The Best Beaches in Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is home to some of the most spectacular and wild beaches in Washington State. Imagine towering sea stacks, driftwood covered shores, rugged cliffs and dramatic ocean views. The best part is that each beach has something completely different to offer.

Planning a beach hopping trip here can be a little overwhelming. There are so many beaches scattered along the Olympic Peninsula and some are just a short walk from the parking lot, while others require a longer walk through the forest to reach the coast.

We have done multiple trips exploring Olympic National Park and visited most of the beaches along the Olympic Peninsula. After seeing these beaches for ourselves, we’ve now know which ones are worth prioritising, which are best for certain experiences and which we’re dying to return to.

In this guide, I’m sharing the best beaches in Olympic National Park, based on our own experiences exploring them. I’ll include what each beach is like, how to get there, how much walking is involved, and what makes each one worth visiting. I’ll also cover the best beach to watch the sunset, the best one for photography and also my overall favourite beach in Olympic National Park. 👀

So, if you’re planning a trip to Olympic National Park and wondering which beaches you should actually add to your itinerary, read on to find out!

Everything You Need to Know about the Best Beaches on the Olympic Peninsula

Where is the Olympic Peninsula

The Olympic Peninsula is a large area of land which contains Olympic National Park on the West Coast in Washington State, USA. Seattle is the closest major city, making Olympic National Park the perfect weekend getaway.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

How to get to the Olympic National Park Beaches

The best way to get to the Olympic Peninsula from Seattle, is by car. The drive to Olympic National Park’s coastline is around 4 hours. There are two different routes that you can take.

Route 1 – Take one of the Washington State Ferries

The shortest route from Seattle to Olympic National Park is to take one of the Washington State Ferries but not necessarily the fastest. It will depend on the ferry timings which you can check out on the Washington State Ferries website. Take the Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry, the Seattle-Bremerton ferry or the Edmonds-Kingston ferry. It will depend where exactly you are coming from in Seattle.

Seattle to Bainbridge Island – crossing time 35 minutes
This ferry leaves from the Port of Seattle and take you to Bainbridge Island. From there, it’s about 2 hours 40 minutes drive to Forks which is the nearest town to the West coastline and the Olympic National Park beaches.

Seattle to Bremerton – crossing time 60 minutes

This ferry leaves from the Port of Seattle and take you to Bremerton which is about a 2 hours 40 minutes drive to Forks.

Edmonds to Kingston – crossing time 30 minutes

This ferry departs from Edmonds which is around 17 miles north of Seattle on the I-5 and arrives in Kingston. From Kingston, the drive to Forks is around 2 hours 25 minutes drive.

Route 2 – Drive all of the way through Tacoma.

This route will take you around 3 hours and 10 minutes to reach your first stop which, if you choose to travel in direction will be Kalaloch Beach.

Do I need a National Parks Pass to visit the beaches in Olympic National Park?

As the beaches are located within Olympic National Park, you will need to show an America the Beautiful Pass on your dashboard. If you are a US resident, you can choose to get an annual pass for $80 or alternatively you can get a 7 day pass for $30 or an annual pass just for Olympic National Park for $55.

If you are planning on visiting more than one national park in a year, I would say that the full annual pass is 100% worth it but not so much if you are not a resident as it has increased to USD250.

The Best beaches in Olympic National Park

You will find loads of gorgeous beaches on the Olympic Peninsula. We were able to visit nearly all of them in just a couple of days but as some of them require a bit of a hike to reach from the parking lots, we couldn’t see them all.

Our favourite beach was Ruby Beach. The awesome rock formations and driftwood along the beach is a photographers dream, especially at sunset!

Kalaloch Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 0 miles
Time to Hike to Beach: 2 minutes from parking lot
Best for: Photography

Kalaloch Beach is home to the infamous Tree of Life! This beach is worth visiting purely to see this amazing tree. The beach itself is sandy and quite long. The Tree of Life is an old tree that is hanging onto the cliffs on the side of the beach, by its roots.

The cliffs below the tree have been washed away over time by a little stream behind the tree, exposing the trees roots. To find the Tree of Life, park in the day parking lot of Kalaloch campground and walk down the stairs to the beach. Then, facing the ocean, turn right and walk along for about 5 minutes.

The Tree of Life makes this beach great for photography and in my opinion, even better on an overcast day!

Camping at Kalaloch Beach

There are a few campsites just down the road from the beach’s parking lot which toilet facilities. These are located at the Kalaloch campground which you can reserve during peak times. The Kalaloch Beach campsites are located in the forest with a few of the sites having views of the beach.

