Ruby Beach
Olympic National Park, WA
A rugged, driftwood-strewn shoreline in Olympic National Park with towering sea stacks and cold, wild surf, better suited to tide pooling and long walks than swimming.
Wild and photogenic with real tide pools and driftwood, though the steep trail down can get slick and isn't for anyone unsteady on their feet.
How we score beachesThe trail down is short but steep and can get slick. Sturdy shoes matter more than swimwear at this one.
Dogs are allowed on Ruby Beach year-round on a leash no longer than six feet.
Olympic National Park gets some of the heaviest rainfall on the West Coast outside summer, so a dry, clear day between July and September is worth planning around. Even then the water rarely leaves the 50s, this is a beach for walking and tide pooling, not swimming.
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