8 Hidden Beaches in Washington State That Will Captivate You!
Are there good beaches in Washington State? HECK YES! Can you swim in Washington Beaches? Eh…maybe, if you are brave!
Awesome beaches may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Washington State. You may visualize the Space Needle, Pikes Public Market, or any of the three drop-dead gorgeous National Parks tucked into the state, but a trip to Washington State SHOULD also include a few stops to the beaches.
Before you grab your bikini you may want to finish reading first. Washington State beaches are NOT, and I cannot stress this enough: they are NOT the same as Florida or California beaches.
Once you lose your ideal tropical beach vision, you can begin to appreciate how unique and absolutely stunning the Washington State beaches are.
1. Rialto Beach
Visit this beach in Washington for a super moody vibe.
Rialto Beach is located about 75 miles west of Port Angeles, near La Push.
This beach is unique and fun to explore. Located in Olympic National Park, it is guaranteed to be like no other beach you’ve ever seen. The beach itself is rocky. It is about 1.5 miles and a great walk. It’s fun to watch the surfers, and the waves are usually pretty decent-sized.
Rialto Beach is a “tree graveyard” with hundreds of tree trunks downed and brought in from storms. Climbing over the downed trees and looking at the ones still standing makes for a totally cool beach experience.
There is a great hike from Rialto Beach, too! The “hole in the wall” hike is just under 3.5 miles round trip and heads out to awesome tide pools, sea stacks, and driftwood. It is one of the best hikes in Olympic National Park.
Because Rialto is part of a National Park, you’ll want to have paid the National Park fee and have your ticket on the windshield. The Current price for National Park fees is $30 per car for a 7-day pass, or you can get an America the Beautiful Pass and use it for 12 months.
2. Ruby Beach
Visit Washington Beach for amazing scenery.
Ruby Beach is located in Kalaloch and is part of Olympic National Park. This beach is awesome for tide pools and sea stacks and is so, so pretty!
Getting down to the beach is a short walk, but note that it’s pretty steep downhill, and then you have to crawl over a few logs. It is not too difficult, but know that it is not just a straight shot from your car, either.
You can spend the day exploring the different sea stacks and driftwood. There is plenty of space to spread out and relax too. On bright blue sunny days, the sea stacks and sand are beautiful. My favorite time is when it is cloudy and gloomy I love how the sea stacks look as they emerge from the clouds.
Because Ruby is part of a National Park, you’ll want to have paid the National Park fee and have your ticket on the windshield. The Current price for National Park fees is $30 per car for a 7-day pass, or you can get an America the Beautiful Pass and use it for 12 months.
3. Shi Shi Beach
Visit this Washington Beach to camp on the beach and see Point of Arches
Shi Shi Beach is the northernmost beach in Washington State, and it is not to be missed!
Shi She beach is SO PRETTY! It is part of Olympic National Park, but the trail to get there passes through Makah Nation Land. You have to hike about 2 miles through wet, muddy terrain to get to the beach, but once you do you’ll realize it’s all been worth it. You can day hike here or pitch a tent and sleep on the beach.
Shi Shi is rugged, natural, and pristine. It will likely be one of the prettiest, most untouched beaches you’ll ever experience. Point of Arches (a string of sea stacks) is considered one of the most picturesque scenes in Washington State.
You’ll need to get a pass from the Makah Tribe a $20 per vehicle fee to spend the night. Here is the website for the Makah Tribe to help you find out how to get the pass. You can try beach camping while visiting Shi Shi; it is one of the most incredible ways to enjoy this beach.
4. Kalaloch Beach
Visit this Washington State Beach for the Tree of Life.
Just a bit down from Ruby Beach sits Kalaloch Beach. This sandy, wide, and Long Beach is great for relaxing the day! The sand is nicer than Ruby or Rialto, and the sheer cliffs lining the beach are gorgeous.
The real treat at this beach is the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is a Sitka Tree that is perched between 2 cliff edges where erosion has eaten the dirt away exposing the roots. It’s a sight to be seen, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I have a complete post on the Tree of Life that you can use to get more information on this one-of-a-kind tree!
There is no fee to go to Kalaloch Beach.
5. Dungeness Spit
Visit this Washington Beach for wildlife viewing.
Dungeness Spit is one of my personal favorite beaches in Washington State. It is located near Sequim, Washington, at the top of the Olympic Peninsula. If you aren’t familiar with the word “spit,” it means a piece of beach that extends into the ocean and is connected to land on one side. The Dungeness Spit is the longest natural spit in the United States, just about 5 miles long!
Be sure to go at low tide, and you can walk the distance of the spit. At the end is a historic lighthouse that you can tour and climb all the way to the top!
You can also enjoy the beach without walking down to the lighthouse. The area is a wildlife refuge. We always see bald eagles when we are there, and there are many other birds, too! One day, we saw four different eagles on our hike!
The fee to get to the beach is $3 per group or family to help the wildlife refuge.
6. Ocean Shores
Visit this Washington Beach for a chance to drive on the beach
Ocean Shores Beach is a state highway! The speed limit is 25, and you’ll want to stay on the packed sand so you don’t get stuck. It is so fun to drive out to the beach, and just unload your picnic stuff right there instead of carrying it in!
Ocean shores has wide beaches and are excellent for spending the day flying kites and watching birds.
It is located about 1.5 hours west of Olympia. The town of Ocean Shores has plenty of lodging and food, too!
There is no fee for using the beach
7. Long Beach
Visit this Washington Beach for the beach.
Long Beach is probably the most “beachy” beach in Washington State. It has miles and miles of nice sand, a boardwalk, and cute towns and shops nearby. The Long Beach Peninsula is home to Cape Disappointment (anything but disappointing), North Head Light House, and a kite museum. You can easily spend the weekend exploring and enjoying this beautiful area.
There is no fee on the beaches, but to go to Cape Disappointment, you will have to pay for the state park day pass.
8. Alki Beach
Visit this Washington State Beach for the FUN!
Alki Beach is located in West Seattle on the Puget Sound. It’s not the biggest beach, but it’s super fun and close to Seattle if that’s where you are visiting. The sand here is nicer than some of the coastal beaches which tend to be a bit rocky.
You can walk along the 2.5-mile walkway or rent a bike. There is volleyball, food, and great people watching. My favorite part of Alki Beach is the view of Seattle. You can look across the water and see the skyline of the city.
There is no charge for the beach, but parking will cost you.
