Our Guide to Visiting Kalaloch Beach
Last Updated on April 16, 2024 by Kelly
Kalaloch Beach is located in Olympic National Park on the western coast of Washington State. It’s the perfect place to watch a dramatic sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The beach itself is comprised of fine sand and lots of driftwood. My husband and I spent a weekend camping at Kalaloch, and it’s been one of my favorite camping trips. (I think it would be great for a day trip too!)
We love visiting Kalaloch Beach, and in this post, I’m sharing all about our visit to Kalaloch Beach. I’ll share 7 things to see at the beach, recommendations on where to stay, and nearby things to do as well. 
About Kalaloch Beach
The word Kalaloch is pronounced “Klay-laak” and is derived from the Quinault term k’-E-le-ok, which means “a good place to land.” The beach is roughly 15 miles long.
In 1953, the Kalaloch Beach was added to Olympic National Park. In 1981, Olympic National Park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When visiting, be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles. Don’t litter and strive to leave the land as you found it.
We recommend downloading the National Park Service app in advance of your visit. Cell phone coverage within Olympic National Park can be unreliable, so you can download all of your maps offline. You can also learn about the many different regions of the park.
A National Park Service pass is not required to access Kalaloch Beach if you stay at the Kalaloch Lodge. We recommend buying a park pass for your visit though, because it’s likely you’ll want to visit multiple places in Olympic National Park. We recommend purchasing the pass online ahead of time and printing it out. That way, you can just put it on your dashboard and go.
| If visiting Kalaloch Beach, be sure to also see our posts about nearby Ruby Beach and Third Beach! |
7 Things to Do
1. Go for a Beach Walk
The first thing you should see at Kalaloch is the beach!
The beach has fine sand, which is in contrast to some of the rocky beaches in the area. We recommend going for beach walks, beach combing, and bird watching. It’s not uncommon to see bald eagles in the area! We saw lots of jellies on the shore the last time we visited.
We personally like to play bocce ball whenever we visit the beach. (This is a tradition for us that started in Florida!)
Swimming is possible at Kalaloch Beach, but swimmers should be aware of the potential for rip tides and large driftwood logs. The water is also very cold, so most people do not swim in the water at Kalaloch Beach.
2. See the Tree of Life at Kalaloch Beach
The Tree of Life is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Washington State. This tree, also known as the Tree Root Cave, has defied all odds. The Tree of Life continues to survive the harsh coastal environment even though its roots are fully exposed beneath due to erosion. The tree grips onto the edges of the bluff, and somehow it continues to survive.
It’s a miracle that one of the coast’s harsh storms hasn’t toppled it over yet. If this is a site you want to see, we recommend that you visit it as soon as possible! It could topple over any day.
The Tree of Life is a Sitka Spruce. The soil beneath it was likely eroded by a small stream that led to the ocean. After years of erosion, there is now a small cave beneath the tree.
To reach the tree of life in Kalaloch, head to the Kalaloch Campground. The tree is located within walking distance along the beach.
Do not go beneath the Tree of Life or touch it in any way. Please observe this miracle of nature from a respectful distance.
3. Walk the Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail
After you’ve done a beach walk, head across the highway to a beautiful short trail in the forest. The Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail is a fairly flat .8 mile loop. The total elevation gain is only 20 feet. The trail can be pretty soggy, so be sure to bring waterproof hiking boots. (I personally wear Columbia brand boots. I’ve hiked lots of miles and they have held up great!)
4. Visit the Kalaloch Ranger Station
The Kalaloch Ranger Station is open daily during the summer. The Kalaloch Ranger Station has limited hours during the spring, and it’s closed during the fall and winter. Call ahead and see if there is any programming planned during your visit. The rangers are very knowledgeable about the local history, trails, vegetation, and tides.
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5. Eat at the Kalaloch Lodge
The Kalaloch Lodge is the closest building with amenities for travelers. Even if you’re not planning on staying at the lodge, you can eat at the Creekside Restaurant. Please note that the restaurant does not accept cash as payment. The restaurant at the Kalaloch Lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
6. Visit the Tide Pools at Kalaloch Beach
Checking out the tide pools is one of my favorite things to do along the Washington Coast. The best places to see the tide pools are at Kalaloch Beach 4 and at Ruby Beach. Before you start searching for tide pools, we recommend that you check the tide schedule. The schedule will let you know when the tide will be low enough to view the tide pools. If you do find tide pools, you’ll likely see sea stars, barnacles, eels, crabs, and more. Watch your step carefully. These are delicate ecosystems, and you don’t want to inadvertently disturb any of the tide pools.
