Do you like a bit of history or art with your hike and beach trip in Washington? If so, you can reach the petroglyphs all over this beautiful beach by trail at low tide, and the historic art is breathtaking. After finding and deciphering images of this unique destination on AllTrails, the scenery is a definite bonus. Mark Ozette Beach for a future bucket-list-worthy trip in Washington when nature sounds like the best destination for the day. Before you head out to see the Ozette Petroglyphs, be sure to download the AllTrails+ app for all your offline maps and for more information about the trails.

Welcome to today's adventure, a hike out to Ozette Beach in Olympic National Park. Here, there is not only a beautiful and quiet beach, but a piece of history you can see for yourself.
Ozette Petroglyphs
Debajit Ghosh/AllTrails
This beach is near Ozette, Washington, and lies between Cape Alva and Sand Point. During low tide, you can hike in to view the beautiful carved artwork for yourself.
Yongbing Wan/AllTrails
The petroglyphs include whales (pictured) among other pictures from nature, objects, and symbols. Can you recognize each symbol for what it represents?
Jake N Kristin Pool/AllTrails

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Carved into these rocks centuries ago by the Ozette band of the Makah tribe, many of the images are dated around 300-500 years ago. Though some have been lost to vandalism, most remain beautiful and untouched by harmful hands.
Ozette Petroglyphs
Brian Talbert/AllTrails
The easiest way out to the petroglyphs is to take Wedding Rocks Trail, 8.7 miles of out-and-back that starts at the Ozette campground. The trail is pretty popular, but the beach is often quiet and perfect for a day exploring the artwork.
Ken Shawcroft/AllTrails
The trail is wooded and beautiful, with wildflowers and beautiful steps and boardwalks. It is rated as a moderate-level hike due to elevation gain and the paths, but it's well worth it to be able to see this stunning historic artwork.
Yongbing Wan/AllTrails
Make sure to keep from tampering with the petroglyphs and bring all trash back with you that you brought out. If you see anyone vandalizing the rocks, the park has asked people to take photos of the people responsible and get a description of their vehicle if possible. It takes all of us to keep these important historic sites safe!
Brian Talbert/AllTrails

Want to get a glimpse inside Olympic National Park? If so, check out this YouTube video by National Geographic highlighting all the park has to offer.

 

Olympic National Park does charge a per-vehicle or per-person fee for entering the park, so be prepared before you arrive. Otherwise, you can purchase an annual pass at the park website. For more information about the hike itself, check out the Wedding Rocks Petroglyphs Trail AllTrails page for the route map, reviews, and weather forecast.

Also, before you hit the trails, check out this ultimate packing list guide for all your hiking essentials. 

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Aside from Ozette Olympic National Park, what are some more national parks in Washington?

Besides Olympic National Park, there are two more national parks in Washington state and they are:

  • Mt Rainier National Park, Ashford - featuring an active volcano as well as Comet Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Washington, this national park belongs on your list.
  • North Cascades National Park, Marblemount - with over a half a million acres to explore, this park boasts beautiful landscapes that include waterfalls, mountains, and approximately 300 glaciers. This national park is a must-visit!


What are some of the best state parks in Washington?

With more than 150 state parks in Washington, chances are, you haven’t seen all of them. But if you’re searching for the best ones to visit, here are 10 that we recommend:

  • Lake Wenatchee State Park, Leavenworth
  • Mount Spokane State Park, Mead
  • Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, Chelan
  • Lime Kiln Point State Park, Friday Harbor
  • Iron Horse State Park, North Bend
  • Fort Worden Historical State Park, Port Townsend
  • Camano Island State Park, Camano
  • Birch Bay State Park, Blaine
  • Joseph Whidbey State Park, Oak Harbor
  • Crawford State Park, Metaline Falls


Discover more about these destinations from our previous article that features 15 of the best state parks in Washington. 

What are the best beaches in Washington?

If you want to explore some of the most beautiful beaches in Washington, these are the ones that I like the best:

  • Ruby Beach, Jefferson County
  • Third Beach, Forks
  • Glass Beach, Port Townsend
  • Lake Chelan State Park, Chelan
  • Shi Shi Beach, Neah Bay
  • Marine View Park, Normandy Park
  • Alki Beach, Seattle
  • Ediz Hook Reserve, Port Angeles
  • Double Bluff Beach, Whidbey Island
  • Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific County


If you’re searching for a summertime adventure, check out these five stunning beaches in Washington that belong on your bucket list this summer. 

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