Stripped Peak (1,166′) sits off by itself, 7-8 miles from the northern frontrange of the Olympic Mountains (4-5 miles from the Foothills), hard against the Strait of Juan de Fuca, 5-6 miles west of the mouth of the Elwha River.  It is mostly State DNR timberland, but has gradually taken on more of a recreational character & role.  A one-lane road leads off Freshwater Bay Road up the east side to public parking and a lookout.  At the eastern base is a boat launch and rocky beach.  At the opposite western foot is the county Salt Creek Campground, with a trail that climbs the northern water-face and returns in a loop.

Freshwater Bay Road, off US Highway 101, ends at a developed public boat launch.   At the launch entry a side road leads past some nearby rural residences, then up the east side of the hill through commercial forest.   Near the top is a parking area and trailhead, looking out over the north slope, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and southern Vancouver Island.  The ‘top’ is roughly flattened, and includes an area perhaps a mile long and half that wide.   Unmaintained and outright overgrown roads & grades lead off the main road, and the trail-route uses parts of the roads.

There are several ‘peaks’ across the broad top, one of which is the highest and hosts a small fenced ‘antenna farm’.  This height sits toward the south (opposite the water), and has the best views of the Olympic Mountains, and the lowlands in between.  It has a rough road leading up, but it’s gated part way.  A couple tenths mile walk reaches the top, and a grade then  continues past the antennas and gradually down a little, onto the upper south slope.  Stripped Peak is old mainly-nodule agate-hunting grounds, and parts of the south side have been productive.  White and gray slab or seam chert, too.

The trail begins from the east side of Salt Creek Campground, near the entrance gate, and heads for the northern face, along the Strait.  Not too far up, a good side-path leads back down the elevation-gain, to a tiny waterfront cove with a little gravel beach, massive cliffs on either side.   The trail is mild, finding routes between outcrops and cliffs, and ends up at the parking lot and overlook that the road leads to, from the other side of the hill.  The driveable road soon ends, and hikers follow it to an outright abandoned grade that leads back down the west side, coming out at the campground gate, just yards from the trailhead.

The parking lot, which sits along the upper of the multiple basalt cliffs that make the Peak appear Stripped, offers what is likely the best vantage of Canada’s southern Vancouver Island to be had, from the north Olympic Peninsula.  The distance of 25 miles or so is a little long, but with an exceptionally clear day and a meaningful lense – with the 1,000′ lift – unusual & worthwhile shots are possible.   The capital of British Columbia, Victoria BC, is a little further off to the right, quartering to the NE, and beyond it on almost the same bearing (at roughly twice the distance), lies the western Canadian metropolis of Vancouver BC.  Neither of those are favorable views from Stripped Peak, especially not Vancouver; both are better possibilities from Blue Mountain, further east and in line with Victoria, but also about another 10-12 miles south.  Blue Mtn, however, is 6,007′, and primitive Blue Mountain goes nearly to the top (in summer).