Third Beach

Third Beach trailhead is off of La Push road and is 4 hours outside of Seattle anyway you cut it. Two options once you're on the peninsula: Drive up from the south for awesome ocean views around Kalaloch, or drive down from the north and be blown away by Lake Crescent. Give yourself time too, because you'll want to pull over. Getting to the trail head is really half the fun.

Once you're there, fill out your visitor card at the TH and mail the fee in once you get home-- 5 bucks a night if I remember correctly. The trail itself is well maintained and full of beautiful old growth and tons of green. A quick 1.2 miles and a 300 foot decent to the beach and you're there. The last quarter mile is pretty steep, so watch your step.

The beautiful thing about this beach is that you can pitch you're tent pretty much wherever, just be careful of the tides. Full moons= king tides so back towards the tree line is safest. You're also allowed to have fires on the beach--please use LNT practices so we can continue to enjoy this place.

A few notes, plan your trip around the tides and the weather. Winds are pretty notorious at the coast, as is the rain. The tides can kind of throw you off your hiking schedule if you're planning on doing any: low tides are best for hiking, but in the winter are almost always in the middle of the night.

Definitely check out Taylor point and the beach just south of the headland. The further south you go, the fewer people you'll see and the views are incredible. Be on the look out for bald eagles and otters! One of the most beautiful camp sites I've ever seen is at the top of Taylor Point nestled between some huge trees and lush greenery marked off by some dead fall--you'll know it when you see it.