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Where are all my Twilight fans at? If youve been following me on Insta for ANY amount of time, then you probably know how much I love Twilightso much so that Ive literally had brand photos taken recently at one of the locations mentioned in the movies! If youre just as obsessed with this series as I am, or even if youre not & you just love moody PNW beaches, then this is the guide for you: how to plan a La Push elopement.
La Push is one of the main settings in New Moon (its Jacobs hometown!), and is home to some of the coolest coastal spots along the west coast. La Push beaches are totally different than the average tropical beach you might think of in Cali or Hawaiithese beaches are moody, dark, foggy, rainy, and sooo magical in their own ways. So this guide is going to tell you everything you need to know to elope in La Push, including the best beach spots, the best time of year to elope, fun activities to do in the area (including some Twilight-related options, of course), and more.
Where is La Push?
Ill start off with a quick overview of where La Push is, in case youre not familiar with the area. La Push is a village thats part of Olympic National Park, located on the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula at the mouth of the Quillayute River. Its home to the Quileute Tribe, and is about 14 miles from Forks (which youll also recognize if youre a Twilight fan). Coming from Seattle, its about a 4.5 hour drive, and from Portland, about 5.5 hours. So its definitely a trek (as is any part of ONP, really), but its sooo worth it if you have the time & capacity to make the trip for your elopement! Its seriously a perfect tranquil, coastal escape from real life thatll help you stay present in your elopement and not worry about whats going on back at home.
Why Elope in La Push?
Let me give yall a few of the main reasons WHY I love La Push, and why it makes for an amazing elopement destination in Washington (+ why its so worth the drive to get there).
The moody atmosphere is to die for
Like I said, La Push beaches arent like the ones youll find in warmer climates! Theyre dark moody, often covered by mist and rain that make the trees look super mystical and intriguing. The driftwood-covered shores are super dramatic and look beautiful in photos, and work with really any type of color palette (from black & white to monochromatic neutrals to vibrant colors!).
Theres so much else to see
One of the best parts about La Push is that theres so many more amazing places nearby to check out in Olympic National Park, including forests, mountain viewpoints, and lakes. You can really get the best of all the PNW worlds!
For an in-depth look at all the best places to elope + explore in Olympic National Park, check out my full Olympic National Park Elopement Guide.
Its a fun area to explore
Not only are the beaches beautiful, the village of La Push itself is also really fun to explore! Its a unique little town with so many amazing cabins, Airbnbs, restaurants, shops, and even museums to check out. You can also find TONS of outdoor activities to add to your adventure elopement experience such as hiking, fishing, camping, and whale-watching.
Its accessible year-round
While there are definitely better times to elope at La Push (which Ill talk about in more detail later), it is accessible all year. So unlike a lot of Washingtons mountain elopement locations which you have a very limited window to visit, you can visit La Push wheneveras long as youre okay with colder weather, obviously!
When to Elope in La Push
One thing I love about La Push (and any of the beaches along the Olympic Peninsula) is that you can really visit at any time of year! Obviously the closer to winter that you go, the colder itll be and the more rain/precipitation youll get on the coastbut at least you have the option, unlike most locations further into the mountains. The only important thing to note that could affect your ability to visit La Push in the fall/winter months is that Highway 101 is prone to closures due to mudslides/debris on the road, so make sure you keep an eye on recent alerts & conditions on the ONP website.
The overall BEST time of year to elope in La Push would have to be in the summer and early fall, from around June to September. This is when youll get the warmest, driest weather, and the best chance at a glowy golden hour on the beach if thats what youre hoping for! Keep in mind that it is the PNW, though, so you never know when youll get rained onand honestly, thats part of the magic of these coastal spots. They look just as spectacular in the pouring rain and dense fog as they do on clear days with blue skies, so dont worry about it too much Just prepare for any + every kind of weather, bring the proper gear/supplies, and youll be good to go.
