Big Cedar

A short ways north of Kalaloch Beach is a trail to Big Cedar.
This was one of the largest red cedars in the world until a storm split the tree in half 4 years ago.



















It is amazing that this tree is still living.

It is possible to walk into the center of the base of the tree.

another view




































The trail continues for a short ways beyond the big cedar, where there are other big cedar trees to admire

Kalaloch Beach

For a well rounded day on the North Pacific Coast, we headed south to Kalaloch Beach to see the "Tree of Life". We parked in the day use parking area near the entrance to the Campground and did the short walk down to the beach. Pano of Kalaloch Beach.

We brought our kids camping here many years ago. This is one of our favorite beaches.

It was intersting to see how quickly the clouds moved in and out on the coast.

The Tree of Life is a very short walk to the north.

Another view of the Tree of Life

It's amazing how this tree clings to life with so many exposed roots as the ground under it erodes away.

Third Beach

Our second hike of today was to Third Beach (a short drive south from La Push), a 3.8 round mile trip to Strawberry Bay Falls with 280 ft elevation loss/gain.

The first 1.4 miles are through the forest.

This is a pretty forest walk, lots of ferns,


















large trees,

















shelf fungi,

skunk cabbage,

moss and other greenery

View of the Pacific Ocean as the trail descends towards the beach.

Pano at Third Beach

We had to cross the large downed trees over Newbert creek to reach the beach.

We hiked south along Third Beach towards Taylor Point (which cannot be rounded even at low tide, there is an overland trail that we did not do today).










A nice sandy beach walk, 1/2 mile to the waterfalls.

We were at Rialto Beach during low tide, so by the time we reached Third Beach the tide was coming in and we could not safely get to the base of Strawberry Falls.

Strawberry Falls has a 119 ft drop, it is the tallest waterfall that drops directly into the Pacific Ocean in Washington State.

Watching the tide continue to come in.

Looking north to Teahwhit Head the north end of Third Beach (which also can not be safely rounded at any tide).

Rialto Beach to Hole in the Wall

For our first hike today we headed out to Rialto Beach (across the Quillayute River from First Beach at La Push) to hike up to Hole in the Wall. We timed our hike so we could walk through the Hole in the Wall. Pano of Rialto Beach. To the left James Island at the mouth of the Quillayute River. Cape Johnson to the north. It's a 2 mile beach walk to the north to the Hole in the Wall.

Part of the beach was covered with these very smooth rocks.

I wasn't able to get a photo when early in our hike there were over 20 eagles soaring high over us.

The surf created some nice splashing over the rocks.

About one mile up the beach is Ellen Creek. The water was running fast, but I did not like how slippery the logs over the creek were for a crossing.











So I took off my boots and waded across the creek closer to the surf.

There were some large rocks and a couple of sea stacks before Hole in the Wall that had some nice tide pools.

I love how the water and wind shapes the rocks.

Had fun looking for anemones and mussels.

Looking up the beach toward Hole in the Wall.

Sea stacks before Hole in the Wall

View looking south along Rialto Beach.

Sea stars, anemones and barnacles around the sea stacks.

Hole in the Wall view from the south














Pano on the north side of the Hole in the Wall

View through the Hole in the Wall from the north side

More tides pools

Sea stacks reflecting in the wet sand


















More beach shots as we hike back to the trailhead.