy sections before dropping 200 feet down to the beach.
There, you can decide whether to camp at Shi Shi for the duration of your visit or spend a night and then continue on with a 16.2-mile coastal backpacking trip that heads south and ends at Ozette.
Set aside three days and two nights to leave plenty of time for the longer hike, to pick up the cars left on each end of the route, and make it back to catch the ferry in Port Townsend for work on Monday.
You can't go wrong if you decide to stay put at Shi Shi. With the pleasing roar of the waves in your ears and the sweep of beach ending in the sparkle of the ocean, daily cares will ebb away. Drink it all in, walk down the beach, take deep breaths of that tangy air and kick back.
