Olympic Coast Backpacking for Beginners
Olympic Peninsula Here We Come!
And we’re inviting 10 people to join us for a 4-day, 3-night beginner-friendly backpack excursion around the Ozette Triangle, stunningly beautiful land on the Olympic Peninsula within Olympic National Park and the Makah Indian Reservation. We’re intentionally centering BIPOC community and warmly welcoming all gender representations. It’s going to be supportive, scenic, and so much fun.
We’ll meander the full loop crossing cedar-planked boardwalks, through the lush coastal trees, and onto the awe-inspiring beach.
If you’ve never visited this part of Washington State, you will LOVE it. We’ll go over all logistics together!
Dates: September 4 to 7, 2026
Contribution: $75 for one person or $100 for two people registering together.
The Vibe
Since our main goal is assisting you in becoming a safe, responsible, self-sufficient backpacker, think of your excursion leaders, Lindsay Huettman and Denice Rochelle, as your guidance, not your guides. We’re showing up to help you learn, not to do it for you. This is an intentional space created for you to expand your outdoor narrative in a peer-led environment.
Connecting with the forest, mountain, and water, we’ll have space to be ourselves, unlearn, re-learn, and dial in hiking and camping skills, while bravely comfortably, and joyfully leaning into play that opens paths to ecological awareness and the living world.
Our biggest hope is that by the end of this trip, you’ll feel confident returning to these same trails with your own family and friends.
The Experience
Washington State has three National Parks of which Olympic National Park is one.
Picture walking through thick, verdant coastal forests, crossing Ahlstrom’s Prairie, and stepping out onto a dramatic coastline. We’ll explore Tskawahyah Island, check out tide pools teeming with marine life, marvel at the Wedding Rocks petroglyphs, and absorb those unbeatable Pacific sunset views.
Before, during, and after we’ll cover essentials like preparation, group and self-care on the trail, trail etiquette, setting up camp, Leave No Trace principles, trail hazards, and some naturalist awareness of the local ecology.
Our Plan for the Weekend
Be prepared to hike about 3 miles each day with an average elevation gain of 400 to 600 feet. The trails are super popular with beginner and seasoned hikers and backpackers. The trail’s framed by massive spruce and cedar forests, the open prairie, and a rugged, tide-dependent coastline.
- Day 1 (Friday): We’ll spend the first night at a property near the trailhead for ease of group travel. (Address will be provided to our group)
- Day 2 (Saturday): We’ll drive to the trailhead in the morning. We’ll hike about 3 miles to the point, set up camp, and spend our first night listening to the ocean.
- Day 3 (Sunday): We’ll hike about 3 miles on the second leg of the triangle and set up camp for our second night on the beach.
- Day 4 (Monday): After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll break camp, hike our last 3 miles along the final leg of the trail back to the parking lot, and say our until next time’s.
What You Need to Know
- Prep Sessions:
- We definitely recommend that you attend our 2-hour Camping Equipment Demystified event on May 9 to help you prepare for this excursion. We’ll be arranging in-person skills and prep sessions to make sure everyone is totally ready for the trail. (Dates and locations will be coordinated with our group)
- The Basics: Be age 18+, have reliable transportation, and have experience car camping and day hiking. Be able to comfortably hike at least 4 miles each way carrying a loaded backpack and potable water on an undulating trail at a leisurely, conversational pace.
- Equipment Needs: Learning what equipment to have for the environment we want to go to is part of becoming a self-reliant backpacker. We’ll go over needs and the various ways to get equipment to satisfy those needs, including leaning into the abundance of your friends, cousins, or neighbors to borrow items, or investing in core items if you’re able. We may be able to help fill in your gaps from our small equipment library. Equipment is an investment in your safety, comfort, and confidence and we want to set you up for long-term success.
- Permits: All overnighters must have a Wilderness Permit which we’ll secure for our group.
- Carpooling: We’ll provide a link later on so folks can self-organize rideshares.
If you can’t participate, but still want to support us, you can always donate to The Bronze Chapter.