Second Beach sits along the Pacific coastline of Olympic National Park, reached by a short forest trail that starts just outside La Push, Washington. It's one of three beaches clustered near this stretch of coast (First, Second, and Third), and most people who've done all three will tell you Second is the one that stays with you. The walk in is about seven tenths of a mile, downhill through spruce and hemlock, over roots and a few built steps, and then the trees simply stop. The beach opens out all at once, a long curve of sand backed by a wall of driftwood, with sea stacks standing offshore like something left behind on purpose.

That sudden reveal is a big part of why Second Beach has the reputation it does. You don't get a parking lot view of the ocean here. You earn it, even if the "earning" only takes fifteen or twenty minutes.

Why Second Beach matters

There are beaches up and down this coast you can drive straight to, and there are a handful you have to walk to. Second Beach falls into the second category, and that distinction shapes everything about the experience. The trail filters out the people who just want a quick look from a pullout. What's left is a beach that feels used by people who actually wanted to be there: backpackers setting up camp above the tideline, photographers timing the light, tide-poolers crouched over the rocks at low water. The sea stacks offshore, including an arch that lines up with the sun at certain points in the year, give the whole scene a kind of punctuation that flat sand beaches don't have.

It's also a working example of how much of this coastline is Quileute land. The trailhead itself sits on the Quileute Indian Reservation, on the road into La Push, even though the beach beyond it lies within Olympic National Park boundaries. That overlap is worth understanding before you go, not just as trivia but because it affects where you're allowed to walk and camp.

Quick facts

• Location: trailhead off the La Push Road, near La Push, Clallam County, Washington
• Trail length: approximately 0.7 miles one way, forest trail with roots, steps, and a steady downhill grade into the beach
• Terrain at the beach: sand, driftwood logs, tide pools, and offshore sea stacks including a notable arch formation
• Land status: trailhead on the Quileute Indian Reservation, beach within Olympic National Park
• Popular for: sunset viewing, wilderness beach camping, tide pooling, photography
• Camping: permitted with a wilderness camping permit, required for overnight stays

Getting there

Second Beach is accessed from the road that runs out to La Push, the small community on the Quileute reservation at the mouth of the Quillayute River. The trailhead parking area is small and fills up fast, especially on summer weekends when both day hikers and backpackers are heading in. If you're coming from Forks, the drive out to La Push takes roughly twenty minutes along Highway 110 and La Push Road. There's no public transit option to speak of, so you'll need a car, and you should plan to arrive early if you're visiting between June and August. Once the lot is full, people end up parking along the shoulder, which isn't ideal given how narrow the road is in places.

The trail itself begins unassumingly, ducking into coastal forest almost immediately. It's not technical, but it's not flat either. Expect a steady downhill on the way in, which means a steady uphill on the way back, something worth remembering if you're planning to stay for sunset.

The layout and experience

From the trailhead, the path winds through a thick stand of spruce and hemlock, crossing a few boardwalk sections and some built wooden steps where the grade gets steeper. The forest floor is often damp, roots crisscrossing the trail in a way that demands you watch your footing more than the scenery for a stretch. Then, with little warning, the trees thin and the beach appears below, usually glimpsed through a last gap in the branches before you step out onto the sand.

The beach runs in a long sweep, with a substantial berm of driftwood logs piled at the high-tide line, some of them bleached and enormous, stacked from decades of winter storms. Beyond that is open sand, and beyond that, the sea stacks: a scattered line of rock towers rising straight out of the water, some close enough to walk near at low tide, others further out and wrapped in sea spray most of the year. One formation functions as a natural arch, and depending on the season, the setting sun lines up through it, which is part of why this spot draws photographers specifically around the solstices.

At low tide, the rocks at the north end expose tide pools worth spending real time with. This isn't a beach where you walk the length of it in ten minutes and move on. There's enough space and enough to look at that people easily spend hours.

Main highlights

• The sea stacks offshore, a cluster of rock towers that define the view in both directions along the beach
• The arch rock formation, which aligns with the setting sun at certain times of year, a draw for photographers
• Tide pools exposed at low water near the rockier sections of the beach
• The driftwood line at the top of the beach, useful for wind shelter if you're camping or just sitting out a sunset
• The forest approach itself, a short but genuinely scenic stretch of old coastal woods

History and background

Second Beach lies within the traditional territory of the Quileute people, whose reservation at La Push sits immediately adjacent to it. The trailhead you use to reach the beach is on Quileute land, a reminder that the national park's coastal strip here is bordered, and in places crossed, by tribal land that predates the park by a very long time. Signage along the trail and at the trailhead marks where visitors are and aren't permitted to go, and it's worth actually reading it rather than treating it as background noise. Respecting those boundaries matters here more than at most trailheads in the park system.

