Rialto Beach’s Hole-in-the-Wall hike is 3.3 miles round trip, and the tide decides whether you walk through the arch
Most people park at Rialto Beach, snap the driftwood and call it a day. That’s a mistake, because the best part is farther down the sand, where the Pacific has punched a hole clean through a rock.
It’s called Hole-in-the-Wall, and getting there is one of the most satisfying beach walks in Olympic National Park. Here’s what the hike really involves and how to plan it around the tide.
Psst, we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks: grab it here.
The numbers: 3.3 miles, mostly sand
The out-and-back is 3.3 miles round trip with 286 feet of elevation gain. That sounds like a lot for a beach, but you’re walking on sand and cobble, so your legs will work harder than the number suggests.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
Budget a couple of hours, more if you stop at every tide pool. And you will stop at every tide pool.
Let the tide pick your route
At low tide, you can scramble through the arch itself and poke around the tide pools beside it. At high tide, skip that and take the overland trail above the arch for the views instead.
Pull up a tide table before you leave the car, and plan to turn back if the water is climbing. Waves crash over Gunsight Rock and the offshore sea stacks, which looks incredible from a distance, so keep yours. Ellen Creek can also mean a log crossing or a wade, so wear shoes that can handle both.
Why a gray November day suits this beach
My honest opinion: Rialto looks best when the sky is moody. The stacks fade into mist, the driftwood piles look even more dramatic, and the whole place feels like the edge of the continent.
Mora Road, the 5-mile paved road in from La Push Road, is open, but check the park’s road conditions page before you drive out. Storm season can change things fast.
Stretch it into a full coast day
Rialto is one of several wild beaches on the park’s coast, and the others are worth the drive too. Our friends at Washington Is for Adventure rounded up the best Olympic National Park beaches if you want to build a longer itinerary.
Olympic National Park charges $30 per vehicle for a seven-day pass, and an America the Beautiful Pass is $80 for U.S. residents if you’re stacking up national park stops this year.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Will you scramble through the arch at low tide, or take the high road above it?
Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.
