Pets allowed
Not Allowed
Elevation Gain
150.00 ft (45.72 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
3.20 mi (5.15 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

This hike to Shi Shi Beach is the first and shorter portion of a more extensive 8-mile round-trip trek to Point of the Arches, located at the south end of this long and beautiful beach. Getting to Shi Shi Beach is its own reward, however, and if you are hiking with children or are trying to incorporate side trips to Cape Flattery, a shorter trip to the beach and north end sea stacks is still well worth the effort. This is a relatively flat hike, apart from the descent to the beach, and the short distance and big payoff makes it a great choice for families.

The trail leads through a predominantly second and third-growth forest full of lush ferns, devils club, red alder, and salmonberry form virtually solid walls of vegetation on either side of the trail, especially as it proceeds along the now decommissioned Shi Shi Road. This trail sees plenty of precipitation annually, and sections are quite muddy. Some of the lowest sections of the trail have boardwalks, but these are really more about preserving the environment; expect to get your footwear dirty on this hike.

The trail terminates at the north end of Shi Shi Beach, where you will find a backcountry site. Note that overnight stays in Olympic National Park require a permit in addition to the Makah Recreation Permit (see below). You'll also want to be sure that the tides are in your favor when you arrive; at high tide, the beach destination can be a little inaccessible.

Makah Recreation Use Permit

The $10 Makah Recreation Use Permit must be purchased for all activities within the reservation and it must be displayed in the window of your vehicle. Permits can be purchased at the following locations:

  • Makah Marina – Open until 5:00 p.m.
  • The Museum at the Makah Culture and Research Center – Open until 5:00 p.m.
  • Washburn’s General Store – Open until 7:00 p.m.
  • Makah Mini Mart – Open until 10:00 p.m.
  • Makah Tribal Center – Open until 5:00 p.m.
  • Hobuck Beach Resort

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Makah Recreation Use Permit

Pros

Iconic sea stack formations. Secluded and undeveloped beach.

Cons

Trail often very muddy. Additional 2.4 miles of walking on beach to Point of the Arches.

Trailhead Elevation

60.00 ft (18.29 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Big vistas

Location

Comments

07/19/2018
Hiking towards Point of Arches down Shi Shi Beach.
02/18/2018
This place is pretty amazing. Make sure that you don't get stuck by the tide like we did.
08/10/2016
Spent a night backpacking at Shi Shi and the hike in was pretty easy, but extremely muddy. The next morning when the tide was low, there were some amazing tide pool teeming with life.
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