Ruby Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 0.25 miles
Time to Hike to Beach: 5 minutes
Best for: Photography

All of the beaches along the Olympic Peninsula are absolutely gorgeous but personally both Dave and I thought Ruby Beach was the most beautiful. To reach the beach from the parking lot, it is a really short walk down a sloped path. At various points along the path leading down to the beach, you can get some really great views of the beach.

The beach is sandy and quite long with huge rocks called sea stacks sticking out of the sand which are usually surrounded by water at any time except for low tide. Ruby Beach is a great spot for photos, especially during sunset and at low tide.

Ruby Beach has some really impressive sea stacks scattered along the shore and also some driftwood which I found made for a great foreground subject in our photos. I found the best place for photos was on the right-hand-side of the beach after coming down from the parking lot.

Camping on Ruby Beach

There is no beach camping on Ruby Beach but you can camp at the nearby Kalaloch campground or South Beach campground.

TIP: Lookout for seals! We spotted one frolicking in the water during sunset.

First Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 0 miles/ 0km
Best for: Easy access

First Beach is one of the many La Push beaches to check out while you are in the area! It is a perfect choice if you are not wanting to hike to reach your destination and would rather have a relaxing day chilling out on the beach.

Camping on First Beach

There is no camping allowed on First Beach, however there is an RV park nearby called James Island RV & campsite.

Second Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 1.4 miles / 2.3km return
Time to Hike to Beach: 30 minutes one way
Best for: Sunsets – we didn’t get to spend the entire sunset here but I have heard they are incredible!

Second Beach is quite a small beach and you will need to hike through the forest to get there from the parking lot. It is not a difficult hike but it does take a bit of extra time if you are trying to see as many beaches as possible.

Camping on Second Beach

You can camp on Second Beach, however you need to reserve a Wilderness permit. Camping is right on the sand on Second Beach, but please make sure you camp above the high tide line otherwise you will be in for a wet wake up call! Campfires are allowed on Second beach, however these must be kept below the high tide line and at least ten feet away from driftwood. 

Third Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 3.6 miles / 5.7km return
Time to Hike to Beach: 1 hour one way
Best for: hiking and camping

We didn’t have time to visit Third Beach as our car broke down halfway through our trip and we ended up getting completely stuck… LONG STORY. Anyway, Third Beach is much less popular than the other beaches, probably because the hike to the beach is that much longer, but it is just as beautiful and wild.

Camping on Third Beach

There are a few inland campsites on Third beach, but not many. You can also camp on Third Beach on the sand. Wilderness permits are required for camping on Third Beach. There are also pit toilets located where the trail meets the beach. Campfire are allowed, however make sure you keep these below the high tide line and at least ten feet away from driftwood.

Rialto Beach

Hiking Distance to Beach: 650ft / 200m
Time to Hike to Beach: 3 minutes
Best for: Exploring, sea stacks, dramatic coastal scenery and Hole in the Wall hike
Difficulty: Easy to access; the walk to Hole in the Wall is more challenging

Rialto Beach is one of our favourite beaches in Olympic National Park. It is extremely photogenic and the beach itself is very easy to reach. To reach the famous Rialto Beach Rock jutting out from the water, it is a hike along the beach. Once you access the beach, you will have to turn right and walk all the way down to the end of the beach, almost all of the way to the Hole in the Wall.

It is definitely one of the best beaches for exploring. It’s a wild stretch of coastline with huge pieces of driftwood and sea stacks.

One of my favourite things about Rialto Beach is that it feels like more than just a beach you stop at for a photo. There’s so much to discover along the coastline and if you are in need of a good beach stroll, then this is the beach for you.

Hole in the Wall Hike (access form Rialto Beach)

Distance: 5.3km / 3.4 miles return
Time: 1-2 hours, depending on how long you spend exploring and taking photos

The walk along Rialto beach to the Hole in the Wall is one of my favourite beach walks in Olympic National Park.

For the entirety of the walk, you will be walking along the beach. There is a section with a creek crossing which had pretty high water when we were there.

We wore hiking boots and were too lazy to take them off and put them back on again so we used the driftwood logs as a bridge to get to the other side. You could also just take off your shoes and walk through the water.

Don’t rely on our experience here, though as water levels can change, and creek crossings along the coast can be affected by recent rain and tides.

