The map above shows the ocean beach area on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula. Most of the beach area along the north coast of Washington is part of the Olympic National Park and Indian Reservations.

The Northern Ocean Beaches

Washington State’s Pacific Ocean beaches are basically split up into two areas. We have split them into north and south. The reason is twofold; first, that the two areas are physically separated by over 50 miles of driving along Willapa Bay and secondly, because they are distinctively different areas in terms of both geography and accommodations.

Southern Ocean Beaches

The northern beaches in Washington State along the Pacific Ocean are rugged and rocky with a few exceptions like La Push, Kalaloch, some of the beaches along North Beach, Ocean Shores and the Cranberry Peninsula which have wide sandy beaches.

Washington’s northern Pacific beaches could be split into three areas, the far north which is mainly made up of the Olympic National Park’s ocean beaches with a couple of tribal areas thrown in.

The central area, called the North Beach area, made up of the area from Grays Harbor north to the Quinault Indian Reservation. This area includes Ocean Shores and the area up to coast from Ocean Shores.

And last but not least, the area to the south of Grays Harbor, The Cranberry Coast, which lies between Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor. Westport, Grayland, and Tokeland are located on the Cranberry Peninsula. The area gets its name from the Cranberry Bogs on the peninsula

The southern beaches are on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Olympic National Park Beaches

The north-most area of Washington’s

northern Pacific Ocean Beaches

Point Flattery to the southern border of the Quinault Indian Reservation

This section of the north Pacific beaches lies mainly inside the Olympic National Park. All of the beaches in the National Park are accessible if you are a hiker and have lots of time. This area of the coast is unique and variable, it seems that no two miles of the coastline are the same. It varies from sandy beaches, to rocky beaches, to cliffs which go right down to the water.

There are two Indian Reservations in this area. The Quileute Indian Reservation is located south of the Hoh river’s mouth into the Pacific and the Quinault reservation is a large triangle from just south of Kalaloch to Lake Quinault and then to just north of Moclips on the Pacific Coast.

Note: On Tribal lands you will need an access or usage permit if you are allowed to enter the lands or beach. Tribal lands and beaches are private property.

Go to our US Highway 101 mile by mile page around the Olympic Peninsula to see the location of the beaches northern end of the Olympic Peninsula.

Olympic National Park – Pacific Coast Information

http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/exploring-the-coast.htm

Information for Olympic National Park campgrounds

http://www.nps.gov/olym/campgrnx.htm

Lake Ozette campground – max. trailer size 21 ft. - first come first served. This is the north most campground in the Park along the coast.

National Park Service Campgrounds

http://www.nps.gov/olym/campgrnd.htm

National Park Service Frontcountry Map

http://www.nps.gov/olym/tourmap.htm

Hole in the Wall

photo from National Park Web site

La Push

State Highway 110 heads west just north of Forks, WA. This 14 mi. road takes you to La Push.

The Village of La Push is located on the Quileute River where it enters the Pacific Ocean. La Push is the home of the Quileute Indian Tribe. There is access to beautiful sandy beaches and the Tribe owns a resort located on the beach. The beaches are Tribal Property and us must have permission from the Tribe to use the beach.

Beaches in the Kalaloch Area

If hiking is not your thing you will have to be satisfied with the beaches in the Kalaloch area. There are six different beaches in the Kalaloch area you can reach by a short path from the road. You can also camp and there is a resort in the Kalaloch area. Also, you can drive on the beaches in the Ocean Shores area and some other areas along the northern Washington Beaches not in Olympic National Park.

Kalaloch National Park Campground

– camping and RV’s to 21 feet

- Non-reservation sites, first come first served.

This campground is very busy.

- http://www.nps.gov/olym/campgrnd.htm

Reservations: http://reservations.nps.gov

Olympic National Park

http://www.nps.gov/olym/

Pacific Coast area of the park.

http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/exploring-the-coast.htm

Kalaloch Lodge – This National Park Lodge on the Pacific Ocean Beach is privately managed under contract with the Olympic National Park

http://www.visitkalaloch.com/

Lake Quinault

South of Kalaloch US-101 heads inland to Lake Quinault.

