Olympic National Park day 2 - 9/21/2025
- sridgway38
- Sep 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 11
We had a great breakfast at the Creekside restaurant to start our day and then packed up and headed out towards the farthest northwest corner of the continental US - Cape Flattery. It was about a 2 hour drive from our lodge.
As soon as we started towards Forks (the closest town to the lodge) we had a tire pressure light go on. We stopped at a little gas station/Subway that we had visited the day before on our way in to check the tire and get air. The people who run that little store in Forks are great and they have gas and plenty of food, sundries etc... We filled the tire, and kept driving It was only mildly low and we didn't have any other issues with it. The rest of the 2 hour drive was uneventful and very scenic. Cape Flattery is part of the Makah Reservation, home to the Makah Tribe, whose ancestors have lived on this rugged coast for thousands of years. When we arrived we had to stop at the Makah Mini Mart and Fuel to purchase a 20.00 permit to enter the reservation, which was quick and easy. The person working there also gave us a map and instructions as to how to get to the correct trail head. We made it there easily and were able to park near the trail head.
The Cape Flattery Trail itself is short, winding through dense coastal forest and ending at a lookout where the Pacific meets the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are sections that are muddy or where you have to climb over rocks and branches but it was pretty easy to navigate. In the distance from the lookout was a small island that had lots of sea lions barking and the color of the water was a gorgeous blue. There are also beautiful windswept cliffs on either side of the lookout.
After we left Cape Flattery we wanted to go to Shi Shi beach, also on the Makah reservation but the parking was extremely limited and there just didn't seem to be a place to access it so we decided to skip it and head back towards Olympic.
We wanted to take a trail on Ruby beach before we headed back to our lodge and cabin. Part of Olympic National Park’s rugged coastline, it’s famous for its dark, pebbly sand, towering sea stacks, and driftwood that carpets the shore like nature’s own sculpture garden. The beach gets its name from the reddish quartz pebbles that sparkle among the stones when the light hits just right.
Historically, this stretch of coast was used by the Quinault Tribe, who fished and harvested shellfish along the shores for centuries. Today, the beach is a favorite for photographers and travelers, especially at sunset. A short walk from the parking area brings you to the heart of the beach.
We left Ruby and headed back towards Kalaloch Lodge but made one stop along the way at the parking for the Campground where we could access the beach to see the "Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life at Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park is a Sitka spruce that has captivated visitors for years with its dramatic appearance and resilience. Perched on an eroding bluff, its roots dangle over a small creek.
This unique tree has become a symbol of nature's tenacity, thriving despite the challenging coastal environment. The tree's ability to remain green and alive, even with minimal soil support, has led some to refer to it as the "Tree of Life".
However, the Tree of Life's future is uncertain. Erosion has caused the roots to start to sink and collapse but for now it's still surviving.
We headed back to Kalaloch and had our second happy hour in the Adirondack chairs outside of our cabin looking down on the beach. Conrad wandered down to the beach to get some pictures and then we had another great dinner at the Creekside.
