Kalaloch Beach 4

Along with Mora's Hole-in-the-Wall, Kalaloch Beach 4 is one of Olympic National Park's best locations for exploring tide pools. Located nearly halfway between Ruby Beach and Kalaloch Lodge, a short trail (with a steep finish) leads to this marine wildlife preserve that is not only protected by the National Park but is also a part of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

At low tide, Kalaloch Beach 4's rocky outcroppings can be easily accessed, exposing all types of marine life, including countless giant green anemone, mussels, barnacles, limpets and purple sea stars.

Look a little further off shore and you'll notice the tall spire of the Destruction Island Lighthouse. Built in 1889, the 94-foot tall lighthouse assisted mariners until its automated Vega Rotating Beacon was shut off in 1995. At one point, the 33-acre island was staffed with four keepers and equipped not only with the light, but two six-room keeper's dwellings, a barn, numerous utility buildings. Isolated, the island became a virtually autonomous community for the keepers that included cows, chickens, a vegetable garden, and its own school for the children. Today the island is protected as a marine preserve and completely abandoned. The lighthouse's original Fresnel lens is housed and on display at the Westport Maritime Museum.

Tide Pool Safety and Etiquette

Respectful and cautious behavior in and around tide pools will keep you safe and protect the fragile wildlife for generations to come. Be sure to follow these rules of thumb:

• Particularly during returning tide, be careful and keep an eye out for "sneaker waves."
• Only step on dry, bare rocks and sand. Seaweed and/or algae can be extremely slippery.
• Do not step on any marine life, barnacles or mussel clusters.
• Touch marine life only very gently. Do not pull, prod, poke or tear at any species.