Port Angeles Forum: Overnight camping

Rialto Beach outside of Forks is a lot easier to get to then Shi Shi and is another great place for photography. I have camped at both beaches in August and most the time have had great weather. I have also been to both beaches in Summer when it has been socked in just on the beach. I have camped at Rialto every year for 30 plus years and safety has never been an issue if you use common sense. As far as altitude goes that depends on how much hiking you want to do. The Hurricane Ridge area provides plenty of views and is accessible by car.

I do not recommend camping at Shi Shi Beach. You will have to lug your gear for an hour to reach the beach. It is also very remote and isolated. I have not heard of any safety problems beyond car breakins, but why do you feel the need to do this when Rialto Beach is so easy to reach? Second Beach is actually even better because it is rarely socked in by morning fog, a common occurrence at Rialto in the summer.

For alpine photography without a multi-day hike, you have three choices: the trails around Hurricane Ridge, the trails around the top of Deer Park Road, and the Potholes above Deer Lake in the Sol Duc Valley. Your best bet is the Lillian Ridge Trail at the end of Obstruction Point Road, which starts just below Hurricane Ridge. If Obstruction Point Road is open, take it to the end. You will find swoon inducing views everywhere you look. The easy Hurricane Hill Trail also offers stupendous views. Deer Park Road is not quite the equal of Obstruction Point Rd., but it takes you into the heart of the mountains, too. Finally, to reach the Potholes you have to climb 2300 ft. Once you get up there, you are in one of the most beautiful alpine meadows imaginable. Just point that camera and shoot. Check www.kaleberg.com for details and pictures.

Great information! I will look into all the place you have mentioned. Perhaps I am confused but I though Shi Shi beach was also called second beach? I was at second beach and it was a 30 min hike from the road. I did stop at Rialto as well but had bad weather when I was there.

My reason for camping out is so that I don't have to go through the trails late at night and early morning while it is still dark out. As a photographer I need to use the first light and also a few hours after twilight. Do you believe it is a good idea to do the hikes at that time and stay in a cabin or is it better to just camp out?

Again, thank you all for the response.

Walking on trails at night is never a particularly good idea. Obviously you will get to where you want to shoot faster if you camp out. I have found with years of camping on the beach that generally when it socks in on the beach most of the beaches are socked in. Usually it will burn off. Your talking the Ocean and cool and warm air so anything is possible, although better chance of clear skies in August. Rialto does have the lights of LaPush in the distance if that is a cosideration. Also remember if you do walk the beach at hightide it is not easy going especially in the dark. I do not recommend hiking in the dark on mountain trails. Hurricane Ridge is your best option for safety. If you are going to rent a place you better decide soon. You need to decide an area. Again for alpine you are talking Port Angeles unless you want to do a lot of walking, and Forks if you want the beaches.

No, Shi Shi is NOT the same as Second Beach. Thank Goodness, you asked. Shi Shi is all the way out at Neah Bay off the Makah reservation. It is a beautiful beach, but to reach it you have to drive all the way to Neah Bay, pay the Makah for a permit, and hike 1 hour over mud and boardwalks. Second Beach is at LaPush, just across the road from the Quilleute reservation. You only have to hike 20 minutes to reach the beach. Glaciermeadows has said it all. Don't hike at night, and watch those tides. There are places to stay in LaPush. Try Oceanside Resort or Quillayute River Resort. (I know that I spelled "Quillayute" two different ways. They are both used out here, and the Resort uses "Quillayute".)

I stayed at the Oceanside resort. I remember going to Second beach. It had amazing tide pools. Second beach it is! I stayed at Neah Bay last time there as well but La Push seems to have more to offer for photography.