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I will be hiking the Olympic Coast in June and was wondering how much ground a strong hiker can realistically cover - assuming you're good at timing the tides and are willing to put in long days. The NP website says 10 miles/day even for strong hikers but I'd like to know how accurate that is. Thanks!

Planning on going ~June 22-25, company would be welcome if personalities match.... likely planning on early mornings (due to tides) and long days.

It depends on how lite you can pack, but 10 miles a day sounds pretty accurate. I haven't known anyone to do much better than that. Sand makes for pretty slow hiking.

Mountainjeff wrote:Sand makes for pretty slow hiking.

Word, and tides will impede you at some point, but long days were how we did it one time, and it worked out well. I forget the mileage/day.

7 of 9 days were rain in early june. And we saw a whole beach of huge logs become a writhing mass of crashing and bouncing tidal debris one time H@LY $#!T.

A bunch of us office guys... 12 in all... made a 20-mile hike in two days. From La Push to Ozette.

Half started at the north end, half at the south end... we met half way, camped and exchanged car keys.

Sand ain't too bad... just pick the ideal path... not too far from the surf, not to close to the surf where you think sand is firmest. There are a number of rocky stretches where wet rocks must be trod with care. Ocassionally an unexpected slippery rock is encountered. Just be careful. Expect to have a couple of falls on these rocks.

There were two stretches where the tide was in, couldn't go around a rocky outcropping. Yet we did fine, hacking into the dense woods and climbing over short hills.

And yes... it was a little rainy.

But a GREAT hike! Go for it!

OMG you are going to have a great time. That place is magnificent. I wish I could join you. Please post photos when you return.