The Ultimate Guide To Second Beach Camping

One of the best beaches in Washington is the gorgeous Second Beach. To get to this famous beach, you have to weave through thick rainforest and balance your way over driftwood. It is a relatively easy hike for people of all ages, and the view at the end is just stunning. There are tall sea stacks that look marvelous during sunset. Even if it starts pouring on you, as it did with us, this beach is a great place to enjoy with fellow family and friends as this beach is the epitome of Pacific Northwest vibes. If you are thinking of spending the night on the beach or even just hiking for the day, then keep reading on for the ultimate guide on Second Beach Camping in Washington!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Seattle To Second Beach

You can easily drive to Second Beach from Seattle. There are two options:

1. North: You can take the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge and stop by Port Angeles and Hurricane Ridge this way. It is about 4 hours and 149 miles. You can look at ferry times here. 
2. South: This is a straight drive through Tacoma. About 4 hours and 20 minutes and 226 miles.

READ MORE ABOUT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HIKING ONP

Second Beach Olympic National Park Map

Located right next to the Second Beach Trailhead is the small town of La Push. La Push is where the Quileute tribal council is located. The small town has a few resorts and some restaurants as well.  If you need a more official national park map, click here. 

Second Beach WA Weather

• Spring: Temperatures are cool to mild, and the Washington Beach weather is unpredictable during this time. But, it is the second most popular time to visit.
• Summer: The most popular time to visit and the temperatures are mild to warm. Rain and thunderstorms are a possibility and fog might show up on the coast, even on sunny days. This is the best time to get great weather on the beach.
• Fall: Temperature decreases and precipitation increases during this time of year.
• Winter: This is when Olympic NP experiences the highest amount of precipitation. The weather temperature is pretty mild in the coastal area, though.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Olympic National Park

What To Pack For Second Beach

For a Day Trip

1. Sunscreen: If you get burned easily like my husband, this is needed. >Buy Sunscreen
2. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me I have done it so many times). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
3. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. I also love how they now have pink socks too 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
4. Refillable water bottle: I always bring a Hydroflask on all my adventures. They are on the heavier side, but I know for a fact they will not break. I have had a few cheap water bottles break on me before. >Check Prices Now
5. Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
6. Sunglasses: It is the beach, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
7. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, energy bars. Cliff Bars are great for hiking.
8. Camera: The camera I have linked was one of the first cameras I started using on my travels. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
9. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
10. Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
11. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I love wearing leggings while hiking because I love how comfy they are but don’t forget that the PNW is known for being rainy. I still try to wear leggings as much as I can and only wear them in Olympic NP if I know it won’t rain that day. Either way, here are some excellent hiking pants that are super durable. >Click For My Favorite Hiking Pants
12. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts
13. Sports Bra: For women.
14. Jacket: It can get pretty chilly. Bring a Jacket! >Buy My Favorite Jacket
15. Light Jacket: The PNW weather can be unpredictable. That is why I brought three jackets with me. It wasn’t so cold when we hiked, so I brought a light jacket. >Buy This Light Jacket
16. Rain Jacket: In case it starts pouring on you, which is always a possibility in the PNW. >Buy A Great Rainjacket Here
17. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
18. Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must if you want to do sunset! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now

Second Beach Camping

1. Everything in the Day trip List Above and,
2. Backpack 50 – 65 Liters: The Osprey (which I have linked) is known to be one of the best makers of backpacks out there. >Buy my Awesome Backpack
3. Tent: I just bought this new Nemo 2 Person tent, and it packs so small, and it is light! >Buy The Nemo Backpacking Tent
4. Jet Boiler: This is a portable mini stove that will boil water for you. This is great if you are bringing dry food >Buy My Jet Boiler
5. Propane for Jet Boiler: This can be bought at Walmart or REI on the way to the Olympic National Park.
6. Sleeping Pad: A sleeping pad is pretty much a small, packable inflatable mattress. I have tried many types of sleeping pads (cheap ones, light ones, comfortable ones), and the one I have linked is probably the best one I have tried. It is my husbands sleeping pad. It is on the heavier side, so I recommend this for car camping or for short/easy backpacking trips. >Check Out My All-Time Favorite Sleeping Pad
7. Dry Food: Dry food is the perfect food for when you are backpacking. All you have to do is add boiling water. Let me warn you that most dry food doesn’t taste amazing, but it is good enough after a long day of hiking. >Check Out Some Of My Favorite Dry Food
8. Spork: A spoon and fork in one. >Buy A Spork Now
9. Pillows: Pillows can take a lot of room, so I recommend buying an inflatable one. The one I have linked, I have had for six years now, and it is STILL going strong. >Buy The EXTREMELY Packable Inflatable Pillows
10. Sleeping Bag: One of the most critical aspects of getting a good nights sleep! Bringing a sleeping bag is a must. >Look At Prices
11. Compression Pack: This compresses your sleeping bag, so it is easier to pack! >Buy a Compression Pack
12. Sandals: I hate wearing my hiking shoes when I am hanging around the campsite, so bringing some sandals for leisure is a must for me. I just bought these, and they are super comfortable. Perfect for camping. >Check Out These Sandals
13. Trash Bags: Everything you pack in, you must pack out. Bring a few trash bags with you.
14. Printed Campsite Reservation: You have to pick this up at the ranger station if you are camping on the beach and hang it outside your tent.
15. Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Medicine & Toiletries
16. Bear Canisters: You can rent this at the ranger station. I decided to buy one just because I will probably use it many times. >Buy Bear Canister Here
17. Bear Canister Holder: The bear canister didn’t fit in my backpack, so I packed it into this carrying case and clipped it on the outside of my bag. >Check Out This Bear Canister Carrying Case
18. Fire Starter: If you want to start a fire, this is an easier way. Just pile up the driftwood on top, and you are golden! >Buy This Cool No Match Needed Fire Starter
19. Water Reservoir: You probably need more water than a water bottles worth. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
20. Olympic National Park Map And Book: I started buying maps and books for national parks to help me plan. You can still get a map at the visitors center, but I love that this one is waterproof and more detailed. >Buy My Map >Buy My Book

