🌊 The Best USA Coastline: Exploring Washington’s Wild Olympic Shores
When most travelers dream of America’s coastline, they think of California’s surf towns or Florida’s white sand beaches. But there’s another side of the country — wilder, moodier, and untouched.
Welcome to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State — home to some of the most dramatic coastline in the United States. Here, the Pacific Ocean crashes into sea stacks shrouded in mist, driftwood lines the shore like ancient sculptures, and tide pools reveal whole worlds beneath the surface.
This stretch of coast is part of Olympic National Park, one of the only places in the country where rainforest, mountains, and ocean exist side by side.
Whether you’re road-tripping through the Pacific Northwest or just want to experience nature at its rawest, these four spots — Cape Flattery, Hole in the Wall, Ruby Beach, and Kalaloch Beach — are the crown jewels of America’s wildest coast.
🚏 Table of Contents
- 📍 Where Is the Olympic Coastline?
- 🗺️ Stop #1 — Cape Flattery: The Northwestern Tip of the USA 🌎
- 🌊 Stop #2 — Hole in the Wall: A Hike Through Time
- Stop #3 — Ruby Beach: The Photographers’ Paradise
- 🌤️ Stop #4 — Kalaloch Beach & The Tree of Life
- 📅 When to Visit the Olympic Coastline
- 🧭 Travel Tips for Exploring the Olympic Coast
📍 Where Is the Olympic Coastline?
The Olympic coastline lies along the western edge of Washington State, about a 4.5–5 hour drive from Seattle. It stretches more than 70 miles from Kalaloch in the south to Cape Flattery in the north — all part of Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Unlike many U.S. coastal drives, this one feels remote. There are no sprawling cities or luxury resorts — just rugged beaches, misty cliffs, and towering evergreens.
💡 Base towns:
- Forks: Central location for most beaches.
- Kalaloch: Great for a quiet overnight stay.
- Neah Bay: Closest access to Cape Flattery.
🗺️ Stop #1 — Cape Flattery: The Northwestern Tip of the USA 🌎
If you want to stand at the literal edge of America, head to Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point in the continental United States. It’s where the land ends and the Pacific begins — and it feels every bit as remote as that sounds.
The trail to Cape Flattery winds through dense, moss-covered rainforest before opening to breathtaking sea cliffs. From the viewing platforms, you’ll see sea stacks, sea caves, and the Tatoosh Island Lighthouse just offshore.
📏 Trail Length: 1.5 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Easy, mostly boardwalk
📸 Photo Tip: Bring a zoom lens — sea otters, puffins, and seals are often visible in the waves.
🌇 Best Time to Visit: Late afternoon to sunset for soft light on the cliffs. Mornings are often foggy, which makes for moody, ethereal photos.
✨ Why Go: It’s the edge of America — wild, windswept, and humbling. Few places make you feel so small in the best possible way.
🌊 Stop #2 — Hole in the Wall: A Hike Through Time
Just north of Rialto Beach lies one of the park’s most famous landmarks: the Hole in the Wall, a natural sea arch sculpted by the power of the Pacific.
To reach it, you’ll walk along the beach itself — past giant driftwood logs and rolling waves. The trail is a combination of hike and tide walk, so be sure to check the tide charts before setting out. At low tide, you can walk right through the arch and explore the tide pools teeming with colorful sea stars, anemones, and crabs.
📏 Trail Length: 3.3 miles round trip
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate (walking on sand and pebbles)
📍 Trailhead: Rialto Beach parking lot (north of La Push)
🌊 Best Time to Visit: Only at low tide — the arch is inaccessible when the tide is high.
📸 Photo Tip: Frame the arch with waves rolling through at sunset. A tripod helps capture long exposures of the water’s movement.
✨ Why Go: It’s one of the most unique hikes on the U.S. coastline — blending beach walking, geology, and wildlife in one adventure.
💡 Local Tip: Wear waterproof boots and keep an eye on incoming tides — it’s easy to lose track of time when you’re exploring tide pools!
Stop #3 — Ruby Beach: The Photographers’ Paradise
If you’ve ever seen a postcard of Olympic National Park, chances are it was taken at Ruby Beach.
Located just off Highway 101, this stretch of shoreline is famous for its red-tinted sand, towering sea stacks, and massive driftwood logs that look like the sea has sculpted them. It’s the most accessible beach in the park — yet still feels wild and remote.
