Name: moderngypsy/Eliza B
Box Name: Hole In The Wall
Nearest Town: La Push
County: Gray's Harbor
location: hole-in-the-wall, Rialto Beach, WA
hike: moderate (1.5 mi if low tide, 2.0 and more difficult if high tide)
clues: realatively easy.

From Hwy 101, north or south,take the 110 west. (Also called La Push
Road) Drive 7.6 miles to Mora Road. Turn right and continue to the
Rialto Beach Parking Area, 4.8 miles.

Park in the Day Use parking area. To the North, find the rest rooms and
the information kiosk. Follow the one trail (marked with a sign to the
picnic area) and continue on the walkway as it makes a 90-degree turn.
Stop at the sign about the wildlife (we saw commorants, otters, and
maybe a sea lion...), and look to your left. See the circular sign
nailed to the tree? It's black, red, and white -- memorize it.

Go out onto the beach and take a right. Walk for 1.5 miles, across
Elinor Creek and past several huge stone monoliths, until you reach Hole
In The Wall. (You'll know it because there is, literally, a huge hole
you can walk through.)

Now, if it's low tide, this is easy: Climbing on the rocks, go through
the hole to the beach beyond. It's a popular camping site, you'll
probably have company. Walk on down the beach, away from the hole
until, to your right, you see the sign I had you memorize back at the
trailhead. Go over toward it. You'll see four huge stairs. Climb to
the top of them, but don't take the extra two steps to the trail. On
your right is a log parallel to the stairs. Under this log, at the side
closest to the sign, is the box, hidden under some bark and sticks.

If it's high tide, you've got your work cut out for you. Facing the
cliff, look to your right and the forest. There's that sign I had you
memorize. It marks the overland trail, which, in this case, leads you
STRAIGHT UP THE CLIFF and over to the other side. Steel your resolve
and head on over. Once you get there, there will be another one of
those round signs next to some rough stairs that can take you down to
the beach again. At the top of these stairs, to your left if you're
facing the beach, is a log that's parallel to the stairs. At the side
closest to the path you just came from and nearest to the second round
sign, is the box, hidden under some bark and sticks.

This is a well-used area. Please use extreme caution when removing or
replacing the box, making sure it's well hidden. And watch the surf
around dusk -- the sea otters come in and bob along the waves on their
backs, cracking up dinner on their bellies. It's an amazing sight.


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