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View through tall evergreen trees of a gray sandy beach lined with sea stacks and a tree-topped rocky headland along the Pacific coast, with small figures of people visible on the shore.

Washington · Olympic National Park

The Wilderness Coast

A roadless strip of Pacific shoreline — sea stacks, tide pools, and driftwood-strewn beaches reached on short trails from US-101. Rialto, Ruby, and the Kalaloch beaches are the drive-up access; the headland walks (Hole-in-the-Wall) and the longer wilderness through-hike are tide-gated, so carry a tide table and time the headlands for low water.

A rugged Pacific Northwest coastline viewed through tall conifers, showing a sandy beach with sea stacks and a forested … · near Olympic National Park

Overview

The Wilderness Coast — Olympic

A roadless strip of Pacific shoreline — sea stacks, tide pools, and driftwood-strewn beaches reached on short trails from US-101. Rialto, Ruby, and the Kalaloch beaches are the drive-up access; the headland walks (Hole-in-the-Wall) and the longer wilderness through-hike are tide-gated, so carry a tide table and time the headlands for low water.

Headline Hikes

Top trails in Olympic

  1. A low-angle ground-level view of a rocky pebble-strewn beach at sunset, with warm orange and golden light reflecting off wet stones and breaking surf.

    Hole in the Wall via Rialto Beach

    3.3 mi 85 ft gain 1.0 hr

    Easy Out & back Kid friendly

    This is a beach walk rather than a trail, heading north about 1.5 miles from Rialto Beach over driftwood logs and rounded cobbles to Split Rock and the Hole-in-the-Wall sea arch, passing tide pools full of starfish along the way. It is tide-dependent: check the tide table and aim for low tide, since a tide above roughly 6 feet can cover the beach and leave nowhere to walk. Parking at Rialto fills fast in summer. Dogs are allowed only the first 0.75 miles to Ellen Creek, not beyond; overnight camping at Hole-in-the-Wall needs a wilderness permit.

    View on AllTrails →

Trail descriptions are field-tested summaries; verify current conditions and closures with NPS before hiking.

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Sightseeing

Viewpoints in Olympic

  • Beach 4 Overlook

    Overlook

    Beach 4 Overlook

    Roadside

    Coastal overlook above one of Olympic's wilderness beaches; sea stacks and tide pools visible along the shoreline, best at sunset.

    Best at sunset

    Explore Beach 4 Overlook
  • Beach 6 Overlook

    Overlook

    Beach 6 Overlook

    Roadside

    Quick roadside Pacific pull-off on US-101 with no trail; binoculars useful for spotting sea otters and migrating gray whales.

    Best at sunset

    Explore Beach 6 Overlook
  • Ruby Beach Overlook

    Overlook

    Ruby Beach Overlook

    Roadside

    Overlook above Ruby Beach, known for wave-carved sea stacks and massive driftwood logs piled along the shoreline; best at sunset when the light rakes the coastal rock.

    Best at sunset

    Explore Ruby Beach Overlook
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Camping

Camping in Olympic

  • In-park · Frontcountry

    Kalaloch

    Reservation $24/night 170 sites

    The largest coastal campground, perched oceanside on the Pacific with a dump station — the RV-friendly beach stay; reserve May 15–September 20.

    • Flush Toilets
    • Water
    • Dump Station

    Data Source: Recreation.gov

    Campground Details
    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov

  • In-park · Frontcountry

    Mora Campground

    Reservation $24/night 94 sites

    A coastal-forest campground two miles from Rialto Beach with flush toilets and a dump station — north-coast beach access with full facilities.

    • Flush Toilets
    • Water
    • Dump Station

    Data Source: Recreation.gov

    Campground Details
    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    You'll be redirected to Recreation.gov

Campground listings sourced from the Recreation Information Database (RIDB). Recreation.gov is the only authorized booking site — confirm fees, dates, and site counts there before reserving.

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Experiences

Things to do near Olympic

  • wildlife-viewing

    Tide Pooling on the Wilderness Coast

    Kalaloch, Mora & Rialto Beach tide pools

    Price Free

    Olympic's rocky beaches hide a whole world at low tide: sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs, and chitons in pools the receding ocean leaves behind. Beach 4 near Kalaloch and the rocks around Rialto are the reliable spots. Everything turns on the tide chart — aim for a tide of about +1 foot or lower, and check a local tide table before you go. Tread lightly, leave creatures where they are, and keep an eye on the incoming water.

    • Go at a low tide of roughly +1 ft or lower
    • Beach 4 and Rialto are the dependable spots
    See the coastal access points →
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Save on Entry

One pass covers Olympic — and every other US national park.

The America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself in two or three park visits. Free entry, free passenger fees, and no more fumbling for a credit card at the kiosk.

America the Beautiful National Park Pass — the 2026 annual pass card Buy your pass → Learn more about the pass

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