Two beaches in Washington named on Top 100 hidden beaches list. Have you been there?
Spending the day on the water with friends or family is a summertime staple. But when the beach is crowded, you sometimes have to go searching for a more secluded, hidden spot to call your own.
Family Destinations Guide, an online publication focused on family-friendly travel options and research-based recommendations, polled 3,000 families on their favorite secret beaches in the United States to determine the top 100.
While it’s probably no surprise that Hawaii and Florida came out on top, two favorite beach mentions are located in Washington state.
Hole-in-the-Wall Beach
Ranking number 70 on the Family Destinations Guide list is Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in Olympic National Park. The visually stunning setting makes it a favorite spot for beautiful rock formations. The ocean beach north of La Push and Rialto Beach. It’s about a 3.5-hour-drive from both Tacoma and Olympia.
A moderate hike that starts off from Rialto Beach will take you to the so-called Hole in the Wall, a hole in the rock formation seen at low tide, connecting beach-goers to the tide pools. You could catch sight of animals such as spy whales, sea lions and otters. The entire hike is estimated at about 3.5 miles roundtrip.
Second Beach
Just south of La Push is Second Beach, the other Olympic Peninsula mention, which came in at number 72. From the Second Beach trailhead, it’s about 0.7 miles on foot, or about 20 minutes walking. The area showcases the diversity in the natural habitat along Washington’s coast.
Some of the views include “a set of switch-back stairs leading down to a coastline dotted with seastacks and a hole in the mainland that wind whistles through,” according to the Washington Trails Association. Along with extensive ocean views, you may see bald eagles or sea birds, seals and even whales migrating around March and April or October.
How to get there
You can reach Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in about 3.5-4 hours from either Tacoma or Olympia via:
- From Olympia, go via US 101 and 110, and then by foot from the Rialto Beach trailhead in Mora, Washington.
- From Tacoma, drive north through Poulsbo and continue on to 101 and then the 110.
- From Bellingham, head south on Interstate 5 to Burlington, then take SR 20 to Island County. Take the ferry to Port Townsend, then take US 101 and link with 110.
You can reach Second Beach via:
- From Olympia, take US 101 just to Hwy. 8 east toward Montesano and then link up to to 101 north.
- From Tacoma, drive north via the 101 to 110, passing by Discovery Bay and skirting the northeast corner of the state.
- From Bellingham, take Interstate 5 to Burlington, then SR 20 to Island County. Take the ferry, then US 101 to 110 until you reach the trail parking.
This story was originally published May 12, 2023 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Two beaches in Washington named on Top 100 hidden beaches list. Have you been there?."