Grayland Beach State Park

Location: Grayland, Grays Harbor County.

Length: Over a mile and a half of sandy shoreline, plus five short trails from the campground to the beach.

Level of difficulty: Level-to-gentle. Paved park roads offer accessibility.

Setting: This 412-acre oceanfront park is located near the southern part of the 18-mile-long shoreline between Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay, which is called South Beach. During the summer, daytime temperatures are often in the 60s, making it a cooler yet still-sunny respite from hot spells elsewhere in the state. The town was named after Capt. Robert Gray, the first American explorer who sailed into the area in the late 1700s (rather than for its often-leaden winter skies).

Highlights: From March 15 through Sept. 15, portions of the beach dunes here are set aside as breeding grounds for the Western snowy plover, a threatened species of shorebird. The plovers live year-round on beaches along the West Coast; due to loss and degradation of their habitat, they have been listed as threatened since 1963. The "snowies" nest on the beach in loose sand above the high-tide line. After the tiny flightless chicks hatch, they can feed on insects, but need four weeks of warmth and protection from a parent before they become independent (the male shares parenting duties, as the female may leave soon to nest again with another male).

Kiosks in the park describe precautions you can take to protect the fledgling plovers. A driftwood stick left vertical in the beach sand unwittingly becomes a perch for a hungry hawk; kites flown near the breeding grounds resemble circling predators to the young birds.

Facilities: Restrooms and water. Year-round campground offers yurts (and good showers).

Restrictions: Leash and scoop laws in effect. Keep out of the marked Western snowy plover breeding areas (and definitely keep your dog away — on a recent visit, a woman carelessly allowed her unleashed dog to wander into a marked breeding area).

Directions: From Aberdeen, drive 22 miles south on Highway 105 to Grayland. On the south end of town, watch for state park signs off to the right.

For more information: 360-267-4301 or www.parks.wa.gov.

Cathy McDonald, a Renton-based freelance writer, is a regular contributor to Northwest Weekend.