Wonderful Washington: Enjoy a peaceful night in paradise at Shi Shi Beach (PHOTOS)
With the countless lakes and mountain trails in Washington, we often forget that there are so many beautiful coastal sights such as the glorious Shi Shi Beach.
Pronounced Shy-Shy, Shi Shi Beach is a beautiful remote beach, perfect for those looking to upgrade their ‘gram or simply seclude themselves in paradise.
For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from waparks.org and parks.wa.gov. Always remember to leave no trace, pack out what you pack in, stick to designated trails, and refrain from feeding wildlife — and please note that irresponsibly taken selfies (even if they look great for the ‘gram) can be fatal.
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See also:
- Wonderful Washington: Colchuck Lake is a must-visit for avid hikers
- Wonderful Washington: Escape to the lush land that is the Hoh Rain Forest
- Wonderful Washington: Fall in love with The Feathers at Frenchman Coulee
Where is it?
The trail to Shi Shi Beach begins on the tribal lands of the Makah Indian Reservation, while the beach itself is located in Washington’s Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula.
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How do you get there?
No matter which way you decide to go, you’re going to need to hop on a ferry to get to Shi Shi Beach. Start your journey by taking the Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry to Bainbridge Island. From there, take WA-305 N, WA-104 W, US-101 N, and WA-112 W to Sekiu River Road in Clallam County. WA-112 W will take you all the way to Neah Bay on the Makah Reservation.
Once on the reservation, Highway 112 becomes Bayview Avenue. Keep following the road and turn left on Fort Street, right on 3rd Avenue, and then a left on Cape Flattery Road. Follow this for 2.5 miles and turn left on Hobuck Road. From there, simply follow the signs to Shi Shi Beach trailhead.
What’s there?
From the trailhead, get ready to embark on a two-mile hike to the beach. While the hike isn’t technically difficult, it definitely is muddy. What begins as a well-maintained trail quickly turns into a muddy mess.
Shi Shi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pacific Northwest. Be ready for beautiful sunsets, soft sand, impressive eagles and seabirds, and glorious rock formations.
You’ll be able to play in the water, build small driftwood fires, and rest until the sun finally sets. You may even see some people trying to catch some waves.
When the water is in low tide, walk out to the Point of Arches, an impressive cluster of sea stacks.
While camping on the beach doesn’t require reservations, make sure to obtain your permits and bear-safe container: visitors will need both The Makah Recreation pass and an Olympic National Park wilderness permit. Be warned that it can get busy on summer weekends — there’s been as many as 250 campers along Shi Shi Beach on busy weekends.
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