Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches — Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2015

Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast

Spending a night on Shi Shi Beach will make you feel like you've been shipwrecked in paradise. It's easy to place yourself in the shoes of an explorer discovering this place for the first time. It's an untouched gem. Wander around the sea stacks at low tide and you'll find pools teeming with all sorts of creatures. We also saw a bald eagle or two soaring around and perching nearby. While the trail and beach walk are very easy, the hard part is getting all the way out to the coast. We left Seattle on Monday night and stayed at Bear Creek Campground (free with a Discover Pass) on 101. In the morning we picked up our Makah Recreation Pass ($10) at Washburn's General Store in Neah Bay (they also have public bathrooms in the parking lot). Since the Shi Shi Beach trailhead parking lot is for day use only, we paid to park in one of the local's overnight lots ($10 per day). There are signs and instructions so it's not too complicated, but it adds an extra .6 mile walk to the trailhead. And because our schedule didn't allow for a stop in Port Angeles to pick up a backcountry permit from the Olympic NPS Wilderness Info Center, we self-registered for a permit at the station along the trail just before you head down to the beach. You fill out a permit, grab an envelope, and mail your payment later ($5 for the group plus $2 per person per night over the age of 16). Even though clouds arrived to spoil our sunset and stargazing, we had a blast exploring the sea stacks and tide pools. Well worth the time, effort, and all the permits to get out here!