Rialto Beach – 54018508812 · Roller Coaster Philosophy · CC BY 2.0 · edited
Rialto Beach is the one stretch of the Washington coast most first time visitors to Olympic are steered towards: sea stacks, driftwood the size of boats, and Hole in the Wall a mile up the sand. Right now you cannot get to it, and that does not change until October 15.
Olympic National Park has closed Mora Road beyond Mora Campground from July 8 to October 15, and the closure is unusually complete: both lanes, to vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians alike.
- Closed: Mora Road beyond Mora Campground, July 8 to October 15, 2026.
- To whom: vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. There is no walk in workaround.
- Why: a permanent fix to riverbank erosion at milepost 1.25 from 2019 flooding.
- Still open: Mora Campground itself, up to the closure point.
A Closure That Does Not Let You Walk In
Most road work in a national park leaves a back door. Cyclists get through, or walkers do, or the gate opens in the evening. This one does not: the park states crews close both lanes beyond Mora Campground to pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic.
That matters because Rialto Beach has no other approach. It sits at the end of Mora Road, and the alternatives on this coast are different beaches rather than different ways to the same one.
The 2019 Flood That Is Finally Being Fixed
Severe winter flooding along the Quillayute River in 2019 eroded the riverbank at milepost 1.25. Temporary riprap went in as an emergency measure and has held the road since.
This summer’s work is the permanent repair rather than another patch, which is the argument for a closure this absolute: the road is being rebuilt where it meets the river, not resurfaced.
Where to Go Until October 15
The coastal strip has substitutes, and they are good ones. Ruby Beach and Kalaloch sit further south on Highway 101 with their own sea stacks and driftwood, and Second Beach and Third Beach are reached on foot from La Push Road, which is unaffected.
Inland, the Hoh Rain Forest and Lake Crescent are both open, and the park lists the Lake Crescent area including Barnes Point, Bovee’s Meadow, Marymere Falls and the Spruce Railroad Trail as open from both trailheads. For a base, our guide to where to stay near Olympic National Park covers the Forks and Port Angeles sides separately.
What Else Is Shut on This Side of the Park
Mora is not the only coastal access under repair. The Elwha and Olympic Hot Springs Road remains closed to vehicles at the Madison Falls parking area after a washout, though it stays open to pedestrians, stock and bicycles, which is exactly the arrangement Mora Road does not have.
Storm King Ranger Station is closed for the season. Mora Campground reservations were required to September 20 and Fairholme Campground to September 29, both through Recreation.gov, so late season camping here has already moved to first come, first served.
Plan the Reopening Week Carefully
October 15 is a Thursday, which puts the first weekend of restored access on Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18. That is peak storm watching season on this coast rather than beach weather.
Check the park’s conditions page in the days before travelling rather than assuming the date holds. Construction end dates on a riverbank repair are the kind that move, and the park updates this page frequently enough to be worth a second look.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wanted Rialto Beach before October 15 | You cannot reach it, on foot or otherwise. Choose Ruby, Kalaloch, Second or Third Beach. |
| Are visiting after October 15 | Check the park conditions page first. A riverbank repair date can slip. |
| Are staying at Mora Campground | The campground is open. Only the road beyond it is closed. |
| Want a coastal walk on foot | Second Beach and Third Beach are reached from La Push Road, which is unaffected. |
| Are camping in late season | Reservation windows have closed at Mora and Fairholme. Sites are first come, first served. |
This is not a driving restriction, it is a closure. Walking and cycling in are ruled out too, which is rare.
October 15 is the whole story. Before it Rialto is unreachable, after it the road is permanently repaired rather than patched.
Substitute the beach, not the route. Rialto has one approach, so the fix is a different beach.
Can I get to Rialto Beach right now?
No. Mora Road is closed beyond Mora Campground to vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians until October 15, 2026.
Why is the road closed?
For a permanent repair to riverbank erosion at milepost 1.25 caused by 2019 flooding on the Quillayute River. Temporary riprap had been holding it.
Can I walk or cycle in instead?
No. Unlike the Elwha closure, this one covers pedestrians and bicycles as well as vehicles.
Is Mora Campground open?
Yes. The closure starts beyond the campground, which remains accessible.
Which beaches can I reach instead?
Ruby Beach and Kalaloch on Highway 101, and Second Beach and Third Beach on foot from La Push Road.
Will the October 15 date hold?
Treat it as the plan rather than a promise, and check the park’s conditions page before you travel.
