Hiking Dungeness Spit

There are so many diverse hikes available in the state of Washington; but from my own personal experience, it has been a rarity for me to do a hike that my friends haven’t heard of or done. The most recent hike that no one knew anything about was Dungeness Spit. This trail ended up being one of my favorite experiences so far in the Pacific Northwest.

This hike is outside of the city of Sequim in the Olympic Peninsula. For those that do not know what a spit is, it’s a narrow sandy landform found off of coasts (and is tied to the coast at one end) that develops through a longshore drift. A longshore drift occurs due to waves meeting the beach at an oblique angle, which moves sediment down the beach in a zigzag pattern. The zigzag pattern is best seen at an aerial view of the spit (see pictures below). The Dungeness Spit here in Washington is the longest coastal spit in the continental United States. It protrudes over 5 miles straight into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. At the end of the 5 miles there is a lighthouse that has been keeping guard since 1857. The only way to reach the lighthouse is to hike. Wildlife is abundant with marine life and over 250 species of birds.

Since there is absolutely zero places to “pop a squat” on the spit, we were very thankful that there are restrooms available at the trailhead and at the end (at the lighthouse). The beginning of the trail starts off in forest that descends to the beach. There are overlooks in the forest that you can view the “zigzags” of the spit but the best and unobstructed views are at the end of the spit when you climb to the top of the lighthouse. Once we reached the beach we were rewarded with some of the best beach mountain views I have ever witnessed. It is rare to be able to see all visible peaks of the Olympic Mountains, especially during winter, but that was exactly what greeted us upon our arrival on the beach. Throughout the hike, the mountain views were constantly changing because the clouds and fog were sweeping in (see picture of mountains at the beginning of the trip and the view upon the return trip).

We encountered so much wildlife during this hike: we had ever-curious seals following us, and birds in the air and walking on the beach, and bald eagles sitting on driftwood.  Once we reached the lighthouse, we got to tour the lighthouse and climb the narrow, winding staircase to the top. It is here that you get an unobstructed 360 view of Washington and Canada.  During our visit at the lighthouse we learned that people could pay $350 a week to stay at the lighthouse (and neighboring house) and give tours. The idea that one can “lighthouse-hop” is definitely an intriguing idea for the future to pursue for a vacation.

We began this hike during low-tide but on the way back it was almost the peak of high-tide. The spit is always passable but it was definitely a little rougher on the way back. Remember the entire time you are hiking in sand (gives resistance) and constantly hiking over rocks and driftwood on the beach. In other words, you get a workout during your almost 12 miles of hiking.

This hike consisted of some of the most amazing things I have ever seen and do. Would I do this hike again? Probably not, because the sweeping views were so spectacular that I cannot even comprehend the possibility of topping this whole experience (exception would be spotting whales during their migration). It may not be a hike that people have heard of but is definitely a hike that everyone needs to do. The spit is always passable, even during high tide. We started the hike during the peak of low tide and ended with it at high tide. The hike back from the lighthouse may be a little grueling but with the whole experience you will have no regrets. After all it was the Great Ernest Hemingway that said, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

I took over 200 pictures during this hike. Thank goodness for the digital age of cameras; I cannot even imagine if I had to "shake it like a Polaroid picture" after ever photo taken during this hike. Here are 24 of my favorite photos with captions explaining them. Enjoy!

This is at the beginning of the hike and a view of the Olympic Mountains. The spit's terrain was sand, rocks, grass, and driftwood. 

I love the reflections of the trees and mountains in the water in this photo.

Driftwood window view of the Olympic Mountains

At the base of the mountains on this side of the spit you can see there are houses nestled among them.

The rocks on the beach may have made it a little grueling on the hike back, but I thought they were so beautiful.  Plus I may be guilty of snatching a few of them...which is a definite "no, no" but the little devil on my shoulder told me to do and that is absolutely my defense.

I love this picture because of the colors of the rock and the clouds rolling in at the base of the Olympic Mountains.

This was at low tide. I love the effects of the waves rescinding back into the ocean.

Even at low tide, the waves were booming away.

This piece of driftwood was such a vibrant red color.

It's hard to see but there are eight tiny birds running on the shoreline. Additionally, in this picture you can see how the tide has pushed the rocks up on the beach.

Mountain range view

Lighthouse, also known as "bathroom oasis"

View of the lighthouse

Definitely doing the "bathroom dance" at this point of the hike, but still couldn't resist taking pictures.

The house on the left is where people can stay at for a week and pay $350.

I love this sign "Welcome to Serenity...Reality 5 miles"

This is me sitting on a bench and the mountains that I am looking at in the picture are Canadian....eh :)

Unobstructed view of the "zig zag" of the spit from the top of the lighthouse.

The light of the lighthouse

Zoomed in picture while walking around the lighthouse. That is a bald eagle on the log.

The picture on the top is of the Olympic Mountain Range at the beginning of the trail and the bottom picture is during our return trip. As you can see the fog and clouds almost made the mountains completely disappeared.

This is what the trail looks like as you hike down to the beach/spit.

The spit is such an interesting landform, but definitely a little difficult to describe. Therefore, I thought this combination photo would be helpful. 

This is the view of the spit from one of the overlooks in the forest (beginning of the trail).