Kalaloch Beach and Creek

Directions: From Forks, travel 34 miles south on US 101 to trailhead within Olympic National Park. 

Ownership: Olympic National Park 
Trail Distance: 0.8 mile roundtrip and 6 miles of beaches
Difficulty: easy
Fees/Permits: none
Notes: kid-friendly, dogs allowed on leash; restrooms, water and camping available,

Hike two miles north from Kalaloch’s wide, sandy beach to Browns Point, a jumbled collection of rock islands and surf-splashed cliffs; or hike south for three easy miles to South Beach. The birding is excellent from these easily accessible Olympic National Park beaches. Enjoy excellent views of Destruction Island (part of the Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge), a 30-acre barren outpost more than 3 miles from shore. Seabird colonies here have been under threat due to Bald Eagle predation because of the introduction of European rabbits.

Along the beaches watch for double crested and pelagic cormorants, black-legged kittiwakes, ring-billed gulls, western gulls, glaucous-winged gulls, common murres, pigeon guillemots, western grebes, scoters, loons, brown pelicans and tufted puffins. Follow a short nature trail along Kalaloch Creek and look for orange-crowned warblers, fox sparrows, pileated woodpeckers, and western screech owls.