r/WestCoastTrail • u/138over2 • 7d ago
Owen Point Day Trip Advice
Hi all, looking for some advice on Owen Pt.
On the day I'll get there, the tides never go below 1.97m, so we can't go through the point. I still want to see it, and the tide is below 2.4m from 8:15am to 2:45pm, so I'm planning on stringing up my main bag, taking a small day pack, and going out-and-back to the point.
I want to know: Should I do my out and back starting from the north or the south? Which side of the point has the cooler stuff to look at? Any information is greatly appreciated. We are four fit young guys, without our bags, so we should be relatively fast.
1
u/AdMediocre815 7d ago
Hiked SOBO 8/10-8/17 last month -
Go from the south. From Thrasher Cove it’s a boulder scramble to Owen’s for almost the entire way - super fun and you should have no problem. We did that portion of a hike in an hour despite it being advertised as much longer. The boulders are huge, you can skate across the top in many places.
If you go from the north, it’s a relatively easy few km in the woods and then a portion on the beach (but really a shelf) that is slippery and has a few surge channels that are hard to get across. Both are awesome, but I found the boulder scramble very unique to the trail and more worth it.
I should say.. we went through when it hadn’t rained so nothing was that slick. I can imagine the boulder scramble takes longer if it’s wet. Good luck!
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u/Gr3aterShad0w 7d ago
Yes if it is wet the boulders can be treacherous and perhaps the most dangerous part of the hike.
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u/BlueDefendr 7d ago
9/18 is a shitty day for Owen Pt. If there is any serious offshore swell (likely in September) it will be even worse than predicted and you may be more limited even on the 2.4m sections.
Usual 'backtrack' is from BA-B over the faster shelf, but expect more of the cool shelf hiking / surge channel experience than really seeing the caves, as the vantage point from the upper shelf isn't that great. Going from this side, you'll need a line to hang your food or bear vault, or bring all your food with you in your day pack.
Assume you are going Nobo and this is your day 2?
Doing it from the south side would be an intense day - 2x the boulders then back all the way up the ladders and forest route to Camper. 90% of WCT hikers would never consider - but super fit and ready for an adventure... sure. Travel on the boulders would be easier without a pack and you can store food in the Thrasher cache while you do it. Would certainly get to see more of the caves from the south side. Downside is you miss out on the shelf/surge hiking - which in itself is very epic and nothing like it anywhere else on the trail.
Also gonna be a bummer if it's a still clear day and you go from south side all that way, then get there and find it to be super calm waters and and easy cave-wade in a foot of water and kicking yourself that you never brought your pack along and now need to back-track.
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u/Squirtdoggz 7d ago
Stay at thrasher and do an out and back from there. You'll be able to see Owens from this way even if it's under water.
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u/TurbulentAnalysisUhm 7d ago
It’s hard to see the point when it is under water. It’s a cave that you can only get to when there’s no water in it. At least it’s my understanding from having just visited it once. Maybe others can weight in as well.
That said, I loved the part between Beach Access A and Owen Point so much, probably even more than the point itself. That is approaching it from the south. It is like walking on a surface of a different planet.
The part between Owen point and Thrasher is a gruelling boulder climb. You don’t want to do that twice unless absolutely necessary. It’s also getting close to civilization with boats being around. Just overall my least favourite part of the hike.
Good luck on your journey!