Olympic National Park itself was established in 1938, and its coastal strip, including Second Beach, was added to give the park a continuous stretch of undeveloped Pacific shoreline, something unusual on the West Coast where so much coastline has been built up. La Push has also picked up a layer of pop-culture recognition in recent years as the setting for a well-known vampire-and-werewolf film franchise, which brought a wave of visitors to the area who'd never otherwise have found it. Most of them never make it past First Beach, which works out well for anyone willing to do the walk to Second.

Tickets and entry

There's no fee specific to Second Beach itself, but if you're entering Olympic National Park you may need a park pass depending on your route and where you're coming from. The bigger thing to plan around is camping. Second Beach is a well-known backpacking destination, and overnight stays require a wilderness camping permit, issued through Olympic National Park's wilderness permitting system. Permits have quotas, particularly in summer, so if an overnight trip is the plan, sort this out before you drive out to La Push, not after.

Best time to visit

Summer evenings are when Second Beach gets busiest, for obvious reasons: long daylight, warmer weather, and a well-earned reputation as one of the better sunset spots on this coast. If you want the beach closer to yourself, go early in the morning or visit outside the June-to-August window. Low tide is the better time for exploring the tide pools regardless of season, so it's worth checking a tide table before you head out, especially if that's a priority.

Shoulder seasons bring their own rewards, mainly fewer people and a wilder-feeling Pacific, though the trail can get muddier and the weather less predictable. Winter storm-watching has a following of its own along this coast, but it comes with real risk from sneaker waves and slick rocks, so caution matters more than curiosity in those months.

Photography tips

The arch formation lining up with the setting sun is the shot most people come for, and it's seasonal, so if that's your goal, check roughly when the alignment happens before planning the trip around it. A tripod helps for the low-light stretch right after sunset, when the sky often holds color longer than you'd expect out here. The driftwood logs make strong foreground subjects, and the tide pools are worth a wider lens and a low angle at low tide. Keep in mind the walk back is uphill and will be dark if you're shooting sunset, so a headlamp isn't optional gear, it's necessary gear.

Facilities and preparation

There are no facilities at the beach itself, no restrooms, no water, nothing beyond the trailhead parking. Bring everything you need, including a way to treat or carry water if you're camping overnight. The trail has some genuinely uneven footing, roots and steps mostly, so proper shoes make a real difference over flip-flops or sandals. If you're staying for sunset, carry a flashlight or headlamp without question. The trail back up is steep enough in the dark that people without a light end up moving very slowly and uncomfortably.

Combining with nearby attractions

First Beach is essentially in La Push itself, drivable and far more accessible, worth a quick stop even if Second is the main event. Third Beach, a bit further south along the same road system, has its own trail and its own waterfall worth seeing (Strawberry Bay's falls draw in those who make the longer walk). Rialto Beach, on the north side of the Quillayute River mouth, is another easy comparison point and a popular day trip from the same base in Forks. If you're building a coastal day out of Olympic National Park, pairing Second Beach with one of these others, plus a stop in Forks for food and gas, makes for a full and well-rounded itinerary.

Sample visit plan

Arrive at the trailhead in the late afternoon, giving yourself time to walk in, explore the tide pools if the tide is low, and still have daylight to settle on a spot before sunset. Bring a headlamp regardless. After the sun drops, allow extra time for the uphill walk out, since it goes slower in the dark than the walk in did downhill. If you're camping, set up well above the driftwood line and check in on your permit details before you go, since quotas apply in busy months.

Practical tips

• Arrive early on summer weekends, the trailhead lot is small and fills quickly
• Wear real footwear, the trail has roots, steps, and uneven ground the whole way
• Carry a flashlight or headlamp if you're staying for sunset, the walk out is uphill and dark
• Get a wilderness camping permit in advance if you plan to stay overnight
• Check a tide table if tide pools are a priority, low tide is when they're exposed
• Respect posted Quileute Nation signage near the trailhead about where visitors may go
• Pack out everything you bring in, there are no trash facilities at the beach

FAQ

How long is the hike to Second Beach?

The trail is about seven tenths of a mile each way, running downhill through forest on the way in and uphill on the way back out. Most people cover it in fifteen to twenty-five minutes depending on footing and pace.

Do you need a permit to camp at Second Beach?

Yes. Overnight camping requires a wilderness camping permit issued through Olympic National Park, and summer quotas can fill up, so it's worth arranging ahead of time rather than showing up and hoping for space.

Is Second Beach good for a sunset visit?

It's one of the better-known sunset spots on this stretch of coast, largely because of the sea stacks and the arch rock formation offshore. Just plan for the walk back to be uphill and dark, so bring a light source.

Can you swim at Second Beach?

The Pacific here is cold year-round and the surf can be rough, with rip currents and sneaker waves a real risk. Most visitors come for the scenery, tide pools, and camping rather than swimming.

Is the trailhead on national park land?

No, the trailhead itself sits on the Quileute Indian Reservation along the road into La Push, while the beach beyond falls within Olympic National Park. Signage marks the boundaries, and visitors should follow it.