Hiking & Exploring Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall in Olympic National Park

Look for more fun things to do in Olympic National Park coming soon to My Backyard and Beyond!

LOCATION

Rialto Beach lies just north of the mouth of the Quillayute River and the Quileute Nation, about 14 miles west of Forks, Washington. It’s part of the coastal lands of Olympic National Park on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.

WE WERE THERE

June, 2021, spending about three hours hiking to Hole-in-the-Wall and exploring tidepools, and another hour doing a Junior Ranger class

WEATHER, TIDES & TIDEPOOL ETIQUETTE

• Like other beaches along the Pacific Northwest coast, Rialto Beach is subject to changeable weather and stormy seas. This is not a swimming beach. Don’t turn your back on the waves when walking near the surf, and keep a close watch on young children. Bring extra layers to protect against sudden gusts of winds and shifting clouds, even on a warm day.
  
  
• Be mindful of the changing tides and sneaker waves, and do not attempt to pass through Hole-in-the-Wall when waves approach or if the tide is coming in through the hole.
  
  
• If you want to hike through Hole-in-the-Wall or explore the tidepools, check the tide tables in advance and visit at the lowest tide. The Mora Ranger Station and Campground also post tide tables. It’s best to go during a minus tide, an exceptionally low tide that reveals more marine life and clears the way through Hole-in-the-Wall. A typical low tide may not be low enough to safely access Hole-in-the-Wall or many of the most diverse tidepools. We were lucky to visit on a day with a low tide of minus 2.5 feet at 8:17am. As you can imagine, when low tide happens at 3am, it’s not so helpful!
  
  
• Wet rocks around the tidepools are very slippery. Wear shoes with good traction and proceed carefully, both to avoid falling and to avoid stepping on the marine life.
  
  
• Look, but do not disturb the tidepool creatures or their homes. This ecosystem is fragile; it is not a touch tank! Please treat it with care and respect and tread carefully.
  
  
• Guided ranger walks during low tide are sometimes offered in summer. Junior Ranger programs may also be offered on the beach. We did this, and it was a great experience! The ranger gave a wonderful overview of the natural history and geology of Rialto Beach, provided laminated info sheets identifying common tidepool animals, and gave tips on where to find various species. She followed this with a fun, interactive Junior Ranger session near the parking lot. Check the bulletin board at Rialto Beach, the Mora Ranger Station, or Mora Campground for schedules.

Want to learn more about tidepool animals and their habitats? Check out the Olympic National Park website for a good overview. I also recommend the book The Northwest Coastal Explorer by Robert Steelquist.

SEA STAR WASTING SYNDROME

In 2013 and 2014, a mysterious disease began wiping out sea stars along the Pacific Coast. The strange illness began in Alaska and worked its way south, decimating sea star populations along the way. It was subsequently named “sea star wasting syndrome”, and while some sea star colonies are starting to make a comeback, the disease is still out there. As someone who remembers seeing plentiful sea stars in tidepools while growing up in the northwest, it’s both shocking and sad to witness this drastic change.

Signs of the syndrome include whitening on the body, such as that seen on the mottled sea star pictured below. It quickly leads to lesions and loss of arms, and affected sea stars often die within days. The rapid disappearance of sea stars greatly affects the entire tidepool ecosystem. If you see signs of sea star wasting syndrome, snap a photo and show it to a park ranger. This helps them gauge the current situation at Rialto Beach.

CURRENT INFO

For an introduction to Rialto Beach, check out the National Park Service website. Trail reports for the hike to Hole-in-the-Wall are available on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. Two great hiking books, Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington by Susan Elderkin and Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano, include information and maps for hiking to Hole-in-the-Wall.

LENGTH

3 miles out-and-back from the parking lot to Hole-in-the-Wall

DIFFICULTY

Easy to moderate – rather than a trail, the hike to Hole-in-the-Wall follows the beach. Walking on the compact, wet sand is generally smooth going, but if you want to explore the tidepools be aware that they are rocky and slippery. It can be challenging to find secure footing, and shoes with good tread are a must.