A short trail from the parking lot leads you down to the beach, where Abbey Island rises dramatically offshore.
📍 Access: 10 minutes south of Forks on Highway 101
📏 Trail: 0.5 miles round trip from parking area
🌇 Best Time: Sunset for glowing red sand and pastel skies
📸 Photo Tip: Use the driftwood as a foreground element in your photos — it adds depth and scale to the scene.
✨ Why Go: It’s easily one of the most photogenic spots in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you’re taking photos or just sitting by the waves, Ruby Beach is pure magic.
💡 Fun Fact: The “ruby” name comes from tiny garnet particles in the sand that shimmer in the sunlight.
🌤️ Stop #4 — Kalaloch Beach & The Tree of Life
Further south lies Kalaloch Beach, a calm, open stretch of sand known for one very special sight — the Tree of Life.
This massive Sitka spruce hangs suspended in mid-air, its roots completely exposed between two eroded cliffs, yet somehow still alive. Locals call it the “Tree Root Cave”, and it’s become a symbol of resilience and survival against all odds.
📍 Access: Right next to Kalaloch Lodge
🚶♀️ Walk Time: Less than 5 minutes from the parking lot
🌅 Best Time: Sunset for warm golden light
📸 Photo Tip: Visit at low tide to get a full view of the roots.
✨ Why Go: It’s not just a cool sight — it’s a living metaphor for strength. Watching this tree thrive despite gravity and erosion is a reminder of nature’s power and persistence.
💡 Bonus: Stay overnight at Kalaloch Lodge to wake up to ocean views and walk the beach before the crowds arrive.
📅 When to Visit the Olympic Coastline
The Olympic coast is beautiful year-round — but what you’ll experience depends on the season:
🌸 Spring (April–June): Wildflowers, mild weather, and whale migrations.
☀️ Summer (July–September): Best conditions for beach hiking and photography — but also the busiest.
🍂 Fall (October–November): Fewer crowds, dramatic sunsets, and moody skies.
🌧️ Winter (December–March): Storm watching season — huge waves and solitude, but check for safety closures.
💡 Always check tide charts before visiting Hole in the Wall or exploring tide pools anywhere along the coast.
🧭 Travel Tips for Exploring the Olympic Coast
✔️ Base Yourself in Forks or Kalaloch — Forks gives access to northern beaches like Rialto and Ruby; Kalaloch is great for quiet coastal stays.
✔️ Bring Layers & Rain Gear — This is the Pacific Northwest, after all.
✔️ Wear Waterproof Shoes — Many beaches involve walking through wet sand or shallow streams.
✔️ Pack Snacks & Water — Food options are limited once you leave town.
✔️ Download Offline Maps — Cell coverage is spotty between coastal sections.
✔️ Respect Nature — Don’t climb sea stacks or disturb tide pool creatures.
🗓️ Recommended Itinerary:
- Day 1: Drive from Seattle → Kalaloch → Ruby Beach at sunset.
- Day 2: Hole in the Wall hike in the morning → Drive to Neah Bay → Cape Flattery at sunset.
🏁 Final Thoughts — The Wildest Coast in America
Standing on Washington’s Olympic coastline feels like stepping into a dream. There are no crowds, no commercial boardwalks, no beach umbrellas — just the sound of waves, the salt of the sea air, and the power of untouched nature.
From the misty cliffs of Cape Flattery to the glowing sands of Ruby Beach, this isn’t just one of the best coastlines in the USA — it’s a place that humbles you, grounds you, and reminds you how vast and beautiful our planet really is.
So next time you’re craving an ocean escape, skip the palm trees and head north — to the wild edge of America. 🌊🌲
📥 FREE Olympic Coastline Guide (PDF)
Want to save this guide for your road trip? Download it as a FREE Olympic Coastline PDF — complete with tide tips, photo stops, and maps for each beach. Perfect for offline use while exploring Olympic National Park. Click here to grab it!
📚 Plan Your Pacific Northwest Adventure with the Chicago to Seattle RoadBook
Drive from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean with my Chicago to Seattle RoadBook, featuring all the must-see stops — including Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier, and this unforgettable coastline.
It’s your all-in-one USA road trip planner, with ready-to-use Google Maps routes, itineraries, and local tips. Get your RoadBook here.