Kalaloch beach – or whatever is the official name for the long stretch of sand right next to the Kalaloch Lodge – does not have any striking rock formations that can be found on other beaches along Olympic’s southwest coast (such as my favorite Ruby), but it’s worth visiting for sweeping ocean vistas and a tree that grows virtually out of thin air.

It’s a different kind of beauty: flat and vast, nothing but ocean and sky meeting each other above the stretching line of sand. Although I can appreciate it, I get bored fairly quickly. Luckily for me, there’s a point of interest on this beach, known as the Tree of Life.  Erosion washed away the soil under its roots, forming a cave, with the tree hanging over it, somehow still alive. I’ve known about this tree for some time, and even tried to find it once, but walked in the opposite direction due to lack of signs on the beach 🙂 The second time I did my homework and walked in the right direction: north. It’s a 10 minute walk to the tree from Kalaloch lodge.

I visited Kalaloch beach and the Tree of Life in August 2020 as part of my Olympic loop drive.