Shi Shi Beach and Point of the Arches: A Hiking Guide

Shi Shi Beach is a long crescent of sand at the far northwest corner of Washington, reached by a trail that starts on the Makah Reservation near Neah Bay and drops into Olympic National Park. At its south end stands Point of the Arches, a line of sea stacks and arches that ranks among the wildest sights on the coast. Here is how to plan the trip.

Where Shi Shi Beach is

Shi Shi sits on the south side of Makah Bay. The trail begins on Makah land and continues into the park, so, as the NPS Shi Shi Beach trailhead page explains, you need two different permits. The park describes the hike as an 8 mile round trip and names Shi Shi Beach and Point of Arches among its most popular coastal destinations.

Makah Recreation Pass and parking, as of October 2026

The Makah Tribe requires a Makah Recreation Pass for recreation on the reservation, including hiking, beach visits and bird watching. As of October 2026, the Makah recreation permits page lists the pass at $20 per vehicle, valid for the calendar year. Check that page and the NPS page before you go.

Pass and parking at a glance

Item	What the Makah Tribe says
Recreation Pass	$20 per vehicle, good for the calendar year; one per vehicle, shown in the window
Where to buy	Online (print it), or in Neah Bay at outlets such as the Makah Museum, Makah Marina and Makah Mini Mart
Day parking	At the trailhead
Overnight parking	Private paid lot across from Tsoo-Yess Beach, about a mile back toward Neah Bay
RVs	No RV parking

The Tribe’s page doesn’t list a parking fee. Washington Trails Association’s guide lists $10 per day, cash, for both the trailhead lot and overnight parking, so bring small bills. If you buy the pass online for a rental car, the Tribe asks you to enter “RENTAL” and write the plate number on the permit before you arrive.

Getting to the trailhead

Follow State Route 112 west to Neah Bay, then the Tribe’s turn by turn directions, which end on Fish Hatchery Road past Tsoo-Yess Beach. Save them before you leave, because the WTA notes that phone signal and map apps can be unreliable out here.

The trail and the beach walk

The Tribe describes the trail as well maintained and easy to follow, but warns you to expect mud and slippery bridges and boardwalks. The WTA says the first mile was recently rebuilt, the second is often wet, and the path then drops steeply on an eroded slope to the sand inside the park.

Shi Shi Beach distances, walking south

Point	Distance	Source
National park boundary	1.7 miles from the trailhead	Makah Tribe
Beach	2 miles from the parking area	Makah Tribe
Petroleum Creek	About 1.3 miles along the beach	WTA
Point of the Arches	2.5 miles along the beach	Makah Tribe

Point of the Arches

Point of the Arches (the park and the Tribe call it Point of Arches) is a National Natural Landmark, recognized as an outstanding example of the sea carving a rocky shoreline. At low tide, ridges of rock run out across the sand toward the stacks, and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary names Shi Shi Beach among its best tide pooling spots. Our guide to Olympic National Park tide pools explains how to explore them gently.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service names Shi Shi as a good beach for watching seabirds on the offshore refuge rocks, and our guide to birding in Olympic National Park explains what to look for.

Tides at Shi Shi

The park warns that some coastal routes become impassable at high tide, so know your route and carry a tide table. The Tribe adds that if you continue south past Point of Arches, a tide chart keeps you from being cut off at the headwalls.

Headland routes, safe timing and beach fires are covered in our Leave No Trace guide to Olympic coast beaches, so we won’t repeat them here.

Camping at Shi Shi Beach

Every overnight stay on the wilderness coast needs a park wilderness camping permit, all year, and all food, trash and scented items must go in a bear canister. The park lists the coast from Yellow Banks to Point of the Arches as a quota area. Our guide to Olympic National Park wilderness permits covers booking, fees and canisters.

• Camp above the high tide line; the WTA notes campsites near the beach and in the forest by Petroleum Creek.
• The park warns that in peak season you may not find a place for your tent.
• Treat all water; the park says iodine does not kill cryptosporidium.
• Use the restrooms the Tribe lists at the trailhead and at designated spots along the beach.

The Tribe allows pets on the trail but not past the park boundary at 1.7 miles, and the park does not permit pets on its beaches or coastal trails. Our post on dogs in Olympic National Park lists places that welcome them.

Respecting Makah land

The first part of this hike crosses the Makah Reservation, the home of the Makah people. The Tribe asks visitors to respect Makah culture and keep to designated visitor facilities. It also prohibits beachcombing and gathering drift material on reservation shores by anyone outside Makah families.

The Makah Museum at the Makah Cultural and Research Center in Neah Bay is a good place to learn about the Tribe’s history. Our Ozette Triangle and Cape Alava guide tells part of that story.

How Friends of Olympic National Park helps

We are Friends of Olympic National Park (FONP), a volunteer led friends group in Port Angeles. Each spring our volunteers join beach cleanups in Olympic National Park, removing marine debris from the coast. If you love wild beaches like Shi Shi, see our volunteer opportunities and come help.

Frequently asked questions