Rialto Beach and Hole-in-the-Wall: A Visitor Guide

Rialto Beach sits on the north side of the Quillayute River mouth, at the end of Mora Road west of Forks. It is a wild, rocky shore of giant drift logs, pounding surf and sea stacks, and the starting point for the beach walk to Hole-in-the-Wall. Here is how to get there, when to go and how to stay safe once you are on the sand.

Getting to Rialto Beach

From US 101 just north of Forks, head west on La Push Road (State Route 110), then turn right onto Mora Road and follow it past Mora Campground to the parking area at the road’s end. The park puts Forks less than 30 minutes away and Port Angeles about 75 miles away. Ruby Beach, Kalaloch and the Hoh Rain Forest are all within about an hour’s drive.

At the trailhead you will find a paved picnic area and accessible restrooms. A 200 foot path leads to an ocean view, with a temporary accessible ramp in summer. Hikers’ trip reports describe the lot filling by midday on summer weekends, so an early start helps.

Mora Road closure, as of October 2026

As of October 2026, the park’s current road and area conditions page lists Mora Road closed to all traffic beyond Mora Campground from July 8 to October 15, 2026, so Rialto Beach cannot be reached by road during the work. The repairs fix damage from 2019 flooding. Mora Campground stayed open, and the park suggested Ruby Beach as an alternative. Check that page before you go.

The walk to Hole-in-the-Wall

Hole-in-the-Wall is a sea carved arch about 1.5 miles north of the parking area, inside the Olympic wilderness. The park allows about an hour each way. The route is flat, but loose cobbles and sand make it tiring.

Rialto Beach landmarks, walking north

Landmark	Distance from parking	What to know
Ocean view path	200 feet	Summer ramp; restrooms and picnic area nearby
Ellen Creek	About 0.8 mile	Creek crossing; dogs turn back here
Beach campsites	Ellen Creek to Hole-in-the-Wall	Wilderness permit and bear canister required
Hole-in-the-Wall	About 1.5 miles	Arch and tidepools; reach it on a low tide

Ellen Creek is the first real obstacle. The park lists it as a river crossing, so be ready to get your feet wet. Near the arch, the park says a pit toilet may be available just south of Hole-in-the-Wall, close to Split Rock.

At the arch

At low tide you can walk through the arch to the rocks beyond. Waves batter it constantly, so the park asks you not to cross once the tide begins to cover its floor. Falling rock is a real hazard here: don’t linger right next to or under the arch, and if you hear rock falling, cover your head and move away.

For the pools around the arch, our guide to Olympic National Park tide pools covers what lives there and how to explore gently.

Timing the tide

The tide decides your day here. Hole-in-the-Wall is easiest to pass on a low tide, and the park advises arriving at the arch at least 30 minutes before the lowest point, which means leaving the parking area about 90 minutes before it.

For Rialto Beach tide times, use the predictions for NOAA’s nearby La Push, Quillayute River tide station. Strong winds and storms can push water higher than predicted.

Staying safe around headlands and drift logs

The park warns that beyond the arch some headlands cannot be rounded even at the lowest tides, so hikers going farther need a tide chart, a topographic map and the willingness to climb steep overland trails. Our Leave No Trace guide to Olympic coast beaches explains headland routes, fires and camping rules in detail.

The park says powerful waves can roll and tumble the giant drift logs, and asks visitors not to play on beach logs, especially at high tide. The National Weather Service adds that a wet log can weigh hundreds of pounds and that people have been crushed beneath them.

• Stay off logs in or near the surf line.
• Watch the ocean for a while before walking out, and never turn your back on it.
• Keep children close and well back from the water.

Rialto Beach camping and dogs

Rialto Beach camping comes in two kinds. On the beach, camping is not allowed between the Quillayute River and Ellen Creek, but there are numerous campsites between Ellen Creek and Hole-in-the-Wall. You need a wilderness camping permit, a park approved bear canister for food and scented items, and a site above the high tide line; our guide to Olympic National Park wilderness permits walks through booking.

Mora Campground has 94 sites about three miles inland, with water, accessible restrooms and food storage lockers. In 2026 the park listed reservations as required from May 15 to September 20, with first come, first served sites outside that window and some loops closed in winter. Compare it with other options in our Olympic National Park campgrounds guide.

Leashed dogs are welcome on Rialto Beach from the trailhead to Ellen Creek during daylight hours, but not beyond it and not in beach camps. Our guide to dogs in Olympic National Park lists the other places pets can go.

Nearby: James Island, La Push and Ruby Beach

Looking south from the beach, you’ll see James Island standing off the mouth of the Quillayute River at La Push. The park lists April through October as the best season for this stretch of coast.

If Mora Road is closed or the tide is wrong, drive about an hour south to Ruby Beach, where a short trail drops to sea stacks and the mouth of Cedar Creek.

How Friends of Olympic National Park helps

We are Friends of Olympic National Park (FONP), a volunteer led friends group based in Port Angeles. Each spring our volunteers join beach cleanups in Olympic National Park, removing the marine debris that washes onto beaches like this one. Browse our volunteer opportunities to lend a hand.

Frequently asked questions