Last updated: April 21, 2023
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Enjoy the View like David Pohlman
How do you enjoy the view?
The Enjoy the View Like Us series invites National Park Service employees to share their stories about their favorite park views. The ways to enjoy the view are as unique as parks and their visitors. We hope these stories inspire you to enjoy the view! Learn more about scenic views in national parks.
David Pohlman
"A beautiful red and orange sunset lights up the sky and reflects upon the water. Silhouettes of small rocky islands and the steep tree-covered shoreline bring a stark contrast to the scene.”
This is how David Pohlman describes one of his favorite sunset views of Toleak Point in Olympic National Park. This view is a great spot to take in sea stacks (or small rocky islands) and wide expanses of beach shoreline. Almost three miles of beach can be walked in any tide!
David is an Air Resources Coordinator for the Midwest Region based out of Mississippi National River & Recreation Area in St. Paul, Minnesota. He has been working for the National Park Service since 2002.
NPS Photo
What makes this view so special?
Sometimes scenic views are not just beautiful, but the experience of sharing them with others makes them even more special.
David says this view makes him think of connection – with nature, but also with family and friends.
This sunset view was the cherry-on-top of a great day of backpacking from Third Beach down to Toleak Point. The hike was jam-packed full of beautiful views around every corner. On top of that, the group enjoyed perfect, clear weather – a sometimes elusive condition along the rainy Olympic Coast.
David thinks this view is best shared with family and friends. After their trek down the coast, his group settled into their beach-side campsite. The adults relaxed on the beach and watched the brilliant sunset paint the sky while the kids played on the beach and explored. David says, “It was an unforgettable experience that brought us all closer together. Seeing this view brings those fond memories flooding back.”
NPS Photo
What should visitors know?
This view was reached by a 6.8-mile hike south from the Third Beach trailhead. While it would make a significantly long day trip, backcountry camping is available for those wishing to turn the journey into an overnight. Permits are required for all overnight stays in Olympic National Park wilderness/backcountry year-round and park-approved bear canisters are required along the entire Olympic National Park Wilderness Coast, so make sure to plan ahead!
For those looking for a less strenuous adventure, similar views can be seen at Second Beach and Third Beach near the town of La Push. For more information, visit the Olympic National Park website.