Beach 4
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Never turn your back on the ocean here. Sneaker waves are a real and documented hazard on the Olympic coast — they surge far beyond the normal wave line with no warning and can sweep you off rocks or drag you into frigid water.
The tidepool rocks are slick with algae and barnacles. Wear shoes with real grip — flip-flops are a guaranteed ankle roll or worse. And watch children closely near the water's edge.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Check the NOAA tide charts for La Push before you go — you need a tide below +1.0 feet to access the best tidepool shelves at the south end of the beach. A minus tide is even better.
The pulloff parking along Highway 101 is small and unmarked enough that most people blow right past it. Look for it about a mile north of the Kalaloch Lodge — if you hit the campground, you've gone too far south.
The driftwood logs piled at the tree line make for some of the most photogenic foreground framing on the Olympic coast, especially during golden hour when the sea stacks go silhouette.
Photos
NPS
