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Ruby Beach

Washington

Ruby Beach
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🚗 Check available routes: 🌲 Washington National Parks Road Trip · 🏔️ Washington Highlights Road Trip

📍 Location: Olympic National Park coast, south of Forks on US 101, Washington
🗓️ Best time to visit: June through September
⏳ Recommended stay: 1–1.5 hours
🌐 Official visitor information: NPS — Exploring the Coast

🪨 About Ruby Beach

Ruby Beach is the northernmost of Olympic's southern coastal beaches and one of the most photographed stretches of wild shoreline in Washington. Its name comes from the reddish, garnet-tinged sand.

A short trail drops from the highway pullout through a fringe of forest to a broad beach scattered with driftwood, tide pools, and dramatic sea stacks. Abbey Island stands offshore as the beach's signature landmark.

✨ Why Visit

Ruby Beach is especially known for:

  • 🪨 Towering offshore sea stacks
  • 🌊 Driftwood piles and crashing surf
  • 🐚 Tide pools at low tide
  • 🌅 Spectacular sunsets
  • 📸 Iconic Olympic coast photography
  • 🚗 Easy roadside access from US 101

🥾 Getting to the Beach

  • Ruby Beach Trail — about 1 mi / 100 ft round trip, 1–1.5 hours, 🟢 easy to 🟡 moderate, a short forested descent to the sand and back. Route reference: AllTrails — Ruby Beach

Once on the beach, walking distances depend on how far you explore among the stacks and tide pools.

📅 Best Time to Visit

☀️ June–September — Best Access

Summer brings the driest weather, warmest days, and the best low-tide windows for tide pools.

🌅 Time It With Low Tide

Plan around low tide to safely explore tide pools and reach areas near the sea stacks.

🌧️ October–May — Storm Watching

Winter offers dramatic surf and moody skies, but rain, high water, and slick logs demand caution.

🚗 Access and Parking

Ruby Beach has a highway pullout and parking lot right off US 101. The short trail to the sand starts from the lot. Parking fills at sunset in summer.

🎟️ Fees and Reservations

Ruby Beach is part of Olympic National Park's coastal strip. A park entrance pass may be required; no reservation is normally needed.

⚠️ Coastal Safety

  • Never turn your back on the ocean — sneaker waves strike without warning
  • Watch for rolling and shifting drift logs
  • Time your visit around the tides
  • The initial trail can be slick and rooty — wear grippy shoes

✅ Before You Go

Check current information before visiting: