Washington’s Olympic Peninsula is a great place to go to get away from it all. While it does have quite a few towns and definitely attracts its share of tourists, it’s also full of quiet beaches and forestland where you may not see another person all day. And if you hike the trail to Second Beach (on a weekday or after the summer rush is best), you’re in for a beautiful sight.
marc_levy_marc_levy / Flickr First, Second and Third Beaches are located just south of La Push. And even though they’re right next to each other, you can’t hike from one to the next because of all the dramatic bluffs and headlands standing in the way. First Beach is the easiest one to reach, so it’s usually the most crowded. Third Beach is a little tougher, requiring a 1.2-mile trek down a forested trail. But the 0.7-mile hike to Second Beach is just right.
Caryn Taylor / alltrails.com The trail begins at the Quileute Indian Reservation. You’ll cross a small creek, start a short climb, and then enter Olympic National Park.
Caryn Taylor / alltrails.com The trail continues with a short, steep descent to the beach. It won’t be long before you start to hear the sound of the surf and catch glimpses of the sea stacks through the towering trees. And then you’ll emerge onto the log-lined shores of Second Beach.
Caryn Taylor / alltrails.com
sea turtle / Flickr The beach itself looks magical. The combination of the frequent rain and fog, the nearby forest and the offshore sea stacks (known as Quillayute Needles) give it a mystical appearance. You can easily spend hours just walking around and exploring.
Scott Costello / Flickr
Zach Stettler / alltrails.com The best part about Second Beach is the legal beach camping. A camping permit is required and can be picked up at the Olympic National Visitors Center in Port Angeles. The beach gets crowded with campers all summer, but fall is a much quieter time to visit because of the cooler weather. If you camp now, pack lots of layers. It will be worth it to wake up next to the ocean.
hiimniko / Flickr When you head back up the trail, don’t forget to turn around and take a few last glimpses of Second Beach. It’s truly one of the most stunning parts of our state.
This short hiking trail definitely takes you somewhere magical. Here are 15 other trails in Washington that will also lead you to unforgettable places.
marc_levy_marc_levy / Flickr
First, Second and Third Beaches are located just south of La Push. And even though they’re right next to each other, you can’t hike from one to the next because of all the dramatic bluffs and headlands standing in the way. First Beach is the easiest one to reach, so it’s usually the most crowded. Third Beach is a little tougher, requiring a 1.2-mile trek down a forested trail. But the 0.7-mile hike to Second Beach is just right.
Caryn Taylor / alltrails.com
The trail begins at the Quileute Indian Reservation. You’ll cross a small creek, start a short climb, and then enter Olympic National Park.
The trail continues with a short, steep descent to the beach. It won’t be long before you start to hear the sound of the surf and catch glimpses of the sea stacks through the towering trees. And then you’ll emerge onto the log-lined shores of Second Beach.
sea turtle / Flickr
The beach itself looks magical. The combination of the frequent rain and fog, the nearby forest and the offshore sea stacks (known as Quillayute Needles) give it a mystical appearance. You can easily spend hours just walking around and exploring.
Scott Costello / Flickr
Zach Stettler / alltrails.com
The best part about Second Beach is the legal beach camping. A camping permit is required and can be picked up at the Olympic National Visitors Center in Port Angeles. The beach gets crowded with campers all summer, but fall is a much quieter time to visit because of the cooler weather. If you camp now, pack lots of layers. It will be worth it to wake up next to the ocean.
hiimniko / Flickr
When you head back up the trail, don’t forget to turn around and take a few last glimpses of Second Beach. It’s truly one of the most stunning parts of our state.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
