Parking
Use the paved Kalaloch Campground day-use lot. Walk to Loop A and take the east-hand trail branch, not the straight gated store service road, then cross US 101 to the forest trail. WTA notes a few closer spaces by campsites A19–A22.
Overview
About Kalaloch Nature Trail
Why go
- A short loop through mossy coastal forest, with a creek viewpoint.
Heads up
- The creek view is partly screened, and reaching the trail involves a fast road crossing.
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
6 active Olympic alerts
- CautionUS 101 Hoh River Bridge reduced to one laneUS 101 at the Hoh River Bridge is restricted to one lane of alternating traffic; obey the signals and 25 mph speed limit.Official details
- ClosureStaircase wilderness trails and campsites remain closedWilderness trails and campsites around Staircase remain closed during recovery from the Bear Gulch Fire; the developed Staircase area, including the Rapids Loop, campground, and ranger station, is…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Olympic Tour Guide
Your drive to Kalaloch Nature Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Olympic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Olympic audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Kalaloch Beach and the Tree of Life0:00 / 0:37
“You're nearing the campground access to Kalaloch Beach, a broad sandy shore for a walk beside Pacific surf. The Tree of Life is a short detour along the beach from the campground stairs.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Olympic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Kalaloch Lodge: Seafood Above the Pacific
- The Salamander That Keeps Its Gills
- Kalaloch Beach Two: A Steep Little Beach Stop
- Kalaloch Beach One and the Spruce Burls
- 204 audio storiesacross Olympic’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Olympic Marmot, Humpback Whale, Grey Whale, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 148 trails, 94 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Kalaloch Nature Trail
A short forest breakKalaloch Nature Trail is an easy 1-mile loop through coastal forest near the campground, with a…
Kalaloch Nature Trail is an easy 1-mile loop through coastal forest near the campground, with a small viewpoint over Kalaloch Creek. It is a pleasant half-hour change of scene when you are already stopping at Kalaloch; the mossy forest is the main attraction, and foliage partly screens the creek. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes with a look around.
Finding and following itFrom the campground day-use lot, walk to Loop A and take the east-hand trail branch, not the…
From the campground day-use lot, walk to Loop A and take the east-hand trail branch, not the straight gated service road. Cross US 101 carefully, then follow the path through forest to the creek-side loop and back along its short access stem. The full walk is about a mile from the trail access. Steps and a log bridge break up the gentle route.
Under the canopyThe dirt path passes large, gnarled trees draped in moss, with ferns and low coastal plants…
The dirt path passes large, gnarled trees draped in moss, with ferns and low coastal plants along the edges. Skunk cabbage is a spring detail to look for. Rain leaves boggy patches, and the creek viewpoint is partly screened by foliage, so this is more a forest walk than a broad-water overlook.
Campground detailsA few closer spaces are by campsites A19–A22; otherwise use the paved campground day-use lot.
A few closer spaces are by campsites A19–A22; otherwise use the paved campground day-use lot. Pets are not allowed on this interpretive trail, even though dogs are allowed on the separate Kalaloch beaches. The Kalaloch Lodge restaurant and Mercantile are nearby but off the trail.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Olympic
710 sightingsOlympic MarmotMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
30 sightingsHumpback WhaleMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
42 sightingsGrey WhaleMost seen around noonSighting map
23 sightingsMountain LionMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
71 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
306 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Olympic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
