Beach Camping at Hole in the Wall

*Hole in the Wall Beach in Olympic National Park*

We could not have picked a worse time of year for our PNW backpacking adventure. With the wildfires in full swing and just generally gloomy/rainy weather, I was nervous that our journey through Olympic National Park would be a waste.

After weeks of journeying through Oregon and Washington, our last stop was to head to the coast to camp at Hole in the Wall. Now….if I were to do this trip again, I would recommend going in the summer, but given Marco’s work schedule, we did this the first week of October. And to be honest….it was a wild experience and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

As we rolled up to Rialto Beach we were greeted by, what can only be described as, a post apocalyptic version of a beach. Giant trees and driftwood that had been swept ashore were scattered as far as the high could see.

*Driftwood along the shore of Rialto Beach in Olympic National Park*

When we arrived at Rialto Beach it was still high tide, so we had some time to explore before our short hike to where we would camp. It’s important to hike in/out at low tide as there’s no “formal trail” here. If you attempt the trek at high tide you will end up climbing over fallen trees and an unmarked wooded area and it will make your journey much less enjoyable.

Quick Tip! In order to camp at Hole in the Wall you will need to obtain a backcountry permit. You can make your reservations here at the National Park Service website. Click on the “North Coast” and then “Hole-in-the-wall”. They will email you the information on where to pick up your permit.

*Huge piece of driftwood on Rialto Beach in Washington*

Along our way towards the giant rock formations in the distance we found a place to set up camp. It’s important to note that because of the tides you need to set up camp further back in the trees. If you are like me, who had seen many photos of bloggers with their tents set up steps from the ocean…let me burst your bubble now. No one is camping overnight that close to the water. You would surely get swept out to sea. We found a spot far enough back but with views galore and set up camp.

After lightening our load we continued our journey towards the majestic rock formations and tide pools nearby. As we approached Hole in the Wall it was hard to ignore all of the people staring into the shallow water just north of the hole. That’s because there is an entire colorful world happening just below your feet. Many sea creatures and starfish live in these tiny pools of water so watch where you step.

*Camping at Hole in the Wall Beach in Washington State.*

As the sun began to set we headed back to camp to collect our driftwood and get our fire started. Despite the cold and dreary weather it was one of my favorite nights under the stars. There’s something so magical about a beach on a dreary day. As if the memory has a moody texture attached to it. I’m a firm believer in romanticizing your own life and as I look back on photos from that day, it’s hard not recall the memory in a cinematic way. I’ll never forget returning to my parents’ home and trying to relay what the ocean sounded like in the middle of the night. “It sounded angry” I said “not like the waves of Hawaii you think about when you hear ‘beach camping.’ This is the ocean sailors wrote poems about.”