Our 4-Day Dog-Friendly Olympic Peninsula Itinerary (Based in Forks)

Planning a dog-friendly Olympic National Park itinerary? This 4-day Olympic Peninsula itinerary is based in Forks, Washington beaches and includes some of the area’s best beaches, rainforest hikes and scenic coastal stops that you can enjoy with your dog.

We’re not the type of travelers who like to plan every minute of a trip. When we visited the Olympic Peninsula last summer, we had a few places that we really wanted to see such as Ruby Beach, Rialto, La Push and the Hall of Mosses.

This is the way we spent our four days exploring near Forks while staying at Mossquatch Resort. We got to explore the coastal beaches with our dogs, hike through the moody rainforests and got to check out all the moss that makes Olympic National Park so unique.

If you’re looking for a dog-friendly itinerary that mixes some of the most famous places in Olympic with a couple quiet stops, this is the exact trip we took.

Day 1: Arrive in Forks, Visit Twilight Landmarks & Walk First Beach

On the first day, we got settled into Mossquatch, explored downtown Forks and the Twilight locations and then ended the day running leash-free with the pups on First Beach in La Push.

When we visited late in July, the weather was mostly overcast and drizzling. You can check out the weeks forecast below:

Forks Weather

Stay: Mossquatch Resort

We arrived at Mossquatch Resort late the night before after a long drive, and waking up in the forest here was the best welcome to the Olympic Peninsula. Mossquatch is tucked half-way between Forks and La Push, so you’re close to both the coast and town.

Mossquatch is a quirky glamping location which leans into the moss that Olympic is famous for. We saw plenty of Bigfoot signs, moss gnomes and even “Mossquatch” mascots (think sasquatch but covered in moss) hidden throughout the woods.

We stayed in one of their canvas tents (they do have cabins available, too), which gave us a real bed, gas powered heater for the cool nights and a covered, but separate kitchen setup for grilling. The pups loved exploring around our site (with us keeping an eye out for banana slugs), and we loved the quiet evenings under the trees.

Mossquatch was a perfect fit for us since we wanted something wooded, dog-friendly and unique. But there are also plenty of places you can book in Forks if you don’t want to glamp and instead are looking for a hotel stay. For those who want to stay even closer to the coast, Kalaloch Lodge is an excellent option.

Morning in Forks: Twilight & Exploring the Small-Town

After coffee at our campsite, we drove into Forks to explore the small town. This little logging town leans hard into its Twilight fame, and it was a lot of fun to hunt for all the landmarks.

We stopped at the Forks Chamber of Commerce first which is where we found Bella’s two trucks (one based on the movie, the other the novel), cardboard cutouts of Bella, Jacob and Edward and maps marking all the Twilight stops around town.

From there, we set out to find the Cullen House (Miller Tree Inn), Bella’s House and Dr. Cullen’s parking spot at the hospital.

The Cullen House (Miller Tree Inn) can even be booked if you’re looking for a Twilight themed stay!

Even if you’re not a huge fan, I still think it’s worth driving around Forks. The town really does feel like the moody backdrop of the movies. Forks has one grocery store (Forks Thrifty Mart), a few shops and a handful of places to eat.

We picked up coffee at A Shot in the Dark, checked out souvenirs at Forks Outfitters (connected to Forks Thrifty Mart) and ordered pizza at Pacific Pizza, which has outdoor seating that’s dog-friendly.

As we left Forks, we saw some thimbleberries (which are safe to eat raw) growing along the side of the road and decided to pull over and try a couple. All the while joking about Edward hiding somewhere in the trees.

Evening: First Beach at La Push

We relaxed back at Mossquatch for a bit before we headed west toward La Push in the afternoon. First Beach, which is just 20 minutes from our yurt, ended up being the the most dog-friendly stop on our trip.

Unlike most beaches inside Olympic National Park, this one (on Quileute Nation land) allows dogs entirely off-leash.

We picked up a $10 parking pass at the Quileute Oceanside Resort and walked right onto the sand and unleashed our pups. Toby and Lily were so excited and kept sprinted across the driftwood covered shoreline. Neither of them were too fond of the cold Pacific Ocean waves, though.

