Elk Flats Trail

The trail begins at Elk Flats and winds through wide coastal meadows with views of the ocean and waves crashing against the cliffs. This area is beautiful and has a wide variety of wildflowers in the spring and summer. There are several trails that branch off, one to the south for an overlook of the cliffs, and one to the west to see the Devil's Cauldron. Follow the trail north as it climbs into some second growth Douglas fir and delves deep under the canopy. The rest of the trail is shadowed and cool on a summer day, surrounded by green moss, lichens, and ferns. There are a few steep sections but it's largely an easy slope. From here the trail follows the contour of the cliffs before diving down steeply into the old growth forest near Short Sands Beach. Often muddy, this part of the trail dives down with several switchbacks and connects to the South Beach Access Trail to reach Short Sand Beach or the Sitka Spruce Trail to reach the main parking area at Oswald West State Park.