Sand Point was my chosen destination, near Lake Ozette and a well-known bear sighting area. After scooping up a last-minute permit, I headed out on my 3.5-hour drive and parked at Lake Ozette. It's a pleasant 3-mile hike to get to Sand Point through forest and grassy boardwalk, finally ending at the coast. I always love the first moments of hearing crashing waves through the forest and knowing you are getting close to the beach! I opted to hike north once getting to the coast to get a bit away from the crowds that congregate at the first set of camp spots. Between Sand Point and Wedding Rocks, the next quota zone, there are several nicely spaced-out camp spots that yield a bit more privacy and a better wilderness experience.
After setting up camp, with a curious eye constantly scanning the beach, it was time to meander, explore the tidal pools, observe birds and wildlife, and, most importantly, have high hopes of seeing some bears. The afternoon was pleasant with a lot of exploration, but sadly no bears. As the sun was about to set, it was time to return to camp and make dinner.
On the menu for the evening was the Luxefly Oregon Rock Cod with Lemon-Cream sauce.
What better meal to have at the coast than the best freeze-dried seafood meal money could buy! After sipping wine, feeling full, and watching the stars for a bit, it was time for bed, hopeful that tomorrow morning would yield more excitement before hiking out and heading home.
I woke up with the sunrise, made some coffee, and set out for some more tidal exploration, but I knew I had limited time. With a long drive home and work the next day, my morning was going to be brief before hiking out. The cool morning air was pleasant, and I decided I would explore until my coffee was empty and then break down camp. Even though I hadn't seen any bears, the trip had been relaxing and enjoyable. I finished my coffee, broke down camp, slung my backpack over my shoulders, and decided to hike back to the truck. I was taking my first steps back toward the trailhead when I heard a rustle from the bushes and watched two large dark figures walk onto the beach. In disbelief, I realized it was exactly what I was hoping for: a mother black bear and her cub!
It was genuinely a perfect moment. They were close, but at a safe distance, the lighting was perfect, and they saw me and didn't seem too afraid, a mutual understanding of each other's presence. I had my 400mm lens and my camera within quick reach and was able to start taking some of my dream photos. I actually felt like I was watching the mother teach the cub: she was pawing through seaweed with gentle technique, and the cub would watch and then reenact the movements.
I'm not sure if the seaweed was the food of choice or if it was something else mixed in, but regardless, it was very fun to watch. The cub wasn't as comfortable as the mother was with my presence, and it eventually darted back into the woods, and the mother soon followed. While the whole encounter only lasted a few minutes, I was stoked to have finally had my coastal bear encounter.
We made the hike back to my truck feeling ecstatic and accomplished. I hope that wasn’t a first and last experience, but if it was, I am grateful for how it went. I will certainly be making more trips to the coast hopeful for the next chance, but regardless, I can say I was able to see the coastal black bears!
Authors note:
Although my free time is typically spent in the mountains climbing remote peaks, I have always had a fondness for the coast. As much as my identity as an adult has come from my success as a climber, I still find joy and beauty in other outdoor endeavors. I make a few trips to the coast every year; the dark skies make for great astrophotography, and the abundance of wildlife keeps me constantly attentive and enthralled. My passion for wildlife photography started almost from the beginning of my interest in photography, as a motivating factor to pick up a camera. Through all of my trips to the northern Washington coast, the driving factor has almost always been one reason: to see one certain animal in a unique setting, the coastal black bear.
Those who know me probably assume I have lived my whole life partaking in mountainous endeavors, but I didn't actually start backpacking or climbing until my early 20s. I grew up constantly at the coast, though. My family made far more trips to the coast growing up, whether that was spending weeks at a time at Ocean Shores camped in our tent trailer, or a quick weekend trip in the winter for digging razor clams. I remember seeing tons of wildlife but never bears. I actually didn't even know bears inhabited coastal areas until I got older and started seeing documentaries on coastal bears in Alaska and Canada, and I still didn't know that was a thing in Washington State until a backpacking friend showed me photos he took. That moment drew my awe.
It was around this time that I had my first chance to see and photograph bears in Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park. It was a wonderful experience that propelled my interest in wildlife photography, but the coastal bear experience was something I knew I needed to see, and I would discover it wasn't going to be easy. It's now been about 5 years and probably 10 backpacking trips to the coast, several different beaches, tons of good times and unforgettable wildlife encounters, but still no bears. Now it's the fall of 2026, and it was time to give it another try.
Ryan is a big part of our instagram contribution team, his adventures around the PNW are captured beautifully @ryanradman and at www.ryanrodmanphotography.com