Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches

Olympic National Park coast, reached across Makah Reservation land (south of Neah Bay)

Shi Shi Beach sits near the north end of Olympic National Park’s wilderness coast; park rules refer to the park boundary just north of it. The trail starts on Makah Reservation land near Neah Bay and ends on a long, driftwood-lined beach that leads south to Point of the Arches, which Washington Trails Association calls “one of the more photographed places in Washington for good reason.”

Backpacker describes Point of the Arches as a set of sea stacks whose low-tide pools reveal fish, seaweed, and mollusks.

The hike

The trail begins near the Makah fish hatchery. WTA says the first mile passes through brushy clearcut and Sitka spruce on bridges and boardwalks. The second mile is the hard part: WTA calls it “often muddy and wet,” and Two Wandering Soles, in a 2025 guide, says the bridges end about a mile in and “the trail can get incredibly muddy,” suggesting rubber boots. A commenter on that guide points out that stepping around the mud widens the trail, which goes against Leave No Trace. The trail then drops down a steep, eroded slope to the beach.

From the bottom, WTA describes Shi Shi Beach as littered with bleached driftwood, with sea stacks offshore. After about 1.3 miles of beach walking, you reach Petroleum Creek, where campsites begin on the beach and in the sheltered forest above it.

The final stretch leads to Point of the Arches, which WTA describes as a roughly mile-long line of sea stacks with tide pools. Because the coast is tide-dependent, WTA recommends checking a tide table before you go. Backpacker’s 2016 page quotes photographer Greg Vaughn, who had documented an oil spill on this coast years earlier, saying “I was really happy to find the tide pools so healthy.”

Two Wandering Soles suggests pitching above the tide line, close to the tree line, and notes that driftwood fires may be hard to light after rain, so bring a stove.

Farther south, the park’s coast continues past Point of the Arches toward Cape Alava. For a loop on that next stretch, see the Ozette Triangle.

Tips

Get both permits. WTA says visitors need a Makah Recreation Pass and an Olympic wilderness permit.
Park in the right place. Overnight hikers park at a private lot about 0.6 mile before the trailhead (WTA). Day parking is at the trailhead.
Wear boots you don’t mind muddying. The second mile is the worst.
Carry a tide table. It decides when you can explore Point of the Arches.
Bring water or a reliable plan to treat it. See the water note below.

Camping

Camping is on the beach and in the forest edge south of Petroleum Creek, according to WTA. Camp above the high tide line and watch surf conditions. The park requires a wilderness permit for every overnight stay and bear canisters for all food, garbage, and scented items along the entire coast. Groups are limited to 12. Pets and stock are not allowed on park beaches. Burn only driftwood if fires are allowed, and check for fire restrictions first. Two Wandering Soles reports that a stream near the beach was contaminated with human and animal waste, so plan on carrying water or treating it carefully.

Inside Intel: Two Wandering Soles recommends heading south toward Point of the Arches and pitching at the far south end of the beach, where you can see the sea stacks from your tent without walking back at dusk.

Trail facts

Distance: 8.0 miles round trip to Point of the Arches (WTA)
Route type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Campsites: Beach and forest edge from Petroleum Creek (about 1.3 miles down the beach) south toward Point of the Arches
Water: Unreliable; one 2025 guide says carry all of it
Permits: Makah Recreation Pass plus Olympic wilderness permit (Recreation.gov)
Food storage: Bear canister required on the coast
Dogs: Not allowed
Trailhead: Shi Shi trailhead near the Makah fish hatchery, south of Neah Bay
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Wet driftwood at Point of the Arches:

One guide says beach fires at Shi Shi can be hard to light after rain, so a stove is the backup that always works. Compare the camp stoves testers rate.

Compare the top 5 →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.