After an hour of running around, climbing logs and burning off energy, our dogs were happily worn out. We grabbed dinner at River’s Edge Restaurant just down the road and drove back to Mossquatch.

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For us, day one gave us a mix of pop-culture, small-town exploration and our first experience of the Olympic coast, all with the pups by your side.

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Day 2: Ruby Beach, Kalaloch’s Tree of Life & Big Cedar Loop

On day two, we wanted to explore more of Olympic’s southern coastline. We decided to prioritize Ruby Beach and two smaller, but equally awesome stops nearby.

Midday: The Tree of Life at Kalaloch Beach

Just 15 minutes south of Ruby Beach lies one of Olympic’s most unique wonders, the Tree of Life (also called the Tree Root Cave).

It sounds dramatic, but this Sitka spruce somehow clings to life even though its roots hang exposed in midair, stretched across a gap carved by a small creek. It looks kind of like it’s defying gravity, even as storms pound the coastline year after year.

The walk from the Kalaloch Campground parking lot is only a few hundred feet, but the stairs down to the beach were a little slippery from the drizzle when we visited.

We read that this can be a popular tourist attraction, so I’d expect a small crowd. There were only a couple people when we visited, everyone waiting their turn for photos by the tree’s twisted roots.

We were lucky that other visitors offered to take photos of us with Toby and Lily (though the dogs looked less than thrilled in their makeshift “grocery bag ponchos”).

Pro tip: I think some of the best shots of the Tree of Life are taken from a distance. That way, you capture the full tree framed by the beach and cliffs.

Quick Stop: Big Cedar Kalaloch

After visiting the Tree of Life, we got back on the road to drive drove north. But we were intrigued with a sign that said “Big Cedar”.

Before heading back north, we stopped off at Big Cedar. It’s only 8 minutes from the Tree of Life and is a short 0.3-mile trail loop that takes you past some massive western red cedars. Some of which are nearly 1,000 years old.

As soon as we parked and opened the car doors, we were hit with an incredible cedar scent.

The trail is easy and dog-friendly (we learned after the fact that leashed pups are allowed, though we took turns exploring just in case). The largest cedar, once over 175 feet tall, is fenced off now, but the surrounding giants are just as stunning.

Afternoon: Drive to Ruby Beach

From Forks, Ruby Beach is just a 30-minute drive south on US-101. The turnoff is well marked, but cell service was pretty spotty (you might want to download directions ahead of time). There’s a small parking lot and an overflow area down the road, with bathrooms and dog waste stations before you head down the quarter-mile trail.

You can see a beautiful view of the beach even before you make it there. It’s beautiful seeing the sea stacks rising out of the mist, all of the driftwood piled high and dark sand dotted with red-hued minerals that give Ruby Beach its name.

Exploring Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is another dog-friendly beach (leashed dogs are allowed). I think even Toby and Lily were amazed with this place because they completely forgot about the drizzle and instead kept pulling us along the beach to explore.

There are two ways to access the sand:

• Scramble over the driftwood
• Or take the easier carved-out path around it (better for leashed dogs).

The beach itself is a mile long with some impressively huge sea stacks in the distance. We read that, when the tide is low, you can find starfish, anemones and urchins in the tide pools. Unfortunately, we got there as the tide was rolling in, so we didn’t see any sea life.

If you want tide-pooling, you’ll want to get there about an hour before low tide.

Even without tide pools, Ruby Beach is incredible. We ducked into driftwood shelters, watched waves crash around the rocks and felt small walking alongside the sea stacks. The dogs tolerated the rain (with some dramatic side-eyes from Toby) but loved running across the open sand.

Evening: Back to Forks or La Push

After a day of exploring the coast, we headed back to Forks (45 minutes from Kalaloch). But you can just as easily stop for a sunset walk at First Beach in La Push on your way.

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Our day two had us exploring the resilient Tree of Life, the incredible smells of Big Cedar and the ruggedness of Ruby Beach. All three are fit well into one coastal loop, making it a must-do day from Forks.

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Day 3: Mossquatch Trails & Rialto Beach Adventure

By day three, we were ready for something low-key in the morning before heading back out to the coast. With trails right outside our tent and one of Olympic’s most rugged beaches just 20 minutes away, we turned this day into a forest walk and a coastline adventure.

