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Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Second Beach
Just south of the village of La Push are three Olympic Coast charms: First, Second, and Third Beaches. Each one is sandy and broad and hemmed in by dramatic bluffs and headlands. And while they're in close proximity to each other, you can't hike from one to the next because those headlands block the way. With roadside access, First Beach is the easiest to get to and so can be crowded. Third Beach requires a 1.2-mile slog down a forested trail. But Second Beach is just right: a hike just long enough to discourage crowds, yet short enough to encourage all who want to see this beautiful beach.
Well-constructed and well-maintained, the trail starts on the Quileute Indian Reservation. Immediately cross a small creek lined with imposing Sitka spruce before beginning a short climb. At the height of the land enter Olympic National Park, and then begin a short, steep descent to the beach, the distant surf growing louder with each step you take. Soon, start catching glimpses of offshore sea stacks through the surrounding towering spruce. Before you know it, emerge on the log-lined shore. Take a deep breath. The beauty of this place just may leave you short of breath. You can hike a short distance along the beach northward. Do it, for it'll lead you to a natural arch. But to really stretch your legs and get the most out of Second Beach, head south. Over 1 mile of sandy beach awaits your footprints. Immediately offshore is a consortium of battered islets and sea stacks known as the Quillayute Needles. Crying Lady Rock is the largest of the batch. These forbidding landmarks are part of the Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge. Inhospitable to humans, they're productive breeding grounds to thousands of seabirds, oystercatchers, murres, gulls, petrels, cormorants, and auklets among them. Continue wandering. Taste the salty spray coming off the crashing breakers. Eventually you'll come to an impasse, the headland named Teahwhit Head. But before you turn around and retrace your steps, scan the rugged bluff. Teahwhit Head is also graced with a natural arch. In retrospect you may conclude that with two arches, an awesome seascape, scores of pelagic birds, and an inviting sandy shoreline, Second Beach is second to none.
Driving Directions:
From Port Angeles follow US 101 west for 55 miles to the junction with State Route 110 (signed "Mora-La Push"). (From Forks the junction is 2 miles north.) Continue west on SR 110. In 7.7 miles at Quillayute Prairie, SR 110 splits. Take the left fork (La Push Road), and drive 5.2 miles to the trailhead, located on the south side of the road (you'll pass the Third Beach/Hike 120 trailhead and the Quileute tribal office). Recent Trip Reports
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Overnight
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Wildflowers blooming
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My daughter had so much fun on the previous's week backpakcing trip that she wanted to do another on...
My daughter had so much fun on the previous's week backpakcing trip that she wanted to do another one. So we decided on going to Second Beach. And let me tell you it was the best decision ever. Firts of all, I want to Thank all the WTA volunteers who have done an amazing job on this trail, I am sure it was no easy feat bringing all that gravel in!! Second, we just happened to have the unbelivable weather. The temperatures were in the 80"s, amazing beautiful blue skies. And ohhh so orange sunsets. Aside form a couple of backpackers we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. There were lots of day hikers, but they kept pretty much close to were the trail in the tree area begins.
There are tidepools that are covered with starfish, now we know where all of them hang out ;). All in all it was great, and we are definetely coming back. Happy trails everyone and get out and enjoy this wonderful weather while you can :) Day hike
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Wildflowers blooming
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Bugs
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First off, thanks to the many WTA volunteers who clearly lugged tons of gravel and wood into this ar...
First off, thanks to the many WTA volunteers who clearly lugged tons of gravel and wood into this area to fix up the trail. It was an astounding improvement and much appreciated.
We got here about 6pm to catch the sunset and hopefully get some cool low tide reflections. The tide was coming in but it was still a great evening to be on the beach. Many campers, a few photographers, the usual one lost person at the trailhead who couldn't "find the beach". All worked out well and we took some photos, savored a few warm breezes and then headed into town for some spectacular pizza at Pacific Pizza. Day hike
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Wanting to take advantage of the minus tides during daylight hours, we headed to La Push for 3 days....
Wanting to take advantage of the minus tides during daylight hours, we headed to La Push for 3 days. Arriving late in the afternoon, but too early to check-in at the cabin, we decided to hike to Second Beach since it was the shortest trail at less than 1 mile to the beach. Having only hiked at Shi Shi Beach on the coast previously, we were absolutely astounded at the trail work to Second Beach; fresh gravel, raised steps, just a lovely trail the entire way. Checking the recent trip reports, I learned why the trail was so perfect: it was the location of "WTA’s first Volunteer Vacation of 2013." Many thanks to this crew for the hard work and beautiful trail.
We arrived at high tide but with still enough sand to enjoy strolling towards the natural bridge to the north and then a little ways south past some sea stacks. After spending day 2 of our trip at Hole-in-the-Wall and Third Beach, we chose to return to Second Beach on our last day. This time we arrived at the beach 2 hours before a -1 tide and headed to the far south where we explored sea stacks and tide pools and spotted the other natural bridge far off shore. We determined there was a lot more sea life at the south end and well worth the mile or more of beach walking. As we were leaving the beach about a half-hour after low tide, we pasted many groups coming in. We'd recommend arriving 2 hours before the low tide which allows plenty of time to explore all the tide pools and sea stacks well before any danger of in-coming tides cutting off access. And one more aspect that added joy to this hike -- we spotted several Wilson's Warblers in the deciduous trees lining the trail. Their chattering trill and bright yellow body with black cap made them easy to identify. Day hike
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hmmm.... no one told the group of hardy souls who carried their
weight in elk, and werebears worth...
hmmm.... no one told the group of hardy souls who carried their
weight in elk, and werebears worth of gravel; to make the steps safe, and ready to skip, and dance on down to the ocean to look over their shoulder.... the treaty line up the road from Mora campground forbids werewolves to cross the line.... watch out for werebears!!!! Overnight
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Yea WTA!!! Not only do we haul the equivalent of elephants and elk's worth of gravel, we take break...
Yea WTA!!! Not only do we haul the equivalent of elephants and elk's worth of gravel, we take breaks with style, tucked away in
our own little Robinson Crusoe rain forest hide away. Something like 101 plus stairs are ready to dance on down to the beach. ( the first of many families with young kids skipped on by with happy feet as we finished up out work) wild waves and rain the last day.... |
 Second Beach, by Galiwalker.
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