Best La Push Beaches for Elopements
While pretty much all of La Push is beautiful and you could just explore wherever you feel like going, there are a few spots that have my heart, so here are the 5 best places to elope in La Push!
1. Rialto Beach
At the top of the list is probably my personal favorite, Rialto Beach! This beach has become super popular for elopements and sessions due to its dramatic shorelines, iconic sea stacks, coastal forests, and stunning ocean views. Its about 36 miles from Lake Crescent, to give you a reference, and is located off of La Push Road, accessible by Mora Road. Its the dream beach if you want those quintessential moody PNW vibes with a high chance of rain/fog, chilly weather, and a mystical coastline bordered by a dark, deep forest + covered in driftwood. If youve got the time, you should definitely take the 1.5-mile hike to Split Rock and Hole-in-the-Wall, too!
Karli and Kevin had the DREAMIEST Rialto Beach Elopement In Olympic National Park that you absolutely have to see! She wore a $98 dress, he wore black-tie attire with a rad vest thrown on, and they had the most beautiful monochromatic setup on the moody beach. What more could you ask for??
2. First Beach
Before I get into the details about First Beach, I want to share something I that I thought was super funnythe description of First Beach on Google Maps:
Picturesque seashore destination mentioned in a popular series of novels about vampire teenagers.
I mean, who doesnt want to tie the knot on a picturesque beach mentioned in a popular series about vampire teenagers? I figured yall would love that too hahaha.
Anyway! A little context: the beaches of La Push are numbered from North to South, with First Beach being the closest one to the north parking lot & Third Beach being the furthest to the south. All the beaches are located along the same road and each one has its own parking lot, so its really easy to go from one to the next & hit them all up during your time on the coast. First Beach is home to the Quileute Native American tribe, so its important that youre respectful of + attentive to signage around the area, as well as the beach-specific rules and regulations set by the tribe. Its not actually within the borders of Olympic National Park!
First Beach is also the only other beach besides Rialto that has drive-up access, so its easy to get to without a long walk from the parking lot and is close to town. Youll get beautiful views of sea stacks, rock pools, and driftwood, of course!
3. Second Beach
Second Beach is harder to get to than First Beach, requiring a 2-mile hike each way, but its definitely worth the trek for the dramatic ocean scenery youll get to see at the end! The parking lot at the trailhead only fits about 10 cars, so carpool if you have guestsor be prepared to have to park somewhere else & walk more to get there.
4. Third Beach
The last of these three beaches is obviously Third Beach, which youll take a 1.3-mile trek each way to visit. Once you hike through the forest to get there, youll be greeted by gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean with tons of sea stacks in the distance, as well as plenty of driftwood piles of course!
Looking for more places in the PNW thatll make you feel like youre Bella & Edward in the Twilight movies? You wont wanna miss my guide to 8 Twilight-Inspired Elopement Locations in the PNW!
La Push Elopement Permit Information
Now, lets get into the nitty-gritty of La Push elopement rules and regulations, and more importantly, permits.
If youre eloping at Rialto Beach, Second Beach, or Third Beach, you will need to get a Special Use Permit through Olympic National Park, as these beaches are located within ONP and are part of the Olympic Wilderness Coast. If youre eloping on First Beach, though, you wont need one, as its part of the Quileute Native American Reservation and not within the borders of ONP!
To get a Special Use Permit for beach elopements within the park, heres what youll need to do:
- Download & complete this application form
- Email your completed form to the park and wait for further instructions to pay the $50-$100 non-refundable processing fee
Make sure to apply at least 3-4 weeks in advance of your desired date, or even further out if youre able to!
In addition to getting a Special Use Permit, youll need to pay the regular entrance fee (as will your guests and vendors). Its $30 for private vehicle entry for 7 consecutive days, but you can also get either an annual park pass for $55 or an America the Beautiful pass for $80.