Lake Quinault Lodge

photo from their web site.

Romantic Lodges on Lake Quinault

This area is a very special area on the Olympic Peninsula. It lies just inland from the Pacific Coast, on the costal plain at the base of the Olympic Mountains. The clouds, laden with moisture come up against the mountains and must dump some moisture to go over the mountains. This is the Olympic Rain Forest. Lake Quinault is surrounded by the rain forest. At several points along the lake you will find ancient trees in old growth forests.

Day Trip around Lake Quinault and visiting Old Growth Forests

Lodging, dining, and activities in the Lake Quinault area

The North Beach Area

The area north of Grays Harbor is called North Beach. Highway 109 starts west of Hoquiam off of Highway 101. It runs north up North Beach on the Pacific Coast for 37 miles. Some of the prettiest scenery and beaches can be found along this highway.

The Towns of Ocean City, Copalis Beach, Pacific Beach, and Moclips are located on State Highway 109 northwest of Aberdeen / Hoquiam. This area was developed at the turn of the century and today it offers a wide variety of accommodations for visitors to our Pacific Ocean Beaches.

Traveling Highway 109 from Aberdeen / Hoquiam north along the Pacific Ocean.

Old Growth Forests

There are beautiful ancient forests just a short trip away from this area around Lake Quinault. It is a day trip you don’t want to overlook.

Day Trip around Lake Quinault and visiting Old Growth Forests

Ocean Shores

WA Highway-115 heads south from WA-109 mile post 16. WA-115 is a short highway that heads south down the north peninsula of Grays Harbor to the City of Ocean Shores. Ocean Shores has the most tourist facilities of any city on the Washington Coast.

You will find a wide variety of hotels and motels in the City of Ocean Shores. Ocean Shores also has convention facilities. This planned community was developed in the 1960’s and continues to grow with new hotels. Today, Ocean Shores is Washington’s premier oceanfront city.

State Parks

Ocean City State Park

Ocean City State Park web page

Damon Point State Park

(south point of Ocean Shores Peninsula on the point – day use facilities only.)

Damon Point State Park web page.

The Cranberry Peninsula

and the Beaches south of Grays Harbor

State Highway 105

WA-105 is an alternate loop off of US Highway 101 at mile post 83 (south of Aberdeen). It loops west to Westport, WA, on the south point of the entrance to Grays Harbor from the Pacific. WA-105 then heads south down the west side of the Cranberry Peninsula along the Cranberry Coast. You will find a beautiful ocean beach along this stretch of the road. At the south end of the Cranberry Peninsula the road heads east along the north end of Willapa Bay to meet up with US Highway 101 again at Mile Post 59 north of Raymond, WA.

The Highway goes through the small villages of Markham, Ocosta, and Bay City before you come to the cutoff to Westport.

Westport, WA

Westport is a fishing village whose main industry is charter-fishing and whale watching tours. There are also motels, restaurants, gift shops, and other facilities in this town.

State Parks

Twin Harbors State Park

South of Westport

(250 tent sites, 49 RV hook ups, dump station) This park takes reservations

1-888-226-7688 or online at

Visit their web page.

Grayland Beach State Park

South of Grayland

(60 RV hook up spaces)

Visit the park web page.

Grayland, WA

Grayland was settled about 150 years ago by Finnish farmers. Those Finnish farmers built cranberry bogs and started a cranberry industry in the area. Cranberries and tourism are a big part of the local economy.

Tokeland, WA

South of the state park are the small villages of Heather, North Cove, and Tokeland. Tokeland is located on a small peninsula that juts off the south shore of the Cranberry Peninsula into Willapa Bay.

Washington’s southern ocean beaches

Information about Washington’s Pacific Ocean Beaches to the south of the Cranberry Peninsula are on our Southern Ocean Beaches page. Click on the “South” link in the green bar for more information

Top of Page

info@northwestplaces.com

OceanBeaches-htm

The Pacific Ocean Beaches in Washington State.