Read All About My Backpacking Gear: Backpacking Essentials

Second Beach Lodging

If would rather note camp on the beach then here are some nearby bed and breakfasts and hotels near the area.

• Olympic Lodge: If Second Beach isn’t the only attraction you are visiting in Olympic National Park, then I highly recommend staying at Port Angeles. I stayed at the Olympic Lodge, which is one of the best hotels in the city. It isn’t a five-star hotel, and I feel like the lighting needs some major updating, but, it is the best hotel on the Peninsula. The concierge did tell me that they are remodeling pretty soon though.  >Click Here To Check Pricing
• Miller Tree Inn Bed And Breakfast: This cute Bed and Breakfast is located in the town of Forks. It has delicious breakfast and has such a cozy, homey feel. >Click Here To Check Pricing On This Cozy Spot
• Quillayute River Resort: Each suite features a porch with river views, and the rooms are equipped with a full kitchen and living room. They are also known to be a great place to stay if you want some peace and quiet.  >Click Here To Check Pricing On This Awesome Getaway

Read More: Where to Stay in Olympic National Park – 10 Best Cabins & Rentals

Where To Eat Near La Push Beach

Even though we could have cooked up a lovely meal on the beach, we decided we wanted a big breakfast because we were going to go backpacking for a few days to Enchanted Valley. We decided to eat at Rivers Edge, and wow, I am so glad we did! Their pancakes were delicious, and we had wonderful views while we ate. There was so much wildlife outside of the restaurant, especially Bald Eagles. If you are keen on spotting wildlife, then you need to stop by here for a bite to eat.

Second Beach Trail

• Length: 0.7 miles one way to the beach. If you want to hike the entire coastline, it is 2.4 miles one way from the parking lot.
• Best For: People of all ages
• Elevation Gain: 310 feet
• When To Go: All year round
• Difficulty: The Trail Is Pretty Easy
• Are Dogs Allowed: No
• Trail Guide: Link

Before you go on your hike, make sure to take anything of value from the car. It is well known that Olympic National Park has many car break-ins. Don’t give thieves a reason to break your windows!

The trail begins on the Quileute Indian Reservation and winding through the forest of Sitka Spruce. After wandering through the woods for a specific time, the trail will take you down to the beach. Many logs will likely be blocking your path to the beach and you will have to climb over them. This was a little difficult for me with my heavy backpacking pack, which involved a higher than normal balance concentration.

After getting over the log obstacle, you arrive at the beach. You can easily stroll around and enjoy the lovely beach. At low tide, you can walk behind the most significant sea stack but make sure you don’t get stuck on the stack when it is high tide. Check out the second beach tide chart here. 

If you to head towards the south, you can spot the Teahwhit Head and tidepools which are filled with sea anemones and starfish. Many sea creatures live in the tide pools but, be careful when walking around as you might accidentally step on one. NEVER force an animal off its spot, you may tear off its feet, or squeeze its organs.

Second Beach Camping

My favorite part of Second Beach was camping on the beach. It was my first time camping in Washington and my first time camping on a beach. Seriously, it was an excellent experience even though it rained on us 90% of the time. We brought some Sparkling Rose and enjoyed the rain and views from our tents.

The beach smells, sounds, vibes and atmosphere were intoxicating, and I can’t wait to come back on a sunnier day with a group of friends. So if you are thinking about road tripping around the Olympic Peninsula consider camping on the coast! It is a great experience.

Obtaining a permit to Second Beach was relatively easy. All that is required is that you reserve online here and pick up the permit at a rangers station.

When you set up your tent, make sure it is above high tide. You don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night with a wet tent. Also, fires are allowed on the beach but must be made below the high tide line and at least ten feet from driftwood. You may use driftwood for firewood. Do NOT forget a bear canister and keep the canister far away from your tent. As always, pack in everything you brought in and have fun 🙂

Conclusion On Second Beach Washington

Well, that is it for the ultimate guide to Second Beach camping. If you want more information, please comment below. Also, make sure to check out some of my other popular posts on some excellent trails:

• The Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Enchanted Valley Olympic National Park
• The Ultimate Guide to Rialto Beach and The Hole In The Wall Washington
• The Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
• Everything You Need To Know About Hurricane Ridge
• A Backpacking Guide To The High Divide Trail
• The Best Washington Beaches
• The Perfect 2-3 Day Olympic National Park Itinerary

Also, please join my new awesome Facebook group where we discuss all things hiking, camping, and backpacking. Let’s build a tribe together ⛰ and Join Here.

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