LAPUSH — The route to the popular and scenic Second Beach on Washington’s coast remained closed Saturday, said Quileute Tribal Chairman Russell Woodruff Sr.
There was a possibility the trailhead and trail to what many consider the most beautiful beach on the North Olympic Peninsula would open for the weekend, but on Friday the five-member Quileute Tribal Council opted against it, Woodruff said.
The Tribal Council is waiting for the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees the National Park Service and Olympic National Park, to “come to the table” and talk to the Tribal Council, Woodruff said.
“We haven’t heard anything from the park,” Woodruff said.
“During the first part of the week we hope that someone will come around.”
Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner said he was interested in continuing discussion with the tribe.
“I look forward to doing that,” he said.
Laitner said he would call Woodruff on Monday.
“I do think there is a way to work this out,” Laitner said.
“And my understanding when I last talked to the tribal chairman is that he is interested in continuing the conservation.”
Laitner said he has received one written comment from a visitor lamenting the closed trail, but added that he doesn’t work in the field.
Boundary dispute
The tribe and Olympic National Park have disputed the northern boundary of the reservation for more than 40 years.
The park owns a strip of land running down the coast from the Makah Reservation to south of Kalaloch.
However, the Quileute tribe owns the property between the park and Highway 112, including the trailhead and parking lot for access to Second Beach.
The tribe shut down the parking lot and about a third of the trail Oct. 3 in reaction to finding out that land it wanted to swap for with the park was designated wilderness area and, therefore, could not be traded.
