Shi Shi Beach and Point of Arches Trail

Shi Shi Beach and Point of Arches is an 8-mile round-trip out-and-back from the Shi Shi Beach Trailhead by the Makah fish hatchery, across Makah Reservation and into Olympic's wilderness coast. The first roughly two miles pass through forest before a steep descent to the beach; the rest is a long walk over sand to the rock stacks and back. Do the full route if tide pools and sea stacks are your goal: the beach begins well before the destination. Allow about four to six hours for the muddy approach, slower sand and time to look around. You may see a 2–4.5-mile figure for Shi Shi Beach, but it does not name a turnaround or distance convention. For Point of Arches, plan on the full 8-mile round trip.

Tides shape the route. Carry a tide chart and plan to reach the arches when the beach is passable; high water can send you onto headland trails, and some headlands cannot be rounded even at the lowest tides. Petroleum Creek lies about 1.3 beach miles from the access and can be difficult to cross after heavy winter rain. Sand and driftwood make the shore slower than a packed trail, so leave enough time for the return rather than counting on a precise pace.

From the fish-hatchery trailhead, the first mile passes brushy clearings and Sitka spruce, with several bridges and boardwalks. The next stretch is wetter and often muddy, then drops steeply down an eroded bluff to the beach. That descent is the part most likely to feel rough underfoot. Hikers repeatedly mention that improvised detours around mud can be confusing; stay with the main tread when it is clear rather than following every sidetrack.

Once you reach the sand, head south. The route goes past driftwood and surf before the beach opens toward Point of Arches. This is not just a short walk down to the water: reaching the rock stacks adds several miles on sand, and the beach itself changes with the tide. Petroleum Creek is the main named crossing on the way. The NPS also lists Willoughby Creek as a water source farther along the coast; treat or boil stream water because coastal sources can carry parasites.

Point of Arches is a long cluster of offshore stacks, narrow pinnacles and natural arches, with tide pools along the rocky edges. At a low tide, look for barnacles, mussels and branching seaweed on the wet rocks. The stacks make a striking silhouette at sunset, but tide timing and the return walk matter more than staying for the last light; don't let a photo plan push you into a risky crossing.

The park highlights bald eagles and tide pools here, and seabirds are part of the beach experience. Scan the water and shoreline for birds as you walk, then slow down at the pools around the arches to notice how much life is packed into the rocks.

The day-use lot is at the trailhead; overnight visitors use designated private parking areas farther back. The trailhead has a toilet, and three more pit toilets are spaced near beach campsites and creeks. A Makah Recreation Pass is required and must be bought in Neah Bay before reaching the reservation trailhead. The separate NPS wilderness camping permit applies to overnight stays. Pets and wheeled devices are prohibited on the coastal trails and beach. The park lists April through October as the best season; summer brings more visitors and campers.

If you want a short beach visit, turn around closer to the access and treat it as a different, shorter outing. The full Point of Arches hike is the better choice for the sea stacks and tide pools, but it takes real time on wet trail and sand and demands a tide plan. If you are short on time or unsure about the beach crossing, don't set out assuming the arches are just beyond the trail's final descent.