Rain gear was needed for this 4 mile hike and rubber boots proved to be a good choice, as lots of water was flowing from the rainsoaked bluffs across the wide sandy beach. Check the tide tables, as you’ll want a low tide to explore the tide pools and see the sandstone arch at Browns Point. Watched eagles flying above the windswept cliffs and crows pecking in the sand. This time of year on the Pacific Coast you are lucky if you see a sunset or the stars, but the trade-off is you have the beaches practically to yourself once you hike beyond the trailhead. The National Park campground had bluff sites available and Kalaloch Lodge has a special going on now, $99.00 per night for a cozy cabin with woodstove, kitchenette and comfy bed.

The trail leading down to beach 3 is in pretty good condition but there are a few muddy spots that are quite slippery. We noticed a couple of folks trying to push a stroller down the path. I don't think it worked out very well for them. The trail ends when you see a HUGE pile of drift wood. You pretty much have to climb over the drift wood in order to access the beach. There were not very many people on the right side which was nice for taking photos. The left side of the beach is really amazing, especially by the waterfall. There is an option to take a trail that leads you up and over the falls. We opted out simply because we waited for low tide and the opportunity to explore the tide pools. It was worth the wait. We found a nice variety of starfish and anemones...perfect way to end the day. Overall it was a nice short hike and it's in my top 5 favorites simply because it was so beautiful. Beach 2 is also a great place to check out.

Reached the Kalaloch campground just after noon, and got one of the last sites with views. The campground didn't fill up, but was busy, perhaps because there was a razor clam dig this weekend.

Left the campground heading north along the beach just as the tide started to recede. The beach was very pleasant to walk, almost up to Browns Point, where we scrambled over two headlands before deciding to turn back.

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/eric.jain/KalalochApril2012
Tracklog: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/166216668

On the first week of April, twelve hardy WTA volunteers decided that an early week long volunteer vacation on the Washington Coast would be a good idea!

Well...it was.

The Kalaloch section of ONP boasts many trails. Ushering hikers to beaches with magic views and intimate natural experiences. Like do oystercatchers really catch oysters? And if so who tosses them?

We were delighted to be put to work repairing many tread issues that of course mostly centered around the determination of water.

We began at Ruby Beach one of the most popular, because it's the first beach access you come to after leaving Forks.

Ruby Beach trail is a short distance to the beach. The trail is is great shape with a new turnpike and replaced step section. Several areas of drainage were established.
An easy hike for the whole family and well worth your first stop as you work your way south.

The next stop is Beach Four, another short distance to the beach. New steps make the short trek down easy for all hikers. Cleaned out ditches have diverted water away from the trail and the tread is now dry. A wonderful bridge partly fashioned out of drift wood makes the trip down this trail worthwhile.

Beach Three is only marked with a trailhead marker and is therefore more difficult to find. But guess what? It is between Beach Two and Beach Four. Newly installed steps have made this short trek down to the beach a treat.

Then just north of the Kalaloch Campground is the Alley Way Trail a very short hop, skip and jump to the beach. A new step, drainage and stablization of the bank allows easy access to a flat beautiful beach.

The South end of the campground you will find the Cannery Trail. A half mile path through large Spuce and Cedar to a beach heavily strewn with beach logs.
We replaced 70 feet of puncheon with turnpike approaches allowing hikers to avoid the rather deep swampy bottom just before the beach.

Across from the Campground and Highway is the Nature Loop Trail. It meanders in a mile loop through old growth, Salmon Berry and the early spring profusion of Skunk Cabbage.

Our crew was able to replace safety fencing at an overlook and replace several of the rotten planks from old puncheon. (To be replaced next year) This trail can be used by the whole family. We enjoyed the songs of the Varied Thrushes, many Robins and the ratatat of the piliated woodpecker. There are several other trails around and near the Kalaloch area that would be exciting to explore.

We are pleased to report that there are minimal trail issues on the trails we were able to work. Each trail has its own features: tide pools, the varied formations of beach wood, and the most interesting rock creations formed from the relationship of shelled creatures and rock. If it's been awhile since your last trip to the beach consider packing up the car and heading west. Check the ONP website for Kalaloch and any other information you may want or need.