The Tree of Life Washington: Olympic National Park
Chantelle KincyHave you heard about the “Tree of Life” in Washington State? It may also be called the Tree of Life, Kalaloch, or the Tree of Olympic National Park.
The Tree of Life is easy to get to, and one of the most unique natural features I’ve seen. Visiting this famous tree should be on every Pacific Northwest visitor’s Bucket list! It is a definite must-stop destination on your Olympic National Park Itinerary.
You can read the full post for more information on the Tree of Life, or see the most-asked questions right here:
Tree of Life Frequently Asked Questions
Update: January 2025-
Sadly, the tree is not looking good lately. The last set of storms here in the PNW really took a toll on the tree’s already weak support system. As of now (January), it’s still standing, but I fear it won’t be for long. Everyone around here is rooting for It though, and I think even Mother Nature is pulling for its survival. In the last king tide, waves pushed driftwood onto the beach and lodged it RIGHT UNDER THE TREE, almost as if offering a little support to keep it standing longer.
Did the Kalaloch Tree of Life collapse?
NO! Somehow, someway, the Tree of Life in Washington still stands!
Where is the location of the Tree of Life?
The Tree of Life is in Kalaloch, Washington, near Ruby Beach and Forks, Washington.
Do I have to hike to get to the Tree of Life?
No! An easy walk down some stairs and to the beach.
What kind of tree is the Tree of Life?
The Tree of Life is a Sitka Spruce Tree.
Why is it called the Tree of Life?
Nobody knows. The tree doesn’t have an “official name”. The Tree of Life is also known as the Root Cave Tree, Tree Root Cave, the Kalaloch Tree of Life, Tree of Life Washington, or (incorrectly, the Ruby Beach Tree).
What is the Tree of Life in Washington?
The Tree of Life in Washington State is a large Sitka Spruce. It doesn’t officially have a name and is also called the Kalaloch tree, the runaway tree, or the magical tree. The Tree of life is located on the bluff on the edge of Kalaloch beach.
Over time, water has run through under the roots on the same path year after year, eroding the ground beneath the root system. What’s left is a living, thriving tree that appears floating and growing out of nothing but air.
The Tree of life has a green top and appears to thrive despite its lack of support.
The roots are large enough and exposed enough to create a root cave under the tree and the bluff that is big enough to stand under!
Please don’t stand under the Kalaloch Tree of Life. It could be dangerous, and we must protect this wonderful Tree from further damage.
I haven’t found out how old this tree is or how long it’s been “this way”. I can’t say why it is alive or standing. Some people think it’s a magical tree. I think it’s fun to imagine it has some miraculous properties that keep it alive.
How to get to the Tree of Life in Washington
You will want to drive to the Kalaloch Campground Parking lot to visit the tree of life. Parking is free.
From the parking lot, look towards the beach, and you will see an opening for a trail. It is paved and lined on either side by bushes. From there, it is just a short walk down to the beach. Once you are at the beach, head to the right; the tree is a short distance away.
After you visit the Tree of Life, the beach here is a great place to spend the day. Bring a picnic and enjoy the sand and the water.
When is the best time to visit the Tree of Life?
You can visit the Tree of Life at any time of year. However, the best weather on the Washington Coast is from July to October. Even during those months, the weather can be wet and unpredictable, so always come prepared for rain.
The hike to the Tree of Life isn’t very long, so even if the weather is wet, it’s worth a trip down to the beach to see it!
Tree of Life in Olympic National Park
The Tree of Life in Washington State is located in Olympic National Park. I could talk forever about how AMAZING this park is. Olympic National Park encompasses almost one million acres. ONE MILLION.
My favorite thing about this park is how diverse it is. It has it all. Glaciers? Yep. Mountains? Totally. Gorgeous lakes and rivers? Of course. Rainforest? You bet! Beaches and breathtaking coastline? YES!! Floating, crazy, odds-defying tree? OH YEAH!!
Olympic National Park is best visited by car. There are so many different areas and environments to explore you will want to have a way to get around. This is not the park to rely on tours or shuttles.
Olympic National Park has been designated as both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.
The most popular time to visit is June-September. You can camp, or stay at nearby lodges. Be sure and make easy reservations if you want to stay at a lodge.
Check permits and reservations for camping well in advance. You should always check the NPS Olympic National Park Website for closures and restrictions.
Kalaloch Beach
Named by the Quinault Indian Nation, Kalaloch means ” Good place to land”. Kalaloch is one of the beaches in the Olympic National Park. It is easy to access and located right off Hwy 101. There are 8 beaches in this area, but to get to the Tree of Life, you will want to enter the beach near the Kalaloch Campground.
The beach is wide and sandy, with rugged cliffs on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. It’s a great place to walk the beach.
You’ll find crabs and birds, and sometimes you can see gray whales out in the distance if it is during their migration (April). The beach can get busy, but it’s pretty big, so usually you can get a little spot to yourself.
Kalaloch is located on the Olympic Peninsula. It is 45 minutes from Forks, 1 hour and 2 minutes from Lake Crescent, an hour from Hoh Rain Forest, and just over 2 hours from Hurricane Ridge. These are all popular locations within Olympic National Park.
If you decide to stay In Kalaloch for your visit, these are my favorite lodging options. You’ll need to plan and reserve early.
