There are three magnificent hiking beaches south of the Quileute reservation at La Push south of the mouth of the Quileute (also spelled Quillayute) river. First beach is at La Push itself and can be an excellent vantage point for watching migrating whales and sea lions feeding in the river. Second Beach is accessed from a trailhead just east of La Push, and requires an approximately 0.7 mile walk in the forest before reaching the beach. Third Beach is accessed by a 1.5 mile trail from further east on the same road. All three beaches are worth a visit, but if time is limited, we recommend Second Beach.
The Hike to Second Beach is over rolling, very heavily timbered terrain. The forest here is a natural second-growth that emerged after the great storm of 1921 (the "21 blow") that blew virtually every tree near the coast down. The result is a second forest growing right out of the twisted and broken remains of the old trees. Here are a few pictures of sights along this short hike.
It's worth for potential visitors noting that all of these photos were taken on January 2, 1999, yet it is still spectacularly green, the sun was shining, and the temperature was about 50 F. There were only two other people on the beach.
The beach is reached by descending a short bluff on a well-maintained stepped, gravel trail (see above, the third picture from the left). This is a very easy descent that all but the really infirm will be able to handle. However, a word of caution: To get onto the beach itself, one must climb over a substantial pile of very large driftwood logs (picture below). Hence, you should be at least a little agile and have a reasonable sense of balance.
Here are some pictures of Second Beach itself. There is a tunnel at the north end which I believe is rarely, if ever, accessible on foot. There are a series of stately sea stacks offshore and several more stacks on the beach (One of these can easily be climbed). Finally, in the wet season there is a lovely waterfall tumbling off the bluff at the south end ogf the beach. In addition, at the southern extremity of the beach there is a cave in the bluff to be explored. Once again, this is winter. Virtually nobody here. This can be yours alone.
Eventually, it was Sunset and we had to leave...
Incidentally, it gets very, very dark in the rainforest after sunset. Bring a flashlight just in case you have to return after the sun goes down.