Lost Resort at Lake Ozette — Olympic National Park

This is a decent campground run by some hard-working private owners. It definitely has its pros and cons. The big pro is that while they don't take reservations, they pride themselves on never turning anyone away. That means you can always find a place to spend the night, although it may mean pitching your tent in the lawn area behind the office/store. Another big pro is that you're within walking distance (~ a quarter mile) of the Ozette Ranger Station and trailheads to the beach. We did the triangle hike to Cape Alava, then down the beach where petroglyphs are visible, to Sand Point and back up to the beginning. Just over 11 miles altogether. You need wilderness permits for camping down at the beach, which you can now get at Recreation.gov. No permits are required for hiking, but you do need proof that you paid the National Park entry fee (or have a pass) to park in the trailhead lot.

The biggest negative of the Lost Resort is the shortage of toilets. There is one flushable toilet available at all times and two porta-johns up the hill. There is another toilet inside, but it's only available when the store is open during daylight hours. This was a big problem on a very busy Labor Day weekend. The nice people who run the place said they are trying to get more toilets, but are limited by the availability of water, low water pressure, and park restrictions. There is also a single shower available to campers for $3, or $6 for non-customers.

Each established site has fire ring and a picnic table, although you can tell that makeshift sites used for crowded nights don't have those amenities. There are some open sites and some very enclosed woodsy sites. The sites aren't numbered. There's a marshy area in the middle that would not be good for tents.

The road in from Sekiu is paved all the way, but it's curvy with a 35 mph speed limit. Our navigation brought us over on 112 from Port Angeles, but I highly recommend taking 101 along the gorgeous Lake Crescent and then heading north on 113. Maybe a few miles longer, but much faster and more scenic.

We enjoyed paddling our kayak on Lake Ozette, but it got a little tricky with some afternoon winds. Motorboats are allowed on the lake, but they are mostly small fishing boats.

Lost Resort Campground is near the end of the road at Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park - super close to the official ONP Ozette Campground. While the Ozette campground is great because its directly on the lake, the Lost Resort campground is great because it doesn't turn anyone away.

There are some great, quiet and wooded sites at Lost Resort. There are also several very open areas where they can put campers who turn up when everything else in the neighborhood is full (ie. the NP campground and backcountry are the only other options here)

Lost Resort has a little camp store that's open into the early evening most days and serves full meals as well as coffees, espressos and has a pretty well stocked shop with camping necessities. Firewood is available for sale on an honor system even if the store is closed.

The campground is a horshoe/U shape up a hill with some private cabins that can be reserved. Sites are not numbered. Be sure to check that your site has a flat spot for your tent footprint if you're tent camping.

All sites have fire pits and tables and the ones on the far side are more wooded and dark if you like to sleep early or are hammock camping. Ozette was the only place we encountered mosquitos camping in ONP. (The store sells bug spray too).

The store also has wifi which reaches the closer parts of the campground. There isn't much of a signal anywhere in the upper NW peninsula, so this is a nice chance to connect if you need to research where you're hoping to sleep the next night!

There are 3 toilet options: One in the store open during hours, an outdoor full service near the store - open 24 hours, and 2 port a potties on top of the hill closest to the upper campground sites. There are showers available during store hours for a fee- 3$ if you're camp at the site, 6$ if you aren't.

Sites are $25 a night here (5$ more than the NP campground), and they take credit cards!