La Push

📍 Location: Quileute Reservation, Pacific coast west of Forks, Washington
🗓️ Best time to visit: June through September
⏳ Recommended stay: 1.5–2.5 hours
🌐 Official visitor information: Quileute Nation · NPS — Exploring the Coast

🌊 About La Push

La Push is a small coastal village at the mouth of the Quillayute River and the heart of the Quileute Reservation. It sits beside three of the Olympic coast's most striking beaches — First, Second, and Third Beach.

The beaches are backed by coastal forest and framed by dramatic offshore sea stacks. First Beach is the most accessible, right by the village, while Second and Third Beach require short trail hikes down through the forest to the sand.

✨ Why Visit

La Push is especially known for:

• 🪨 Dramatic offshore sea stacks
• 🏖️ Wide, wild beaches backed by forest
• 🌅 Powerful Pacific sunsets
• 🌊 Tide pools at low tide
• 📸 Classic Olympic coast photography
• 🧭 A gateway to the Quileute Nation's coastline

🥾 Getting to the Beaches

• First Beach — roadside access beside the village, no hike required.
• Second Beach Trail — about 2.1 mi / 300 ft round trip, 1.5–2.5 hours including beach time, 🟡 moderate, through coastal forest to sea stacks. Route reference: AllTrails — Second Beach Trail
• Third Beach — a similar forested walk to a quieter stretch of coast.

🌊 Check tide tables before hiking. Rising tides and drifting logs can make headlands impassable and the beach dangerous.

📅 Best Time to Visit

☀️ June–September — Best Conditions

Summer brings the driest weather, calmest seas, and best low-tide windows for tide pools.

🌧️ October–May — Storm Season

Winter delivers powerful surf and dramatic storm-watching, but also rain, high water, and hazardous conditions.

🚗 Access and Parking

La Push is reached via the Quillayute Road from near Forks. Beach trailheads have small lots that fill on summer days; arrive early.

🎟️ Fees, Reservations & Respect

La Push is within the Quileute Reservation. Second and Third Beach are within Olympic National Park's coastal strip.

• 🤝 Respect tribal land, private property, posted closures, and local rules
• 🏕️ Camping and fires are only allowed where permitted
• 🚫 Some areas may close for cultural or safety reasons

⚠️ Coastal Safety

• Never turn your back on the ocean — sneaker waves are a real hazard
• Watch for fast-moving tides and shifting drift logs
• Time beach hikes around low tide
• Carry a tide table and offline map; cell service is poor

✅ Before You Go

Check current information before visiting:

• 🌊 Quileute Nation
• 🏖️ NPS — Exploring the Coast
• 🛟 Olympic coastal safety
• 🥾 AllTrails — Second Beach Trail
• 🌦️ Tide tables, surf, and weather alerts