Once you reach the end of Rialto Beach, you will need to climb up the steep dirt path. You will see some stairs to your right. From the top, you can get some great photos straight down Rialto Beach. At the top, keep to your right and you will see a path that takes you down the other side onto the Hole in the Wall Beach. As you reach the bottom, look to your left and you will see the famous Hole in the Wall.

Planning to bring your dog? Dogs are permitted on Rialto Beach from the parking area north to Ellen Creek, but they are not permitted beyond Ellen Creek or when camping on the beach.

Camping on Rialto Beach

Wilderness permits are required for the campsites on Rialto Beach. You can only camp on Rialto Beach between Ellen Creek and the Hole in the Wall, which means you cannot camp with your dog.

Cape Flattery

Cape Flattery is a bit of a drive away from the other beaches mentioned in this blog post and I recommend visiting on a separate day if you have time. Cape Flattery is the most North-western point of the Olympic Peninsula. There is a short trail that you can do which will lead you to fantastic views overlooking the ocean.

There are also a number of gorgeous beaches in this area such as Shi Shi Beach. Separate permits are required for Shi Shi as it is located in the Makah Reservation.

Packing List for Olympic National Park

When you are packing for Olympic National Park, you mustn’t forget that you are in the Pacific Northwest where it rains, A LOT.

• Snacks for the whole day.
• Water!
• Hiking Boots and or shoes
• Merino t-shirt for hiking
• Hiking Pants, shorts or leggings.
• Fleece
• Puffer Jacket
• Raincoat
• Sunhat
• Beanie
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Bear Spray
• Swim Suit! Be prepared for cold water though!
• Camera! There will be plenty of photography opportunities! We have a guide on camera gear here.

Where to Stay on the Olympic Peninsula

The closest town to the beaches in Olympic National Park is Forks. If you have read the Stephanie Meyer novel, Twilight, you will have heard of it. Some great places to stay in Forks are:

• Woodland Inns
• Hoh Valley Cabins

Camping

There are campsites available on some of the beaches which I talk about above, but there are also RV Parks and other drive in campsites nearby.

• 3 Rivers Resort – We actually stayed here for a couple of nights when our car broke down and the owners were so so lovely and helpful. We cannot recommend this place more! You can camp and they also have some cabins and caravans that you can book.
• James Island Rv & campsite – This RV Park is located near Rialto Beach and First Beach
• Prior Homestead camping and rv – not too far from the La Push Beaches
• Forks 101 RV Park – We have stayed here before. It’s a nice little family run campground😊

Wildlife on the Olympic Peninsula

There is so much wildlife in Olympic National Park. On the coastline you will see marine life such as seals and whales but there are also bald eagles, deer, bears and more. When visiting Olympic National Park, make sure you are up to date on bear safety, especially when hiking and camping. Always carry bear spray with you and if you are camping, use a bear cannister to store your food in well away from your tent.

Leave No Trace

Whenever you are enjoying the beautiful nature that our world has to offer, remember to leave no trace (LNT)! Respect the beautiful places that make our world beautiful and take out everything that you take in, take only photos and respect the wildlife and other people. You can read more on the 7 LNT principles here.

Other Must See Spots in Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is an absolutely beautiful part of the world, and home to some stunning scenery! Not only are there beautiful beaches, but there are a lot of other things to do and see so if you are spending some time on the coast, you may as well add some of the following places to your itinerary.

The Hoh Rainforest

The Hoh Rainforest is a must-see in Olympic National Park! It is not too far away from Kalaloch Beach so you could add on a visit before or after. The Hoh is an extremely green and mossy unusual looking forest that looks like it has come out of the Upside Down from Stranger Things! There are a couple of different short trails that you can do to get the most out of visiting the forest.

Hall of Mosses – 1.2km loop   25 metres elevation  30 minutes
Spruce Nature Trail – 1.9km    5 metres elevation    30 minutes

Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge is a gorgeous mountainous area in Olympic National park with lots of hiking trails and viewpoints. You can head over to the Hurricane Ridge Visitors Centre for incredible views of the surrounding mountains and from their pick out a hiking trail to do. The Visitors Centre is also the starting point for the Cirque Rim, High Ridge meadow trail and the Klahhane Ridge trail.

Our Thoughts

We absolutely loved our long weekend in Olympic National Park (except for our car breaking down of course). We have already been back for a second long weekend.

Dave and I are from Australia, and we were super impressed by how wild and stunning and just completely different the beaches are on the Olympic Coast. They are so different to the beaches back in Australia and very beautiful in a darker, more moody way.

If you like photography, you should definitely visit the PNW coastline and the beautiful beaches during both golden hour and on a gloomy day.

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