Third Beach

The route from Highway 110 winds through coastal forest before the descent to the shore. That last slope can be muddy, and the creek mouth is often crossed over driftwood logs; it can feel rougher than the short distance suggests. A pit privy is near the end of the trail, just south of the creek. Parking is very limited at the inland trailhead, so carpool or arrive early. Bring your food and water for the outing, and treat any natural water you collect. Pets and wheeled devices are not allowed on the coastal trail or beach.

Tide pools are most exposed when the tide is below one foot. Look for barnacles and mussels higher on the rocks, then sea stars, anemones and crabs lower down; the lowest pools can hold urchins and nudibranchs. Algae makes rocks slick, sneaker waves can surge without warning, and a rising tide can block the route around headlands. Keep an eye on the water as you explore.

South of the beach, the Giants Graveyard is a cluster of offshore islands and sea stacks. Bald eagles, seals and coastal birds use the rocks, and gray whales migrate past in March and April and again in October. For a classic picture, frame the tree-topped stack against the sunset; at low tide, reflective wet sand gives you a foreground.

The sea stacks are made of upturned sandstone and conglomerate known as Hoh rocks, laid down as seafloor sediments at least 20 million years ago. A wave-cut terrace along this coast formed about 125,000 years ago. At the beach’s south end, a waterfall drops from a hanging valley: waves have cut the coast faster than the stream has carved down its valley.