Ruby Beach and Tree of Life
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We started the day at Ruby Beach under clear skies. In the parking lot, a bright yellow Wilson’s warbler flitted around the bushes. Down on the beach, a bald eagle was perched on one of the tall sea stacks. A little further along, we checked out the tidepools and saw the usual: anemones, hermit crabs, mussels, and barnacles. But by the time we started heading back to the car, fog began rolling in, shifting the whole vibe to eerie and dramatic.
Wilson Warbler at Ruby Beach
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Next up: Beach 1, which had the best tidepooling we’ve done so far. We scrambled around the rocks, peeking into hidden pockets packed with sea life. Every crevice had something going on.
After that, we stopped to see the Tree of Life, located right by the Kalaloch Campground. It’s a big Sitka spruce with its roots totally exposed, stretched between two bluffs. No soil left underneath it. It looks like gravity should have taken it down, but somehow it’s still standing—a living metaphor.
We wrapped up the day with lunch at Kalaloch Lodge, then walked down to the beach below. That’s where we found seagulls and pelicans splashing in a freshwater pool formed by a river flowing across the sand. They were flapping, dunking, and seemingly enjoying bath time.
Another fabulous day exploring the wild coastline of Olympic National Park—full of beauty, sea life, and salty air.
After that, we stopped to see the Tree of Life, located right by the Kalaloch Campground. It’s a big Sitka spruce with its roots totally exposed, stretched between two bluffs. No soil left underneath it. It looks like gravity should have taken it down, but somehow it’s still standing—a living metaphor.
We wrapped up the day with lunch at Kalaloch Lodge, then walked down to the beach below. That’s where we found seagulls and pelicans splashing in a freshwater pool formed by a river flowing across the sand. They were flapping, dunking, and seemingly enjoying bath time.
Another fabulous day exploring the wild coastline of Olympic National Park—full of beauty, sea life, and salty air.