Dramatic Ruby Beach: Olympic National Park’s gem in Washington

Ruby Beach isn’t a hidden gem, and Washington’s weather may make it more foggy than bright and shiny. Despite that, Ruby Beach (in Olympic National Park) is one of the crown jewels of the Olympic Peninsula.

This stunning beach is a half-hour from Forks, WA and about 3 1/2 hours from Seattle. Ruby Beach is off Highway 101 pretty much in the middle of nowhere—and that’s part of its charm.

Whether the weather is moody or bright, this beach won’t disappoint. Its sea stacks, gnarled driftwood, swimming hole and dramatic views make Ruby Beach an unforgettable spot in Washington.

Exploring Ruby Beach, WA

Ruby Beach lies within the traditional Hoh and Quinault territories.

This Olympic National Park beach is best known for its rocky beach, dramatic sea stacks and tumbles of driftwood. You can climb into and onto rock formations throughout the beach.

(Edie, our mountain goat, wanted to climb to the tippy top of every rock she saw. Thankfully she listens when we tell her to come down. Mostly.)

When you first arrive at Ruby Beach, you’ll notice that Cedar Creek creates a kid-friendly swimming hole just past the trail access point. We saw kids full-on swimming here and floating on logs. This spot is not open to the Pacific Ocean, so kids don’t have to worry about waves.

Even if you forgot the swimming suits, the pool just begs to be waded through. Or try your hand at skipping rocks!

Speaking of rocks, look closely around rock formations at low tide for sea stars, sea anemones, crabs and other ocean life.

Out to sea, spot Abbey Island to the north. Sea stacks are what locals call the smaller rock outcroppings in the ocean. These rock formations offer habitat to the Olympic National Park’s wildlife. And they look positively eerie when emerging from the mist!

The short Ruby Beach hike

When you search online, you might come across articles on the Ruby Beach hike. In reality, the “hike” is a quarter-mile walk down to the beach.

The trail is paved but steep. (I carried 5-year-old Maxine the whole way up during one visit and was definitely out of breath at the top!) This hike is not an accessible trail, although there is an accessible view point at the very top.

The Ruby Beach trail is quite narrow, so you’ll come closer than 6 feet to other people when you pass. I found that the vast majority of people were respecting social distancing and mask wearing guidelines.

At the base of the short Ruby Beach hike, you’ll find two entries to the beach. The first access point requires you to scramble over quite a bit of driftwood. The second access point includes a little path carved around the wood, though you’ll still need to step over weather-bleached logs in a few places.

If you’re looking for a strenuous Olympic National Park hike, Ruby Beach isn’t for you. But if you want a short walk with a big reward, you’ll want to add this to your itinerary, especially if you need a place to stretch your legs on a road trip.

What to expect on this gem of a beach

Olympic National Park is the ninth most-visited national park in the US, drawing more than 3 million visitors in 2019. So when you head to Ruby Beach, don’t expect an empty stretch of coastline.

Even during COVID times, Ruby Beach becomes quite busy. The parking lot fills up and the short hike down to the beach is narrow. You’ll come into contact with other people so wear your mask.

That said, with so much space to spread out, you won’t feel crowded once you get down to the beach.

Mornings are less busy at Ruby Beach, so aim to arrive early to have a better chance of snagging a parking spot.

Vault toilets are available in the parking lot off Highway 101, and when we visited, they were well maintained. You’ll also find dog waste bags in a dispenser for your four-legged travel buddy. (Even if you don’t have a dog, take a bag and fill it with any garbage you find on the beach. Throw it in the trash on your way out.)

As this is a national park, know of a few additional rules:

• Drones are not allowed on Ruby Beach (or anywhere else in any national park).
• Do not take any souvenirs (rocks, driftwood, etc.) from the beach.
• You are also on traditional Native Nations land. Treat it respectfully.

Directions to Ruby Beach, Washington

Whether you’re taking an Olympic National Park road trip, camping nearby or making a day trip of your visit, directions to Ruby Beach, WA are straightforward.

If you’re coming from Seattle, Tacoma or Olympia, drive to Aberdeen and then head north on Highway 101. You’ll pass a few small towns but this is wilderness. Tall trees tower over the two-lane highway.

About 10 minutes north of Kalaloch Lodge, you’ll see a sign for Ruby Beach. The parking lot is on the west (ocean-side) of the highway, so you’ll need to cross oncoming traffic. If you reach the Hoh River, you’ve gone too far.

If you’re coming from the northern Olympic Peninsula, drive south on Highway 101. A half-hour south of Forks, you’ll find the Ruby Beach parking lot on your right. You’ll reach it about 10 minutes after crossing the Hoh River.

By the way, if you’re on an Olympic National Park road trip, you need my book Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids! The 33 fun, customizable games and free printables will keep you entertained along every mile! Simply click the image below and snag yourself a copy today.

Gorgeous Olympic National Park beaches

It’s impossible to pick the best beaches in Olympic National Park. If you were to make a list, though, Ruby Beach would be on it.

This extremely photogenic stop off Highway 101 won’t disappoint folks looking to take photos on the Olympic Peninsula.

If you’re looking for other Olympic National Park beaches, drive north past Forks, WA to Rialto Beach. Read everything you need to know about this spot (including a low tide-only hike!) in my full post on exploring Rialto Beach, WA.

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