Rialto Beach’s Hole-in-the-Wall is a 3.3-mile walk, and the tide decides if you get through the arch

Most trails make you earn the view with switchbacks. Rialto Beach makes you earn it with a tide chart. The walk to Hole-in-the-Wall is about 3.3 miles round trip with almost no climbing, and it is still one of the most memorable hikes on the Olympic coast.

Here’s the catch that makes it fun: the beach is the trail, and the ocean gets a vote.

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How the hike works

From the Rialto Beach parking area you walk north, and there is no path to follow. You cross sand, rounded rock and a lot of bleached driftwood, with the surf on one side and the forest on the other. The arch sits a little under two miles up the beach.

Expect a slow, wobbly pace. Footing on the cobbles and logs eats more energy than the mileage suggests, so plan on roughly one to two hours round trip.

What you’ll pass on the way

Early on, look offshore for James Island and Little James Island, two big, flat-topped sea stacks topped with trees. Farther up, a pair of towering stacks frame a gap you can look straight through. About a mile in, you cross Ellen Creek, which may have a log crossing or may have you wading, so waterproof boots earn their keep.

Keep an eye on the sky and the rocks too. Whales, sea lions, otters, seabirds and bald eagles all show up along this stretch.

Let the tide pick your timing

At low tide you can scramble through the rocky arch and poke around the tide pools on the other side. At high tide the arch is a no-go, and the move is to take the overland trail above it for the view south. A good rule of thumb: if water is covering the ground under the arch, don’t go through.

The rocks around the arch are often slick with algae and seaweed, so slow down and look before every step. Check the tide table for La Push before you leave the car, and follow the National Park Service’s guidance on tides for the wilderness coast.

Tide pool etiquette

The pools past the arch hold starfish, anemones and crabs when the water pulls back. Look, snap photos, and leave everything exactly where it is. Think of it as a free aquarium with strict visiting rules.

When to go

Summer is the easy season, but October and November work too if you pack for rain and clouds. My pick is an early morning on a low tide: the lot is quieter, the light is soft, and the sea stacks look like they belong on a movie poster.

Want more of this coast? Ruby Beach is another easy way to see sea stacks and driftwood piles with barely any walking, and the Ozette Triangle is the longer, wilder cousin.

Dogs, camping and the fine print

Leashed dogs are allowed on Rialto Beach for 0.8 mile north to Ellen Creek, during daylight hours only, and not beyond it. Overnight trips need a wilderness camping permit, and food and scented items go in park-approved bear canisters. If you camp, set up above the high tide line and burn only driftwood in existing fire rings.

So, are you a low-tide scrambler or a high-tide overlook person? Tell us how your Hole-in-the-Wall walk went in the comments.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.

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