Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park, Nature reserve and state park in Ocean Shores, Washington
Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park is a protected nature reserve and Washington state park on the Pacific coast, near Ocean Shores. It covers a stretch of low sand dunes, grassy flats, the mouth of the Copalis River, and a beach that can only be reached on foot.
The land was once part of the territory used by coastal fishing communities before it was set aside as a protected area to keep the shoreline in its natural state. The dead trees in the Ghost Forest date back to a major earthquake that caused the ground to drop and exposed the trees to saltwater more than 300 years ago.
The park contains what locals call a Ghost Forest, a cluster of dead tree stumps that have stood in place for over 300 years. Scientists use this site to study past earthquakes and assess the risk of future tsunamis along this stretch of coast.
A Discover Pass is required to park at the trailheads, so it is worth getting one before arriving. Since no vehicles are allowed on the beach, all visitors must walk to reach the shore, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
The round trip trail to the tip of Copalis Spit is about 4 miles (6.5 km) long and passes through dunes and along the river without a single road or building in sight. At low tide, the beach grows noticeably wider, uncovering sand and mud flats where crabs and sea stars are easy to spot.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
