La Push Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Push Beach
|
|
|---|---|
First Beach, La Push, Washington coast, Olympic National Park
|
|
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Washington |
| Population
(2002)
|
|
| • Total | 11,285 |
| Area code(s) |
List
|
La Push Beach is a group of three beautiful beaches located near the town of La Push in Washington. These beaches are found on the Pacific coast of the United States. Along the shore, you'll see many tall evergreen trees, especially Sitka and other spruce trees. They make the coastline look very green and wild.
Exploring La Push Beaches
First Beach
First Beach (47°54′14″N 124°38′00″W / 47.9039614°N 124.6332702°W) is the beach farthest north. It's about 14 miles away from the town of Forks, Washington. This is the only beach in La Push where you can drive right up to the sand. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon. Lots of driftwood washes ashore here, which can make the waves slower but also a bit tricky to stand in. Some homes of the Quileute Indian Tribe are located very close to this beach, as it's part of the Quileute Indian Reservation.
The Oceanside Resort offers different places to stay right along First Beach. Many visitors enjoy surfing and fishing in the spring. In the summer, hiking is popular. During winter and fall, people love to watch the powerful storms from a safe distance.
Second Beach
To reach Second Beach (47°53′02″N 124°36′56″W / 47.8839°N 124.6155°W), you'll start on trails from the Quileute Indian Reservation. The hike is about 1 mile long before you arrive at the coast. Second Beach is the longest and flattest of the three beaches. It's also the most visited. Even though it's only about a mile from First Beach to the north and Third Beach to the south, you can't walk directly between them. This is because of large rocky areas and steep cliffs that block the way.
About half a mile offshore, there's a group of small islands called an archipelago. You'll see tall, rocky structures called sea stacks scattered among these islands. They are known as the Quileute Needle. These sea stacks are part of a special area called the Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect coastal animals, including many seabirds like oystercatchers and gulls.
Third Beach
Third Beach (47°52′34″N 124°34′56″W / 47.8761°N 124.5823°W) is the southernmost beach. It's a 1.6-mile hike from the main road. Along the way, you'll get great views of Strawberry Bay. The trail is mostly flat, but it can sometimes be slippery because of the wet coastal weather. Like many beaches on the Olympic Peninsula, Third Beach has many sea stacks and lots of driftwood.
In a quiet, undeveloped area at Taylor Point, there's a waterfall that flows right onto the beach. You can also find interesting tide pools on the north end of the beach. Third Beach is located within Olympic National Park along its Pacific Ocean coastline. You reach it by walking through the forest from near the town of La Push.
Being the third beach along the La Push coastline, it feels the most private. However, there are several campsites where you can stay. These sites are just a 5-minute walk from the ocean. A large rock formation called Teahwhit Head blocks the path to Second Beach from here.
Images for kids
-
First Beach.
-
Second Beach
