Kalaloch - Browns Point, Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail — Monday, Jan. 10, 2022

Stats

• Distance: 6+ miles
• Duration: 3+ hours
• Weather: Mix of sun and cloud; fog; ~40F
• Takeaway: Endless beach hiking in Olympic National Park north and south of Kalaloch (between beaches 1-6); winter is a beautiful time to visit, the experience changing daily with the weather (I love that about the ocean :) )

Pre-dawn and early morning beach hiking from Kalaloch Lodge and Campground (on either side of Kalaloch creek, which has high water). Water has now cleared after a brown and silty runoff a few days ago. No snow on the beach, but snow remains along the sides of Hwy 101.

Beautiful windswept trees (esp. the Sitka Spruce), eagles, shorebirds, and rocky outcropping with the changing tide. There is a bluff above most of the beach so best to use one of the designated access points along Hwy 101. Many areas of erosion and recent slides along the bluffs. The "Tree of Life" is fascinating, although smaller than I anticipated from other photos.

This area is very quiet right now; winter seems to be a perfect time! Kalaloch Campground is OPEN, and the Kalaloch Lodge offers meals to go, as well as a well-stocked mercantile. Otherwise, heading south the closest real down is Hoquium, and Forks to the north. Kalaloch is definitely in the middle of nowhere. TMobile service is available, although one needs to be outside to get the somewhat spotty signal :) Ruby Beach is nearby as well, and great for sunsets (trip report here). It was about an hour to our Hoh Rainforest hike (trip report here). Rialto and Second beaches are a little farther away (trip report here), but still manageable. All and all, Kalaloch is a great staging point for the area.

NOTE: While hiking this time of year, with very high tides and potentially rough seas, it is important to pay attention to the tides, and make sure you leave yourself a route back; much of the beach has steep bluffs with log piles at their base, log piles that may float at high tide and be very dangerous.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/tides-and-your-safety.htm