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Olympic National Park hiker in the Olympic Mountains
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Olympic National Park
Visiting Mora and Rialto Beach
 
Sea stack and beach at La Push

Tall sea stacks dot the Pacific coast of the north Olympic Peninsula.

Overview:

Rocky beaches, giant drift logs, pounding waves and views of offshore islands known as 'seastacks' are features that define Rialto Beach.

Just inland is the Mora area, characterized by towering trees, lush undergrowth and the omnipresent roar of the Pacific Ocean in the background.

Rialto Beach is accessible by Mora Road, off of La Push Road. Rialto Beach is about 36 miles southwest of Lake Crescent, and about 75 miles from Port Angeles (directions).

A general map and information regarding facilities, picnic areas, camping, and regulations can be found on the park's Mora brochure (pdf).

 

Places to Stay:

The 94-site Mora campground is about three miles from Rialto Beach. The town of Forks is nearby and lodging can be found through the Forks Chamber of Commerce website.

Recreation:

Hole-in-the-Wall is a sea-carved arch about 1.5 mile north of Rialto Beach, within the Olympic wilderness.

The Quillayute River blocks access from Rialto Beach to First, Second, and Third Beaches. First Beach is part of the Quileute Indian Reservation (Quileute Indian Nation); Second and Third Beaches just to the south are located within Olympic National Park and are part of the Olympic Wilderness Coast.

Always check the tides! It's possible to get stranded when certain areas of the coast become impassable when high tide rolls in.

Nearby Areas:

The town of Forks can be reached in less than 30 minutes by car. The Hoh Rain Forest and the southern coast, such as Ruby Beach and Kalaloch, are within a one-hour drive from Rialto. Consult the Getting Around page for mileages to and from different park destinations.

 
Three kids playing in surf
Kids play in the surf at Rialto Beach during sunset.

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Mt. Olympus in winter

Did You Know?
That Mount Olympus receives over 200 inches of precipitation each year and most of that falls as snow? At 7,980 feet, Mount Olympus is the highest peak in Olympic National Park and has the third largest glacial system in the contiguous U.S.

Last Updated: May 31, 2011 at 10:52 MST