Olympic NP Coast?

Looks like I have to go to a week long school in Seattle this Sept., so thought I'd take 3 or 4 days afterward to hit the ONP coast. Any suggestions on itinerary for the coast line would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Jerry

My personal favorites are Second Beach, Ruby Beach and Rialto Beach. I generally like to shoot sunset at Second and Ruby Beaches and sunrise at Rialto. The triangle from Lake Ozette to Cape Alava to Sand Point back to Ozette (9 mi total) is awesome too.

I think Inge has just about covered it. If you're into a little hiking, maybe an overnight backpack, Shi Shi beach is also highly recommended.

Yup, those are the 4 must-see spots. The only other place on the WA coast that I really want to get to is Tunnel Island at the mouth of the Raft River, but its right in the middle of the Quinault IR, and I don't know how possible public access is, if its possible at all. Ruby is, imho, your best introduction to the WA beaches simply for the fact that you don't have to walk more than 1/4 mile to get down to the water.

I'd also make the drive up the Hurricane ridge and hike a few of the trails out there.... wildflowers are probably all gone, but the views are awesome and if you have fog, you can get some moody shots as well... if you hit fog, keep going (after photographing for a while) because the fog usually wears off before you hit the summit !

I also vote for Second beach. It's about 1 mile to the beach - you have to scramble over quite a few large drift lots to get there, but it's awesome..... if you time it with a low tide, head south about 1/3 mile to the end of the beach... awesome tide pools and sea stack are there

Yep, Inge covered what I would have recommended. The only other spot I really like is Shi Shi beach, but it is a 4 mile hike in, and it's tough hiking the last 2 miles on the sand. Also you have to get special tribal passes to get down there, but if you're willing and able it's an incredible experience.

Thank you all very much!

I'm assuming campground spaces will be readily available that time of year? I'd rather motel it (getting a bit soft in my 50's) but don't know that I want to drive back and forth from Forks, especially for morning light.

Any lodging recommendations, either campground or motel?

Thanks again,

Jerry

I'd suggest the campgrounds at Mora, that is on the way to Second Beach and Rialto, they don't take reservations so you have a better chance of getting a spot just driving in, if you want to make reservations call the Kalaloch campground, they do take reservations. I just stayed at both and each was very nice, but the Mora Campgrounds were a real pleasure, they were quiet, and not crowded at all, and set in an amazing forest.

Thanks, Zach! Are there showers there?

No showers at Mora. But if you want to stay in Forks, it's not very far away, probably a 20 minute drive from Forks to Rialto, 30 minutes (?) to Ruby Beach.
The only long drive from Forks for morning light would be to Lake Crescent and the much farther drive to Hurricane Ridge.

Thanks Rod! I plan on spending all three days at the coast with the possible exception of Sol Duc Falls. Seems to me that's a morning shot as the last time we were there, there was sunlight on the river by noon.