Shi Shi Beach: Your Guide to Washington’s Must-See Coastal Hike

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. Once you make your way through the forest, deal with the mud and hike down a steep slope, you start to understand why Shi Shi Beach (pronounced shy shy) is one of the most memorable hikes we’ve ever done. It’s tucked into the northwestern coast of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, about an hour south of Cape Flattery. After a fairly short 2-mile hike (4 miles out and back) through the forest and mud, you end up on a long stretch of beach that runs for about two and a half miles along the coast. Panoramas are where Shi Shi Beach really shines How to Get to Shi Shi Beach Getting to Shi Shi Beach takes a bit of effort, but that’s part of what makes it feel so remote. We stayed in Sekiu while exploring this part of Washington, and it took about an hour (roughly 24 miles) to drive to the trailhead. A lot of people stay in Port Angeles since it’s a bigger town with more hotels and Airbnbs, but Sekiu or Neah Bay put you much closer to the Shi Shi Beach trailhead (Sekiu was just rated Airbnb’s #1 ‘America Off-the-Map‘ destination). Just getting started on the trail to Shi Shi Beach No matter where you stay, you’ll be driving through and hiking on the Makah Tribal Reservation. This means you’ll need a Makah Recreation Pass before parking at the trailhead. It’s $20 per vehicle and good for the year, and you can pick one up at places like the Makah Marina, Museum, Mini Mart, Tribal Center or Hobuck Beach Resort. You’ll also need a National Park pass since the beach is part of Olympic National Park. If you want to learn more about the Makah culture, we’d recommend stopping at the Makah Culture and Research Center. We thought their self-guided tour was an incredible introduction to the tribe’s history, culture and way of life. It added so much depth to our time on the reservation. 🐾 Dogs Aren’t Allowed on this Trail. Ours stayed back at the air conditioned Airbnb (check out our Airbnb & Hotel safety tips for leaving pups behind if you’re doing the same). The drive to the trailhead is pretty straightforward once you’ve got your pass and permit. But we were surprised how small the day-use parking lot is (it fits maybe 10 cars, max). There’s no overnight parking allowed here, but there is a separate lot for campers. The lot was full when we got there, so we ended up parking along the side of the road. As we were pulling in, someone else was getting ticketed for parking in a clearly marked no-parking zone. So yeah, definitely double-check the signs before you leave your car! We really lucked out with beautiful weather at Shi Shi. We had cool temperatures and clear blue skies from the moment we stepped out of the car and all the way to the beach and back. Neah Bay Weather Hiking the Shi Shi Beach Trail We bring lightweight hiking poles with us on most hikes, and they really came in handy on this trail. It can be extremely muddy leading up to the beach. There was probably near six inches or more of mud in places. Even in early August, we were leaning on our hiking poles and holding onto trees for support while looking for any solid ground to step on. There’s a clear trail from point A to point B, but it looks like a lot of hikers try to avoid the mud by creating ‘social trails’ (unofficial side paths) that branch off trying to stay on (somewhat) dry land. Some social trails helped us avoid the mud while others just lead to… more mud. Expect a few muddy sections to maneuver through The entire hike is under tree cover until you reach the beach, which is great for shade, but it keeps things damp. I wouldn’t expect it to be dry if you’re visiting in spring or summer. Definitely wear shoes you’re okay getting filthy (and maybe bring a backup pair for the drive back). Shi Shi Beach Hike Distances: Trailhead to Shi Shi Beach: 2.15 miles each way (4.3 miles round trip) Trailhead to Point of the Arches: 4.4 miles each way (8.8 miles round trip) We didn’t have time to hike across the beach to Port of Arches (it’s another 2.25 miles or so and our dogs were waiting for us back at our Airbnb in Sekiu). Even if we were to have hiked to Port of Arches, the return would have been roughly the same (it’s still an out-and-back trail, just further down the beach). This AllTrails map needs analytics cookies to load. These cookies cover both our site and the embedded content. Or View on AllTrails After making it through the muddy trail sections, we made it to a steep (150-foot descent) downhill stretch. This gave us a stunning view of the beach from up high. I took my time walking down the stairs while just admiring the view. We saw old buoys hanging in the trees as we walked along the coast (marking wooded campsites), but you can also camp along the beach. The final stretch to the beach is a 150-foot descent Before we made it to the coast, we came across a lone port-o-potty. I gave it a go and was immediately surprised by the amount of flies that flew out of the open door. I guess hot weather, humidity and no airflow would do that. I joked with Minerva before this trip that I wanted to jump into the water at Cape Flattery, the northwestern-most point in the contiguous U.S. But since you can’t do that there, I figured Shi Shi would be the next best thing. (Though if you’re planning something similar, Hobuck Beach is technically closer to Cape Flattery than Shi Shi is). I took my hiking gear off, put my shoes on the ground and stepped onto the dark colored beach with my bare feet… and immediately regretted it. The sand was so hot it made the cold Pacific water feel inviting! It was a sunny day, and the ocean looked inviting… but looks can be deceiving. Even though the water looked inviting (and cooled off my feet, it was deceiving. The water was freezing and the waves were intense. I took a few steps into the ocean and was already being shoved around by the current. Standing on the beach one second Then almost toppled over by the current We originally planned to hike farther south along the beach to Point of Arches, which is known for its sea stacks and arches (about 2 miles past where we stopped), but since dogs weren’t allowed and we had an hour drive back to Sekiu, we decided to turn around. Instead, we wandered north along the beach and came across some incredible tide pools filled with sea life like anemones, starfish, sea urchins and some kind of clam or shellfish. If you want to check out these rocky areas, you might want to check the tide chart ahead of time since high tides can quickly submerge parts of the beach and tide pools (making it difficult to get back). The beach itself was absolutely stunning. It reminded me a lot of Ruby Beach with its sea stacks, driftwood and rugged coastline. Just with fewer people around. Best Time to Visit Shi Shi Beach Shi Shi Beach is open year-round, but summer is when it’s busiest. While we didn’t see any, some hikers set up tents along the beach and camp there. Fall can be a great time to go if you want a quieter visit. The weather’s still fairly mild and the crowds are smaller. Though, it can still be pretty wet and muddy any time of year. What to Pack & Know Before You Go This hike is beautiful, but it’s also more remote. We didn’t have good cell service on the beach, there are no water refill stations and there is good amount of mud. Welcome sign at the Makah Tribe’s Shi Shi Beach Trail Here’s what we’d recommend: Water & snacks: Especially if you plan to hang out on the beach or hike farther to Point of Arches. Good shoes: Ones you don’t mind getting covered in mud. Hiking poles: It’s easier to make it through mud puddles when you have support. Tide chart: Important if you’re exploring near the rocks or tide pools. Sun protection: You’ll have shade in the forest, but you’ll be exposed on the beach. Leave a trip plan: Since cell service is spotty, let someone know where you’re going and when you’re expecting to be back. Is Shi Shi Beach Worth the Hike? Absolutely! Over the years, this is still one of my favorite hikes. The muddy trail and the more remote trailhead make Shi Shi Beach feel just a bit harder to get to, which is why the experience has stuck with me. If you’re up for the mud and the miles, it’s absolutely worth the trip. Point of Arches from a distance