Kalaloch Beach and the Tree of Life

Kalaloch Beach extends from the Olympic National Park campground just above the Kalaloch Lodge to Brown's Point, just south of Kalaloch Beach 3.

To get to the beach, we follow a path alongside the 101 highway from the lodge to the campground and then wander through the campground toward the Pacific Ocean.

Path along the highway

Into the campbround

Paths to the beach

Migrating gray whales swim by twice a year

On the beach

We climb back up from the beach and wander through the campground, observing all the fabulous (dead and live) trees and the great views of the beach and ocean.

Around the campground

We walk back down to the beach to view the Tree of Life, with most of its root structure fully visible.  There is no logical explanation why the tree hasn't toppled over during the intense Pacific storms that this coast is known for, with no roots to hold it in place.  Underneath the tree, the Tree Root Cave is an empty space with a roof of roots.

Tree of Life

Tree root cave

Along the beach in front of the Tree of Life, people and dogs walk, run, and play on the sand and in the surf, while other trees on the edge of the cliff are attempting their own Tree-of-Life hanging-on stunts.

Back on the beach

Barely hanging on

This is another great Kalaloch Beach (along with Ruby Beach and Beaches 1, 2, 3, and 4).  They're all fun to explore, with the warning to be aware of the timing of high tide as  the rising water could strand one on a portion of the beach until the tide recedes.

More logs on the beach