Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

My continual intrigue and fondness of the Pacific Northwest is only growing. The headquarters to my new employer is near Portland, providing some amazing opportunities to bolt on a leisure/hiking trip before or after my business travel.

We stayed one night in Port Townsend, a delightful little Victorian seaport town. Then spent two days in Port Angeles, a good gateway to the hikes in and around Olympic National Park.

In April, the chances of rain in this area are nearly constant. Although we encountered some consistently light rain on this hike, our second hike on the day was sunnier. Still, you’ll see this hike is quite interesting and beautiful.

The parking lot at Rialto Beach is relatively spacious and it was easy to find a parking spot…

Before you enter the beach, you’ll see a wall of driftwood. Some are huge logs and it’s quite a view!

This hike is a rarity – you can see the end of the hike from the beginning! Here’s a picture of a large driftwood log and distant view of Hole-in-the-Wall…

As we began walking, we saw a large number of purplish blue sea creatures. Upon doing some research, we learned these are deceased sea rafts (a relative of jellyfish)…

We kept walking and… holy crap …

Sea Rafts were all over the beach in this spot! I adjusted the color in this photo to clearly show the volume.

Beach walks never get old. Since I was a kid, I’ve loved to take walks on the beach starting with the Florida Panhandle. Hearing the waves crash, finding interesting objects on the beach, viewing the individual driftwood logs and pieces. There is much to explore on Rialto Beach…

As we got closer to the nearby sea stack and Hole-in-the-Wall, I had to do my self pic…

Jason brought his camera with his new lens, looking all professional. 😎

As we got closer to Hole-in-the-Wall, there was a large collection of boulders then dual sea stacks. Check ’em out!

Check out this cool rock. It almost looks like a large, primitive flint….

And we had to get a selfie in front of those sea stacks. You can see the Hole-in-the-Wall at a distance…

Back to those sea stacks. They look like one until you get closer. I happened to find the sweet spot, with an ocean rock exactly in between them in the background. I am a nerd for symmetry…

We intentionally visited during low tide. On this day, low tide was at 11:56 AM but you’ll need to check the tide schedule to know for sure, as it is subject to change. This is my first time seeing such an abundance of sea life in tidepools. Check out these amazing, colorful creatures.

The giant green anemones and encrusting coralline algae (pink) make the tidepools look otherworldly…

And there are rocks with beautiful marbling features throughout the beach and tidepools…

We finally reached Hole-in-the-Wall. We walked around the other side to take a glorious picture of the nearby sea stack frames within the Hole-in-the-Wall. You have to walk through a rocky and sometimes slippery area to get here so be careful!

My last otherworldly picture of the tidepool sea creatures. Stunning…

As we started to head back, we had to get this perspective of the sea stacks, with Little James Island in the background…

The walk back was pleasant, hearing the crashing waves, seeing the rocks tumble as the waves subsided and watching Little James Island getting closer and closer…

This hike was everything we expected and then some. The tidepools near Hole-in-the-Wall are a must see. Plus, if you show up during high tide you may have difficulty accessing Hole-in-the-Wall. So google “Rialto Beach tide chart” before you go and plan to be intrigued!

Total Distance/Time: 3.5 miles in 1 hr 40 min
Calories Burned: 850
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Trail Features: Beach, sea stacks, driftwood, tidepools, sea mist, rocks/boulders
Best Time to Hike: June-August
Difficulty Rating: 6.5/10
Trailhead Coordinates: 47.9207400, -124.6383299
Trail Tips:

• Check Tide Charts: You’ll want to visit closer to low tide to explore the sea life and Hole-in-the-Wall better.
• Sand/Beach: It goes without saying that it’s a beach. Beaches will be more of a calorie burn to hike than regular trails. Bring water!
• Remoteness: La Push and Forks are nearby and they appear to have a few dining options. But I would come prepared – perhaps pack a lunch, bring water, check the weather and fill up gas before heading this way.
• Where To Stay: If you’re looking to take a day trip, Port Angeles is probably your best bet for accommodations. But if you’re looking for an overnight stay, there are some options in La Push, Forks and along the coast although they are somewhat limited.
• Island Off Limits: Little James Island is off limits unless you’re a member of the Quileute native American tribe.