On the northern end of the loop, out on the coast, just 1/4-1/2 north of the campground is an old Native American village — the biggest archeological discovery in the States, it was buried in a mudslide hundreds of years of go, then some hippy backpacker stumbled upon it in the 70′s and it became one of the biggest digs in our country so far. It’s full of rich, fascinating history. Cool stuff to explore & get kids into.

And about 30-40 miles from Lake Ozette is the Makah reservation, where there’s one of the best little museums I’ve ever been to — recreated village & all, w/ tons of artifacts & all the history of the coastal dig… (maybe in a few years Hayden will think it’s super neat to hike there then go to the museum. I know I did!)

Over the years I’ve gone camping out there so many times w/ first my family then friends as I got older… And now since we’ve been together, Jim & I have enjoyed starting ‘tradition trips’. And Cape Alava/Ozette is our favorite winter ritual getaway weekend… We prefer making the long trek out there during the winter months, as there’s few to no one else around, verses super-popular summer destination.

I also went out there with an archeology class from WWU & found all sorts of neat stuff (modified whale bones) just falling out of the cliffs… absolutely, end-of-the-world-beautiful. And there’s so much wildlife… over-abundant deer & raccoons. The most eagles I’ve ever seen in my life, every time I go… Once in a while a bear or cougar linger around… but I’ve never been bothered by any.

The beauty of the Olympic Peninsula is the ability to go from a forested mountain or high alpine slope to rugged, isolated coastal beaches within a few hours….There’s natural hot springs, just waiting for you to hike in & jump in.

I forgot to mention the petroglyphs mysteriously carved all along big beach boulders on the coastal portion of the loop hike… Looking for them as a kid is as exciting as Easter egg hunting! No one knows the real meaning. Who carved them? Why? But there are many and fascinating links artistically — in the most rugged, remote surrounds — to our past PNW Native cultures!