Along its scenic stretches of the Pacific Ocean, Washington boasts more than 3,000 miles of coastline. Home to gorgeous coastal cities with expansive beaches and kite-friendly breezes, the Evergreen State has no shortage of family-friendly destinations offering remarkable views of harbors, bays, and wide-open ocean. For an affordable, no-fuss way to get your nature fix on the southern end of the Olympic Peninsula — home to one of the best small beach towns in America, Olympic National Park, and Olympic National Forest — don’t miss a stop at Bottle Beach State Park. The modest yet ecologically significant park stretches along 6,000 feet of shoreline just north of the small community of Ocosta, on the southern tide flats of Grays Harbor.
Bottle Beach is an affordable way to spend an afternoon, whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk, clamming year-round, or you brought your binoculars for spotting local wildlife. As of this writing, the daily parking fee, known as a Discover Pass, is $10 for one day. Or, for $30 for the whole year, you can visit other must-see spots around the state, like this rocky coastal paradise full of beaches and trails or a park with trees so unique they’re considered “living fossils,” among many others. It basically pays for itself in just three visits. Bottle Beach State Park is open dawn to dusk every day of the year. While spring and summer are popular for birding and warmer weather, don’t miss the fall migrations, too.
Meander through marshes and along the shore
Bottle Beach State Park boasts one of the most important areas for shorebirds along the Pacific Coast. Thanks to the offshore mudflats’ abundant source of tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans that collect in phenomenal numbers — 55,000 per square meter (about 13.6 in some places — hundreds of thousands of migrating birds make Bottle Beach their eatery of choice every spring. Avians like sandpipers, semipalmated plovers, dunlin, and red knots are a prominent feature of the shoreline from late April into early May, and a number of other species of plover, dowitchers, whimbrels, and more pop through in the fall.
Follow the Bottle Beach Interpretive Trail is an easy, .7-mile route (technically 1.3 miles out-and-back) to traverse around 9.5 acres of restored marsh habitat. Flat and ADA-accessible, this trail starts at the parking lot and is for pedestrians only, so you won’t be competing for space with bikes or other motorized vehicles. You’ll also be able to stop at any of the three viewing platforms and cross a bridge over Redman Slough to take in the beautiful view and seasonal wildlife. The birdwatching is so important here that this route is formally designated as a Washington State Birding Trail.
Like many Washington State Parks, Bottle Beach participates in First Day Hikes, a celebration of the New Year for which Washington State Parks waives daily fees and holds special events to encourage a new calendar year full of hiking and the enjoying the outdoors. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed in this park due to the fragility of the marsh and making sure that the birds and other wildlife aren’t disturbed.
Make the most of southern Grays Harbor
