Lyre Conservation Area

Restoration Update Spring 2023:

Notice black tarps in the meadow near the beach at the Lyre Conservation Area? Please let them be – this is prairie creation in progress! Temporary fencing has also been placed around sensitive prairie plants to help support their revegetation. Please stay on trail in these areas to support prairie restoration efforts! Click here to learn more.

The Lyre Conservation Area is located on the traditional and ancestral lands of the indigenous S’Klallam and Makah people, who have lived on the North Olympic Peninsula since time immemorial and who continue to lead in environmental stewardship. Read our full Land Acknowledgement here.

The Lyre Conservation Area is a 280-acre property just east of the Lyre River on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This Conservation Area features the estuary at the mouth of the Lyre River, streams, tide-flats, kelp beds and a ½ mile of Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline. It also includes a large diverse upland forest as well as excellent habitat for salmon and a variety of migratory and resident birds and wildlife. Just 20 miles west of Port Angeles, it is an ideal spot for non-motorized daytime activities like bird and wildlife viewing, surfing, picnicking, fishing and beach walking. With responsible use, this phenomenal conservation area will provide habitat protection and recreational access for generations to come.

General Info

Enjoy during daylight hours.

Dogs welcome on leash, please pack out waste.

This is a multi-use trail – pedestrians, bikes, horses, mobility devices for disability access, and e-bikes are welcome. Other unauthorized motor vehicles are not allowed. Please maintain safe speeds under 10 mph, share the trail, and yield to slower trail users.

Pack out all garbage you pack in.

Fishing is welcome in accordance with WDFW regulations.

No fires, hunting, target practice, or overnight camping.

Please use caution – enjoy at your own risk.

Trail Info

The main trail is mostly flat, wide, and gravel. It’s about 2 miles to the beach and back with 250 feet of elevation gain and one steep downhill. 0.7 miles of other trails meander through the forest.

Amenities

3 benches, 2 picnic tables, and a porta-potty. A bike rack is available near the beach. No trash cans – please pack out waste!

What to Expect When you Arrive

Two parking areas have been established near the end of Reynold Rd. The conservation area is NOT accessible from other local roads, including East Lyre River Rd and West Lyre River Rd. Please respect neighboring private properties.

Thanks to the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation there’s a Sanican at the Conservation Area.

Printable maps of the property are available here.

Click here to download a brochure.

Learn more about the history of history of the property here.

Thank you to our Partners

This community conservation area was made possible through the efforts of the Land Trust and local partners to secure grant funding provided by the State of Washington’s Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration fund, Marine Shoreline Protection fund, Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program, general North Olympic Land Trust funds, and a generous donation from the prior owner for the ongoing care of the land.   Critical partners include the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Puget Sound Partnership, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and the Makah Tribe.

To read more about the purchase of the property, click here.

A Tour of the Lyre Conservation Area