Fun Things to Do in La Push
One of the most important parts of making your elopement feel true to you + totally unforgettable is planning ACTIVITIES! I love it when couples incorporate certain activities into their elopement timeline that they want to do together/with their guests, because it really helps make their experience completely unique and unforgettable. So here are a few of the most fun things to do in La Push that would be great additions to your timeline!
1. Explore the town of Forks
Duh! Forks the main home of the Twilight series, and, fun fact, is the rainiest town in the U.S. So its the perfect place to have the true Twilight experience, especially if you go in the fall But even if you dont care at all about Twilight, Forks is still such a fun little town to explore! Bordered by seashores, alpine meadows, and rainforest valleys, Forks has a ton of incredible opportunities for adventure, dining, lodging, and shopping. Visit the local museums, learn about the tribal areas, hike the Ozette Wilderness, or dine at a local eatery. . . the options are endless. I know a TON of cute spots in Forks that I can take you to for your elopement!
2. Visit the Forever Twilight In Forks Collection
Forks is also home to the worlds largest collection of Twilight props and costumesyes, seriously! Visit the collection and see for yourself: youll find costumes worn by Bella, Edward, and Jacob in the movies, international editions of the Twilight books, fan-made quilts, and a ton of unique Forks-themed pieces. Its completely free and is such a cool experience for Twilight fans!
3. Drive along the Twilight Loop
Want to see more of the spots that are mentioned throughout the Twilight saga? Drive to all the spots on this Twilight Loop map, including Forks High School (where Bella meets Edward for the first time) and the Swan House, the honorary home of Bella & Charlie! Sooo fun and there are tons of photo ops along the way.
4. Take a day trip to Kalaloch + Ruby Beach
Kalaloch and Ruby Beach are must-visits if you have the time for a little day-trip from La Push (or even if youre down to drive a bit for your evening portraits). Ruby Beach is about an hours drive from La Push and is another iconic spot on the peninsula, with tons of tide pools, similarly dramatic sea stacks, surfing opportunities, and amazing views. One of my favorite spots in the area is the Tree of Life, which is this massive sitka spruce tree that has roots draping down into a caveits SO insanely cool.
I took Keziah & Kalebs anniversary photos at Ruby Beach a while back and we had the BEST timeKez and I are both obsessed with Twilight and vintage wolf tees, so obviously it was a match made in heaven! Check out their moody beach session here for all the coastal inspo.
5. Take a day trip to the Hoh Rain Forest
I know Ive said this about pretty much every location on this list, but the Hoh Rain Forest is SERIOUSLY a must-visit. Located along the peninsula, the Hoh Rain Forest is just over an hours drive from La Push and is one of the most magical places youll ever visit. The tranquil, idyllic rainforest atmosphere makes for an incredible place for an intimate elopement ceremony or portraits beneath the trees, and its super easy to walk through (+ the main Hall of Mosses trail is wheelchair-accessible!). Youll feel like you literally stepped into a fairytale once your feet hit the mossy forest floor!
Where to Stay in La Push
Finally, I wanted to give you a few great options of places to stay for your La Push elopement! There are sooo many cute & cozy Airbnbs and beautiful lodges in the area, so Ive got more I can recommend to ya if these dont fit the vibe youre looking for
La Push Airbnbs
La Push Hotels & Lodges
Now that youve got all the knowledge you need to plan your dream La Push elopement, its time to hire a La Push elopement photographer to document your epic day for you. Im all about authenticity, adventure, and intention when it comes to elopementsso if that sounds like your vibe, I’m your gal! Lets get in touch and start planning the elopement of your dreams, whether you want to keep it private with a romantic ceremony in the woods + sunset portraits on Rialto Beach, or you want to create an unforgettable experience for your guests at a cozy Airbnb in La Push. No matter what your unique vision is, I got you and I cant wait to help you execute it! Reach out here and lets freakin do this.
If you loved this La Push elopement guide, Ive got tons more PNW elopement guides on the blog, and Ive linked some of my favorites below!