LAPUSH — A boundary dispute between the Quileute tribe and Olympic National Park has led the tribe to close access to Second Beach and to the breakwater south of Rialto Beach, two of the most beautiful stretches of Washington’s Pacific shore.
At the core of the dispute is the tribe’s wish to move its tribal school, senior center, tribal offices and older housing out of a tsunami zone and onto higher ground the tribe says it owns.
The park disputes the ownership, and the land has been designated as wilderness.
The United States established the Quileute reservation in 1889. Olympic National Park spread to next door in 1953.
40-year-old quarrel
The tribe and the park have quarreled for 40 years and negotiated for the past 30 over Rialto Beach and areas along the reservation’s southern boundary, the tribe said Tuesday.
“We are working to continue discussions and are hopeful that visitors will once again have access to Second Beach,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner.
The disputed border is marked by a ruler-straight edge of forest whose limbs overhang tribal housing.
The park announced the closure Monday in a news release.
“The Quileute tribe has closed the trailhead and parking area for the popular Second Beach trail,” the press release said.
“Both the trailhead and parking area are located on the Quileute Indian Reservation.
“For many years, the tribe has allowed hikers to cross tribal land in order to reach Second Beach and the park’s section of trail.
“Access across the reservation has now been terminated.
“Without a way to reach the trail for maintenance or patrol purposes, Olympic National Park has closed its portion of the Second Beach trail to all use.”
The Third Beach trail, also near LaPush, remains open.