Olympic National Park · Washington
Wilderness beach traverse along Washington's wildest coastline, from Shi Shi Beach to Rialto Beach, with sea stacks, tide pools, and rainforest headlands.
Get an alert when any night of your Olympic Coast itinerary opens.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Olympic Coast were gone within 10 minutes.
Olympic Coast Trail runs 32 miles from Shi Shi Beach to Rialto Beach. You book a camp for each night.
Pacific Ocean
Shi Shi Beach Trailhead
Starting point with descent through coastal forest to the beach.
As of September 2026, Olympic Coast in Olympic National Park, Washington requires a permit issued via reservation. Olympic Coast is a high-demand permit, rating 8/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Olympic Coast permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Olympic Coast route covers about 32 miles, measured along the route, rated strenuous.
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One a night, in route order.
More on Olympic Coast: Live availability activityWhen Olympic Coast permits open upOlympic Coast Trail permit itineraryDo I need a Olympic Coast Trail permit?
Olympic Coast permit fee: $8/person/night + $20 Makah Pass (if using Shi Shi).
Walk one of America's wildest coastlines where tide tables replace trail maps and sea stacks rise from the mist like ancient sentinels.
The Olympic Coast Trail offers a wilderness beach experience unlike any other in America. This journey traverses one of the most pristine and rugged coastlines in the lower 48, where tide charts replace traditional trail maps and sea stacks rise from the Pacific mist like monuments to ancient time.
The route combines beach walking, boulder scrambling, and forest trail over headlands. It demands careful planning around tides. Many headlands become deadly traps during high water. This is not a casual hike but a true wilderness expedition where the ocean sets the schedule.
From the Makah lands at Shi Shi Beach to Rialto's famous Hole-in-the-Wall, the trail reveals ancient petroglyphs, abundant wildlife, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on Earth. Eagles soar overhead, seals watch from offshore rocks, and at night, the Milky Way blazes above sea stacks silhouetted against the Pacific.
The North Coast route begins at Shi Shi Beach, descending through coastal forest to one of Washington's most beautiful beaches. Point of the Arches greets you with a maze of sea stacks before the route turns south through a world of headland scrambles, beach walking, and tide-dependent passages. Each headland requires careful timing. Arrive at the wrong tide and you're trapped. The journey ends at Rialto Beach, where the famous Hole-in-the-Wall arch marks your return to civilization.
The Olympic Coast remains one of the most pristine stretches of Pacific coastline in the lower 48, protected as both wilderness and marine sanctuary. Indigenous peoples have walked these shores for over 10,000 years.
Salt spray stings your face as you scramble over slippery boulders, watching the tide charts like your life depends on it, because sometimes it does. At camp, the sunset paints sea stacks gold while bald eagles patrol overhead and harbor seals haul out on offshore rocks. The rhythm here is dictated not by miles but by tides.
Best for: Experienced backpackers comfortable with challenging terrain and variable conditions. Must be able to read tide charts and make time-critical decisions. Good for adventurous hikers seeking wilderness isolation.
Recommended experience: Should have multi-day backpacking experience in wet conditions. Coastal hiking experience helpful. Must understand tide tables and be comfortable with route-finding.
Not recommended for: Beginners, those uncomfortable with uncertainty, anyone unable to maintain a tide-dependent schedule. Not suitable for hikers who need predictable daily mileage.
Trailhead information
200 ft elevation
Northern terminus accessed through Makah Reservation, 2-mile trail to beach
NO overnight parking at trailhead. Must use paid private lots near Tsoo-Yess Beach (~1 mile back).
Remote access via Makah Reservation roads from Neah Bay. Last 2 miles on rough gravel.
Neah Bay (10 miles): limited groceries, gas. Forks (70 miles) for full services
Trailhead information
10 ft elevation
Southern terminus with beach access and parking, the most accessible trailhead
Large paved lot, can fill on summer weekends. No overnight fees.
Paved road from Forks via La Push Road, easy access
Forks (14 miles): groceries, gas, lodging
June through September offers the driest weather, though rain is possible any time. July and August have the longest daylight for tide timing. Spring and fall can be spectacular but require more weather preparation.
Trailhead (0 ft)
Backcountry Tips
Today
49°
38°
100%
Wed
46°
36°
Thu
47°
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Fri
52°
41°
Sat
62°
38°
Sun
66°
45°
Mon
59°
42°
Sunset at Point of the Arches creates silhouettes of the sea stacks against orange skies. Morning mist at Shi Shi Beach offers moody, atmospheric shots.
Overcast days actually produce excellent conditions: fewer harsh shadows and more saturated colors in the green headlands. Sunset and sunrise at beach camps offer the best light for sea stack photography.
The coast sees fewer visitors than interior Olympic trails. Mid-week trips in shoulder season (May, late September) offer near-solitude. The northern section (Shi Shi to Ozette) is less traveled than the southern stretch.
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Olympic Coast.
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Olympic Coast · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Olympic Coast cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Olympic Coast permits use a reservation system.
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
This permit has a demand score of 8/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
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8-mile round trip to Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches, one of the most beautiful day hikes on the coast.
Day use only without permit. Requires Makah Recreation Pass. Still see the most iconic scenery.
9-mile loop from Ozette via Cape Alava and Sand Point: flat boardwalk trails with coastal stretch.
Much easier terrain, permits more available. Shorter commitment.
Third Beach to Oil City: similar coastal wilderness experience south of Rialto Beach.
Less iconic scenery but also less crowded. Same tidal challenges apply.
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