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Always check current conditions and forecasts before your trip. Tide times are estimates only.

Roam Trail Planner

South Coast Route

South Coast Route - Olympic National Park

A stunning 16-mile coastal wilderness trail along Washington's rugged Pacific coastline. This trail features dramatic headlands, secluded beaches, and tide pools, requiring careful tide planning for safe passage through several mandatory tide zones.

📏 16.84 miles
⛰️ 2,049 ft gain
⬇️ 2,270 ft loss
🏕️ 5 campsites
🌊 7 tide zones

Route Direction

The South Coast Route can be hiked in either direction. The default direction is Southbound to Northbound, but you can toggle the route direction in the Route Planner tab to see timing information for both directions.

Southbound

Trail Statistics for South Coast Route

📏
Total Distance
16.84 miles
⛰️
Elevation Gain
2,049 ft
⬇️
Elevation Loss
2,270 ft

Logistics & Information for South Coast Route

permits

Wilderness camping permits required. Reserve at recreation.gov or obtain at trailhead ranger station.

bear Cans

Bear canisters required for all food storage. Available for rent at ranger stations.

taxi

Shuttle services available from Forks and La Push. Contact local outfitters for rates and reservations.

best Season

May through September for best weather and tide conditions.

difficulty

Moderate to Difficult - Tide planning essential

Trailheads for South Coast Route

Start: Third Beach Trailhead

Located off La Push Road near the town of La Push. Parking available at the trailhead.

View on Google Maps →

End: Oil City Trailhead

Remote trailhead accessible via Hoh River Road. Limited parking available.

View on Google Maps →

⚠️ Tide Zones on South Coast Route

The South Coast Route has 7 tide-dependent sections that must be crossed at low tide. Review the Tide Calendar and Route Planner tabs for detailed timing information.

Third Beach Tide Zone
Miles 1.37 - 1.76 • Max safe tide: 7 ft
Taylor Point Tide Zone
Miles 2.90 - 3.45 • Max safe tide: 5 ft
Scott's to Strawberry Tide Zone
Miles 3.72 - 4.90 • Max safe tide: 4.5 ft
Strawberry to Inland Tide Zone
Miles 4.90 - 6.93 • Max safe tide: 6 ft
North Mosquito Tide Zone
Miles 8.33 - 10.51 • Max safe tide: 7 ft
Jefferson Cove Tide Zone
Miles 13.94 - 14.51 • Max safe tide: 8 ft
Diamond Point Tide Zone
Miles 14.51 - 15.46 • Max safe tide: 2 ft

Weather on South Coast Route

Start: Third Beach Trailhead
View weather forecast ↗
End: Oil City Trailhead
View weather forecast ↗

Trail Map for South Coast Route

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