Rialto Beach

Located in Olympic National Park just north of La Push and on the other side of the Quillayute River, Rialto Beach is famed for its smooth-pebbled shoreline, massive, bus-sized driftwood, views of the James Island complex of offshore stacks, as well as being the starting point for the 1.5-mile hiking trail that leads to Hole-in-the-Wall, famous in its own right as being one of the park's best locations for tide pools. Kalaloch Beach 4 is the other beach commonly revered for its tide pools.

If you walk south along the jetty at low tide, it is possible to make it all the way out to Little James Island. Before the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers rerouted the Quillayute River, it was actually possible to reach the far larger James Island. Although off-limits to non-tribal members and outside visitors, James Island has a rather unique history. The island was once home to a fortified native village, used as a lookout for hunting whales, a burial site for Quileute tribal chiefs, and even for growing particular crops.

Backpacking Rialto Beach to Ozette

Rialto Beach is also the southern point of the roughly 20-mile shuttle backpacking trek that stretches to Ozette along the completely undeveloped and rugged coastline of the Olympic National Park. All seven of the backcountry campsite areas require an overnight wilderness permit, and reservations are required between May 1 and September 30. Reservations can be made starting March 15 by mailing in a Reservation Request Form.