Morning: Hiking Around Mossquatch Resort

One of the underrated perks of staying at Mossquatch Resort is that you don’t have to get in the car to go exploring. A network of trails winds through the moss covered forest just behind camp, and they’re dog-friendly which was perfect for a slow start to our day.

We made coffee at the yurt, then let Toby and Lily lead the way along the trails. The ground was soft and spongy from the constant drizzle, but I think the pups had become more used to it by now.

If you’re staying here, definitely take advantage of these trails. They’re especially nice in the morning when the fog is still hanging low over the trees.

Afternoon/Evening: Rialto Beach

In the afternoon, we drove out to Rialto Beach, one of Olympic’s most dog-friendly stretches of coast. Rialti is just 20 minutes from Forks, following WA-110 to Mora Road until the road ends at the parking lot. There are bathrooms, trash bins and a short path straight onto the beach.

Rialto feels like the wilder cousin of Ruby or First Beach. Instead of soft sand, the shoreline is layered with smooth gray stones and bleached driftwood.

We didn’t push all the way to Hole-in-the-Wall (a 3.3-mile round-trip walk best done at low tide), but even sticking close to the parking lot was worth it.

We even spotted a seal bobbing its head up and down in the surf!

Rialto with Dogs

Unlike First Beach where pups can run free off leash, Rialto requires leashes, which meant Toby and Lily stayed by our sides. They still sniffed their way across the stones and driftwood, though by this point in the trip they were both a little over the constant drizzle.

If you go, bring:

• Ponchos or rain jackets: it’s almost always misty.
• Binoculars: wildlife spotting is half the fun.
• Tide chart: if you want to reach Hole-in-the-Wall safely.

Evening Return

After a couple of damp hours at the coast, we headed back to Mossquatch. The best part was ending the night in their sauna and warming up after a gray but beautiful day on the water.

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Our day three had a relaxing start in the morning with a quiet forest walk, followed by a moody evening at Rialto Beach. This gave us a less driving-heavy day while still exploring the coast.

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Day 4: Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rainforest

After three days of misty beaches and cozy forest hikes, our last morning near Forks was reserved for one of Olympic’s icons, the Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest.

The Drive into the Hoh Rainforest

From Mossquatch Resort, it’s about an hour-long drive (40 miles) to the Hoh entrance. The road winds along the Hoh River, with plenty of pull-offs if you want to stop and take enjoy the view like we did.

We reached the entrance by 9am, and while the main lot was already filling, we were able to grab a spot along the roadside without waiting in line.

Hiking the Hall of Mosses

The Hall of Mosses isn’t a “hike” so much as a 1-mile loop walk through a breathtaking moss-covered forest. Towering Sitka spruce and bigleaf maples are completely covered in moss, ferns blanket the ground, trees are bent into the shape of arches and hollow trunks are big enough to walk through.

The rainforest is surprisingly quiet, too. One of the highlights from our visit was spotting a banana slug the size of my hand across the trail. In late summer or fall, you might also catch salmon running in Taft Creek.

Tips for Visiting

• Arrive early: Parking fills by mid-morning, especially in summer.
• No dogs allowed: Unlike the beaches, the Hoh trails are not dog-friendly, so Toby and Lily stayed cool in the car.
• Accessibility: The nearby visitor center has wheelchair rentals, making this one of the more inclusive trails in the park.
• Bring your camera: A wide-angle lens is perfect for capturing the scale of the moss-draped giants.

Explore Beyond the Hall

If you have extra time, the Spruce Nature Trail (1.2 miles) and Hoh River Trail are right next door.

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Our 4-Day Itinerary at a Glance

Day	What to Do
1	Stay: Mossquatch Resort, Forks or Kalaloch Lodge Morning: Explore Forks (Twilight locations) Evening: First Beach at La Push
2	Midday: Tree of Life and Big Cedar Afternoon: Ruby Beach Evening: Return to Forks or La Push
3	Morning: Hike around Mossquatch Resort Afternoon / Evening: Rialto Beach
4	Morning: Hall of Mosses walk through the Hoh Rainforest

From here, we packed up camp and drove north toward Sekiu and Neah Bay, where we were ready to explore the far edge of the Olympic Peninsula and learn more about the Makah Tribe.