Leadbetter Point, Washington
The exceptionally wide swath of sand that lines the west coast of Washington's Long Beach Peninsula extends more than 25 miles north from the mouth of the Columbia River, making it one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of beachfront anywhere in the country.
Much of the area has been developed for tourism, with vacation homes and a string of pleasant beach towns fronting the ocean for miles, but drive up to Leadbetter Point at the far northern end of the peninsula and you'll find a marvelously untouched nature area marking the entrance to Willapa Bay.
Stewardship of this coastal wilderness is shared between the Washington State Parks system and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with access to the beach via a 1.3-mile trail from the parking lot at the end of Route 103 (Stackpole Road). A longer trail leads north along the bay for a mile or so before veering west across the peninsula to the beach. No services are available, so bring your own supply of food and water, and pack a pair of binoculars for watching the numerous resident and migratory bird species you'll encounter along the way.
From March through September, parts of Leadbetter Point are closed to protect nesting grounds of the snowy plover, a small endangered shore bird.
Information: Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, 800-451-2542; Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, 360-484-3482.
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