7. Go Whale Watching at Kalaloch Beach
During the month of May, you’ll have the best chances of seeing whales. Kalaloch Beach is located right along the whale trail. Visitors may be able to see Orca Whales, Gray Whales, or Humpback Whales. It’s more common to see Sea Otters at Kalaloch Beach. Gray Whales, in particular, migrate from Baja California up to the Bering Strait each year.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Directions
Kalaloch Beach is located on Washington State’s western coast along the Pacific Ocean. Kalaloch Beach is located about 33 miles south of the town of Forks. Kalaloch Beach is a series of beaches located off of Highway 101.
| Be sure to see our full post on the nearby Hoh Rain Forest – a UNESCO World Heritage Site! |
Where to Stay
Kalaloch Lodge
The Kalaloch Lodge is located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. The main lodge was built in 1953 and is currently owned by the National Park Service. In addition to the main lodge, there are also cozy cabins and the Seacrest House, which is full of hotel-style rooms.
The cabins at Kalaloch Lodge have either full kitchens or kitchenettes as well as wood-burning fireplaces. The Bluff Cabins have a view of either the ocean or the creek. The Kalaloch Cabins are log cabin-style and have nature views.
There is intentionally no WiFi available at Kalaloch Lodge so that guests can truly disconnect. Dogs are permitted in the cabins, but not the main lodge.
Kalaloch Campground
Kalaloch Campground is open 365 days a year. During the summer you can make reservations. The rest of the year, it’s first-come, first-served. During the off-season, some of the camping loops might be closed, but some loops will remain open. We highly recommend that you make reservations in advance if you are planning on visiting during the summer months.
The Kalaloch Campground is fairly large, with 168 campsites. (Including 4 accessible sites and 1 group site.) There are no hookups for RVs, but there is a dump station for a fee. There are restrooms with flush toilets, but no showers.
The campground is located on a bluff that overlooks the ocean. Not all of the campsites have ocean views, but many of the campsites on the western edge of the loops do have views. Try to get a beach-view campsite if you can… there is nothing like watching the sunset from your campfire!
We stayed at the Kalaloch Campground during the month of April and there were plenty of sites available during our visit. Our first night, we stayed at a campsite within the inner loop. When a beach view campsite became available, we switched sites. We thought the campground’s location was absolutely stunning! We loved watching the waves roll on the beach right from our campsite on the bluff.
South Beach Campground
The South Beach Campground is located just a few miles south of the Kalaloch Campground. This campground is open just during the warmer months, so it’s a good place to check out if the Kalaloch Campground is full. The South Beach Campground is not on the reservation system, so it’s a first-come, first-served basis. Because Kalaloch Campground uses reservations during the summer (and is often fully booked), the South Beach Campground is a good place to try for a last-minute getaway.
Hotels in Nearby Forks, WA
About 34 miles north of Kalaloch is the town of Forks, WA. (The town that was made famous due to the Twilight book series.) Lodging options in Forks include the Pacific Inn Motel, Town Motel, and the Woodland Inns.
Nearby Restaurants
- Hard Rain Cafe | 27 miles from Kalaloch. The Hard Rain Cafe serves coffee, breakfast, and burgers. It’s one of the closest food options near the Hoh Rain Forest.
- Creekside Restaurant | 0 miles (located at the Kalaloch Lodge). This rustic restaurant serves classic American food with a view. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- BBG Blakeslee Bar & Grill | 33 miles from Kalaloch. This is a full-service bar located in Forks, Washington, for guests that are 21 years old and over.
Summary
We truly enjoyed our visit to Kalaloch Beach. The sunsets were incredible, and we found it such a peaceful place to be. We last visited Kalaloch Beach during the month of April, and there were hardly any people on the beach. There are so many beautiful things to see in the area, we were glad we spent several days visiting. We used Kalaloch Beach as our “home base” as we explored the rest of Olympic National Park. We would highly recommend that others do the same. It was one of our most favorite trips in Washington!
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