GOOD TO KNOW

Since Rialto Beach lies within Olympic National Park, be sure to hang an America the Beautiful pass (or other national parks pass) in your car window. Some individuals, including veterans and fourth graders, may qualify for a free pass. You can also purchase a $55 pass valid only for Olympic National Park, or pay a $30 entrance fee (valid for up to seven days) at a park entrance booth. Please note that there is no park entrance station for Rialto Beach, so you must purchase a pass elsewhere ahead of time or pay the entrance fee at the parking lot. Personally, I recommend the America the Beautiful pass, because it covers entrance fees for all national lands, not just national parks. In Washington State, this includes many trailhead parking fees on National Forest land.

Restrooms and garbage bins are available at the Rialto Beach parking lot. Pets on leash are allowed, but only as far as Ellen Creek, about half a mile from the lot (not as far as Hole-in-the-Wall or any of the tidepools). Picnic tables are located in the woods near the parking lot, providing some shelter on a windy day.

In summer, a short accessible ramp from the parking lot gives wheelchair users the chance to roll out onto the beach and enjoy the view. I was happy to see a visitor in a wheelchair enjoying this opportunity during our visit — we definitely need more accessible trails and ramps in our parks!

Camping on the beach near Hole-in-the-Wall is popular and requires a wilderness permit, which must be obtained in advance. Reservations are not required for Rialto Beach. Please follow all beach camping rules, and pack out everything you bring in. Pets are not allowed at backcountry campsites, but can stay with their owners at local campgrounds, such as Mora Campground.

Finally, I said it before, but it’s worth saying again — don’t forget to check for ranger-led programs when you visit! We loved taking a guided walk at low tide and participating in Junior Ranger activities on the beach. Check the schedule on the bulletin boards at Rialto Beach, the Mora Ranger Station, or Mora Campground.

HIGHLIGHTS

The wild beauty of Rialto Beach attracts visitors from around the world, and it’s easy to see why. Distant sea stacks and impressive rock formations stand sentinel over a wide, sandy beach strewn with multi-colored stones. Pelicans swoop over the waves, looking for their next meal. If you’re lucky, you may spy one of the many river otters that make their home here. At low tide, the tidepools of Hole-in-the-Wall reveal their secrets, while piles of driftwood at the edge of the dense evergreen forest invite exploration even at high tide.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Rialto Beach was made for kids! OK, maybe not, but it definitely knows what they like. Wide sandy beaches for running and creating sand sculptures? Check! Great rock hunting? Check! Massive piles of driftwood to climb and hide in? Check! Tidepools to explore and find sea stars, anemones, and more? Check! A view that encourages parents to linger? Check! Plan to spend some time here, especially if you luck out with clear weather.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There is so much more to see and do in Olympic National Park! To enjoy more time in this area, consider camping at Mora Campground, a beautiful, forested campground only a five-minute drive inland from Rialto Beach. South of Rialto Beach, the cleverly named First, Second, and Third Beaches beckon with more scenic hikes and sea stacks. Other prime sights within Olympic National Park include the Hoh Rain Forest and Lake Crescent, both about an hour’s drive from Rialto Beach.

Looking for food? Head to Sully’s in the nearby town of Forks, where they’ve been slinging burgers since 1958. In need of caffeine? Mocha Motion’s drive-through coffee stand serves a range of drinks, as well as real fruit smoothies and breakfast sandwiches.

I planned our stay at Mora Campground near Rialto Beach well in advance of our visit, and didn’t bother to check the tide tables at the time. When the day of our arrival finally came, I was delighted to discover that not only did our visit coincide with a minus 2.5 foot tide, but a ranger-led hike to Hole-in-the-Wall at low tide was scheduled for 8am the next morning. Perfect! Since Rialto Beach is only a five-minute drive from Mora Campground, I didn’t even have to make the rest of my family get up too early.

