Third Beach to Toleak Point

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Cave · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

This route from Third Beach to Toleak Point offers an up close and personal experience beside the pounding surf of the Washington Coast. Hike along the sandy shoreline and scramble up rope ladders to gain the bluffs. Huge seastacks, stunning sunsets await along this beautiful coastal route in Olympic National Park.

Check the tides and weather forecast! Although the majority of the route is passable, under extreme conditions the path may be unpassable during storms and/or high tides. Bring gloves as the rope ladders can get muddy and slippery.

From the Third Beach Trail near La Push, WA, hike down the well groomed path through the dense forest and underbrush until you reach the sandy expanse of Third Beach. Take a left/south down the beach. You'll reach a point where the beach ends and a bluff towers ahead and the route seems impassable. Look very carefully to your left for markers to decifer a rope ladder route that climbs up to the top of the bluff to cut off Taylor Point. Hike along the bluff until it them descends back to the beach. Camp at Scott Creek Camp or cross the creek and continue on. Be careful of the tides! Continue along the beach and up the bluffs until you continue around Strawberry Point. Be sure to take time to explore the tidepools, and enjoy the views of the crashing waves on the seastacks. Continue a short way to Toleak Point for amazing beach camping!

Lush fir, ferns, mushrooms are plentiful. Starfish, shellfish, barnacles can be found in the tidepools and coastline. Keep your eyes open for seals and sea lions. Plenty of bald eagles hunting and scavenging.