- Kalaloch Campground
- Kalaloch Lodge– These super cool little cabins sit above the beach. THE BEST SUNSETS can be seen here.
I’m always afraid that the tree will collapse the next time I visit, but so far, it has withstood the test of time, erosion, storms, and tourists and is “hanging in there.”
As of January 2025, the Tree of Life has not collapsed. I hope you have a chance to visit this natural wonder. Please respect it when you are there to help preserve it as long as possible.
If you are visiting Washington, be sure to go to Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park!
Thank you! It’s so interesting to me too!
It’s super fun!
It’s such a unique park! I hope you can visit it soon.
Very cool! I had never heard of that tree at Olympic. The whole place looks amazing!
So many cool pictures and information, thank you for sharing. I’ve always wanted to visit this park since I was younger and never have had the chance. Seems like these days we have a lot more free time, so it might be time to check this one off the list.
Wow, this looks like an amazing sight! What a beautiful and cool tree! Your description really makes me want to fly out there to see this area!
That tree of life is so cool! I would love to see that.
Your pictures of the living tree are fantastic! It is intriguing, how water carved out the cave under the roots Thanks for sharing. If i am ever in Washington State, I would enjoy seeing the tree, and visiting Olympic National Park
Me too!
What a beautiful, ancient tree. I hope it continues to survive for many years!
I am completely mesmerized by trees and this one is so special! I must see it in person. It’s so inspirational. And did you say the park is 1 million acres?!?! Wow…definitely need to plan a trip out that way.
This is so cool! SO amazing to see! Nature never fails to inspire!
What a really cool hidden gem. I love hearing about things like this and then going to visit them.
I’m happy to be able to show you something new!
Great photos! This tree seems like the ideal place to take pictures and I love the caves!
Wow, what a cool tree to see. I’ve actually never heard of this, so thanks for sharing.
What a fascinating tree!! I definitely want to explore Olympic National Park, so we will add this as a feature to see!
Definitely fun! The water is COLD though! 😂
You’ll love it!
That’s awesome!
I have a tree of life hanging in my hallway. I would love to go see this tree!
Quite the unique spot!
Wow, what a cool place to visit. The tree is fascinating. It sounds like it has so much to offer. I will be adding to my list.
It’s always fun to find such a unique destination! The tree looks fun to explore,and the beach looks fun to play in!
What a cool tree! That is amazing that it is just floating there.
It’s such an amazing park. You will love it!
Such a neat spot. I like learning about trees and know I know a little more about the Sitka tree.
I’d love to sit under its roots in the cave. What an old spirit. The tenacity of nature always amazes me. Olympic National Park is now on my bucket list.
Wow, what an interesting tangle of roots! I love articles like this!
The Tree of Life looks massive! It’s incredible how it stands there with it’s roots forming a cave underneath and at the same time being suspended in air! Also love the sunset pic from the Kalaloch Lodge, must have been a great trip this one. It reminds me of the Living Roots bridge in Meghalaya, Shillong. Thanks for this informative post!
Thank you!
I wonder what it’s future holds!
The roots go everywhere! A tangled mess!
It’s the first time I’ve been “under” a tree so it was fun!
You should add it for sure! I’m so glad they haven’t touched the tree, although it will definitely be sad when it falls
It’s definitely a unique stop!
What an interesting ‘freak’ of nature. I’m sure that being there must be pay eerie and part fascinating. It’s also surreal that you can go under it.
Nature is so amazing to me. I had only seen pictures of the Tree of Life in Olympic National Park but have yet to visit, but it is now going on our Washington Bucket List for sure! I love your sunset pic from Kalaloch Lodge too. I am shocked that preservationists havent tried to fill in the surrounding area to preserve the tree but to be honest, it may just mess things up. So let nature take it’s course!
I had actually heard of the Tree of Life but this is the first I really read about what it was. Such a fascinating place! It would have been incredible to go under the root system and explore the root cave!
I love how enthusiastic you are! This is such an awesome tree, I’ve never heard of it before so it’s certainly on my list!
Very interesting tree – the roots look crazy. I don’t remember going there when I visited the park many years ago.
Oooh awesome! I love finding spectacular trees like this. It is kind of cool that this one is so famous…hopefully that will mean people will protect it. So it’ll still be there living off the air in the future!
The Tree of Life at the Olympic National Park looks amazing. Loved the picture of the sunset at the beach, so beautiful.
What a unique phenomena and rather freaky it just floats there, especially since it’s so big! But as you say, it looks so green and healthy which is so strange! Wonder where it gets its nutrients from. I’m not sure I’d want to climb underneath it though and get trapped in there, just my luck 😉 Interesting post!
Thank you! Im glad you enjoyed learning a bit about the area.
It definitely is!
Everything about this is wonderful; the tree, the beach, the sunsets. It’s not a part of the States that we ever hear about in England, so this was absolutely fascinating – and the size of the park – I’m really blown away.
Such an unusual looking tree, it’s amazing that it is still standing when all the earth below has been washed away! I hope it remains there for many years to come. The National Park sounds an incredible place to enjoy being with nature 🙂
Thank you for this journey!! Still unsure when it would feel safe to venture far, but this looks like such a doable day trip! (smile)