We arrived at Rialto Beach at 8am the next morning, where a group of 20 or so gathered around our ranger guide. After a brief introduction, Ranger C. led us onto the beach, then delved into the geological history of this wondrous place. Over the course of millions of years, fault lines along the Olympic Coast forced volcanic rock into layers of sedimentary rock. This created a wide range of different formations. Sea stacks stand tall, exposing volcanic rock that remains after softer sedimentary rock has washed away. Beautiful multi-colored stones litter the beach, smoothed by eons of pummeling ocean waves. Ranger C. encouraged us to search for a rock that stood out to us as we walked. Further down the shore, we regrouped to share what we found.

The guided hike continued on in this way, gradually leading us closer to Hole-in-the-Wall. From time to time, Ranger C. stopped to give a brief talk, passing around laminated photos illustrating each topic. She then prompted us with a question to ponder as we walked. This gave the group the chance to spread out, with everyone going at their own pace until it was time to regroup. My boys took ample time to hunt for their favorite rocks, then sprinted down the beach to catch up with the adults.

Ahead of us, larger rocks loomed. A couple of jagged sea stacks stood like giant teeth tearing their way through the earth’s surface from unseen depths. In the distance, but growing nearer, was the famous Hole-in-the-Wall, a tunnel that leads through a massive rock dome to another spectacular wild beach. While the hike started off overcast, blue skies now opened above us. I couldn’t get enough of how the sunlight filtered through the ever-shifting clouds, lighting up one massive stone and then another with a brief golden glow.

Once our group reached the tooth rocks (for lack of a better name — don’t these monoliths deserve a name of their own?), Ranger C. handed out laminated info sheets identifying many of the local tidepool creatures. She also recommended some key places to find them. For sea stars, she suggested the narrow passage between the tooth rocks. Another prime tidepool spot was Hole-in-the-Wall.

Ten-year-old J made a beeline for the tooth rocks — he was determined to find sea stars! I followed close behind. Sure enough, we found sea stars, but getting to them was a bit of a challenge. The passage between the rocks is lined with slippery stones, intricately carved over millennia by pounding waves. We made our way gingerly, careful not to step on any anemones or other small creatures.

In the meantime, Michael and T headed to Hole-in-the-Wall. The tide was low enough for intrepid explorers to easily pass through to the beach on the other side. Well, easy is a relative term. Here, also, the rocks were quite slick. A rocky, seaweed-strewn plateau stretched out far beyond Hole-in-the-Wall, something many visitors never see, as it is only revealed by the low tide.

After exploring the tidepools, everyone in the group went their separate ways. Leisurely, we made our way back to the beach near the parking lot, where Ranger C. was set to lead a Junior Range activity. We watched pelicans dip over the ocean as they hunted, spotted a bald eagle in the trees, and discovered endless piles driftwood that begged to be climbed. Not far from the parking lot, the boys found an impressive driftwood fort, and immediately set to work making their own improvements and additions.

The lure of the driftwood fort made it a little challenging to pay attention during the Junior Ranger activity. Fortunately, Ranger C. kept it fun by sending the kids on a scavenger hunt and having them draw their favorite beach find (the driftwood fort, naturally). At the end of the session, J, T, and the other kids were sworn in as Junior Rangers, and presented with both a Junior Ranger badge and an Olympic National Park Ocean Stewards patch.

We lingered a little longer on the beach as the clouds rolled back in. The driftwood forest was the perfect place for a challenging game of hide-and-seek (I gave up seeking eventually — J’s hiding spot was too good!). As we headed back to our campsite for lunch, there was no doubt about it in my mind — a beautiful day on Rialto Beach is pure magic.

I hope you enjoyed my virtual tour of Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall. Maybe it inspired you to visit in person!
Do you have any favorite wild and wonderful beaches? Let me know in the comments below.