Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches — Friday, Apr. 1, 2016

Olympic Peninsula > Pacific Coast

Find more photos on Instagram! @_thelonestranger_ #shishibeachandpointofarches The boys and I left Seattle after work on Thursday and headed for Port Angeles where we would obtain our Wilderness Camping Permit. We arrived in Port Angeles after hours (around 9:00pm), so we had to self register for our permit. I made the mistake of googling "Ranger Station" which took me to a vacant lot downtown. Then, I visited the Elwha Ranger Station which is located just outside of town, but the gate was closed a few miles before reaching the station (still closed for the season). Finally, I figured out that I was supposed to be looking for the "Wilderness Information Center" which took me back downtown. The self register permits are located on the back porch with pretty clear instructions on what to do. The cost is $5 per person (over the age of 15 years old) per night, which you will place in an envelope after filling out the necessary information and then place into a metal box. We arrived in Neah Bay just after midnight and caught a few hours of sleep in the truck. The Makah Mini Mart, where you can obtain a Makah Wilderness Pass for $10 per vehicle, opens at 7:00am. Since you never actually drive into the Olympic National Park, no Olympic National Park Pass is required. Next, we drove all of the way to the trailhead, which is for day use parking only. We had passed a few overnight parking "venues" on our way to the trailhead so we backtracked to the nearest one, which cost $10 per vehicle per calendar day of use (again, money in envelope and envelope in metal box), and strapped on our packs. Pack space was at a premium on this trip since all food and scented items are required to be stored in a sealed bear canister 24 hours a day, when not in use. I own a bear canister that I only use if required to do so, but if you do not own one then you can rent one from REI or loan one from the Wilderness Information Center (assuming you have the luxury of arriving in Port Angeles during business hours). The mosquitos were a minor annoyance for the half mile walk back to the trailhead and for approximately the first mile of trail, but they eventually cleared out and were not seen again until our return from Shi Shi Beach. About the same time that the mosquitos disappeared the boardwalks ended and the mud began. As a result, the trail becomes very wide from people walking on the ever extending edges, and I found myself wondering why they hadn't continued the boardwalks for the last mile to the beach. The mud ends two miles from the day use parking, where you will find a very short but steep descent to Shi Shi Beach. Ropes have been tied to trees in order to offer assistance navigating the rough and tumble hillside. Dogs are not allowed beyond this point. Shi Shi Beach is about two and a half miles long, with PLENTY of campsites along the entire length. Fires are allowed pretty much anywhere on the beach. However, fires are only allowed in pre-established fire pits if camping inside the tree line. The Point of Arches is located on the far end of Shi Shi Beach. This is where you can explore the bountiful sea life in the tidal pools at low tide. Be sure to not lose track of time, not slip on the slimy rocks, and leave no trace! It can be difficult to move around the tide pools because pretty much all of the real estate is occupied by some form of life. The next morning we were fortunate enough to see a couple of young deer near our campsite. Be sure to check out the video clip on my Instagram feed! @_thelonestranger_ #shishibeachandpointofarches