Where is lake ozette

As we drew nearer, we saw it was indeed a boat resting on shore near a lovely campsite. On we paddled. Further along the shore, we realized that our choices were limited.

Any place we could manage to pull ashore would have to do. Spying a small rocky patch among the brush, we nudged the bow gently ashore then scrambled onto dry land.

Using our lifejackets as seat cushions, we nestled in among the bushes, enjoying the view across Lake Ozette while we devoured our sandwiches.

After lunch, Michael had a second destination in mind. Why not head there? I agreed to give it a try, and soon we were paddling across to the east side of the lake. After doing a full loop, we pulled ashore on the northwestern side, not far from another campsite. We gently edged the kayak onto the shore, careful not to scrape the skeg against the rocks.

Before I even stepped on land, the boys were off and running, eager to explore our very own island. The island was a delight to explore. While the ground is rocky and often covered in vegetation, this just adds to the feeling of having discovered something wild and untamed. But the campers were gone, probably off on their own expedition, so we had the place to ourselves. Over one hundred years ago, settlers built a homestead here.

Eventually, it was time to return to the mainland. We squeezed back into the kayak, which had taken on some water during our trip to the island. Enough water, as it turns out, that we soon decided to pull ashore north of the island at Rocky Point. Fortunately, the Aquaglide comes equipped with drain valves. With some tilting and lifting, we managed to drain most of the extra water weight.

Now, we were on our way again, gliding effortlessly through the water! OK, not quite so effortlessly. The wind had picked up and swells pushed against the boat. I found myself paddling solely on the right, attempting to keep the boat angled away from the shore. At least we were moving forward; on this section of the lake, a number of small cabins dot the shore, and I could watch us slowly pass them one by one.

Little by little we edged northward, fighting the wind and waves. The intensity was unexpected, however, and a good reminder of how quickly conditions change. Earlier, I gave J the chance to paddle a few times, but now it was up to the adults.

Truth be told, even though the going was tough, I rather enjoyed it. Center: Fishing improves throughout the spring as waters warm and fish move onshore, peaking during the spawn. Catch improves in Fall as waters cool, vegetation begins to die back, and prey becomes more available. Winter is the hardest time because fish are offshore and slow moving. The season runs from April until the end of October.

Hiking: There are a number of hiking trails that traverse the land around Ozette Lake. Many of them lead to the wonderful Pacific Coast Marine Sanctuary, a 3, square mile area that is a fun and educational destination in and of itself. If you want to head to the sanctuary, choose one of these trails: The Southern Boardwalk Trail, which is 3. For something a little longer, try the Ozette Loop, which is 9-miles roundtrip, connecting the aforementioned Cape Alava and Sand Point trails.

All are fairly easy to travel. Vestiges of their homesites remain. In , a strip of coast and the Ozette area were included in Olympic National Park. Even as forest gradually reclaims once cleared land, stories of early human residents linger.

A storm and serendipity unveiled one of the richest archeological sites in North America. In the mids, archeologists from Washington State University began excavating foot thick deposits on the sheltered side of Cape Alava. Bone, shell and stone artifacts told of a sea-mammal hunting culture dating back at least 2, years. In , a storm surge battered the upper beach and began to erode the bank.

Hidden in the clay banks was the story of Ozette life, told by thousands of perfectly preserved artifacts. Archeologists and students excavated year old longhouses, which had been buried by massive mudslides. Three of five longhouses were fully unearthed and over 50, artifacts recovered, many not represented in museum collections. They revealed the details of everyday life in a stable, highly-organized hunting and gathering society. The discovery of many whale and seal hunting artifacts illuminated the villagers' dependence on the sea.