Neah Bay Travel Guide

3 mile, easy hike to Shi Shi beach. It is on the Travel Channels top 10 beaches in the US. So secluded and wild...soft sand and decent waves too. Far to hike with your surf board but worth it if you are staying two or more nights. Fresh water (just filter it) can be found on two small rivers that feed out into the ocean. Dont worry about firewood since there is so much driftwood it's amazing. Once you reach the end of the trail (beach), head south about a half mile more to get away from the lazy campers who congregate around the trailhead. Bring some wine and hike around the beach caves and tidepools. Look for deer playing in the small waves and seals sleeping on the sand. Park at Donna's for $10 (on your left as you near the hatchery) and the owner will watch your car and shuttle you and your stuff to the trailhead. Other parking areas look a bit shady and I would definetely not park overnight at the trailhead...even the rangers recommended anything but that since the locals love to rob the area.

This place is not a restaurant, only a small shack to buy smoked salmon. Don't be put off by the look of it...the food is amazing.

Head west on highway 112 past Clallam Bay and Sekiu. The next town you come to will be Neah Bay. The shop is located on Woodland Ave. I can't remember if Woodland is right off of 112 or not so you may have to make a few turns. There was a gas station near by on the north side of 112. Ask there if you can't find it.

You can buy packaged salmon but skip it if there is fresh available. If you're lucky the owner will have fresh steamed dungeness crabs too. Find a place to eat it on the beach or better yet rent a cottage (Chito Beach Resort) on the ocean and have it for dinner. We completely rearranged our plans on day two to make sure we were able to get some of this salmon. Trust me...it's that good.

This part of the Northwest can be quite isolated. Not many gas stations or ammenities. Be sure to bring water and food if you are going to spend a day at Shi Shi and possibly a change of shoes and socks. We had great weather on our trip, but it can be rainy and cold which will drop the temperatures quite a bit!