Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Ruby Beach – One of the World’s Best?
Don’t take my word for it, listen to Lonely Planet, which included Washington State’s Ruby Beach on their 2025 list of the world’s best beaches, the only one from the United States to make the list!
No, it’s not a white sand beach, with warm turquoise water for swimming. Nevertheless, it’s a beauty, and I have pictures to prove it from various visits over the last few years.
Here’s what Lonely Planet had to say about it:
“Two miles south of the Hoh River and bordered by a rainforest, Ruby is a great introduction to Washington State and the United States’ Pacific Northwest. It looks like waters have lashed wildly against the shoreline here until trees have toppled and the sea are stacks found with a swirling froth crashing at their feet. It’s great for beachcombers – agates, garnets and sea glass all glitter in the sand – but there is treasure inside its tide pools, too. Anemones, sea urchins, purple starfish and skittering crabs, make it a wonderland for children and adults alike.”
I like the word “introduction” in the description above, because though I love Ruby Beach, I don’t think it’s more deserving than other Washington Coast beaches. Let’s compare to two others further north: Second Beach and Rialto Beach.
Second Beach – yes, that’s really the name – is also wild and scenic and requires a hike through the woods to get to it.
The reward at the end of the trail is worth it – smooth sand and sea stacks!
Rialto Beach, perhaps my favorite, is literally at the end of the road, primeval with its ghost logs and sea stacks, and hike to Hole-in-the-Wall.
There you have it: three marvelous wild Washington beaches that provide nature’s therapy and solitude. I’m glad Ruby made the list, if only as representative of the others.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
So beautiful, serene and isolated from over-tourism
Exactly! Wild, rugged, remote! I was happy to see Ruby Beach make the list!
Wow! These beaches are so beautiful, I’d love o be there, Susanne! ❤️😊
Thanks, John. They are truly wild, rugged, and serene!
You are welcome, have a dandy weekend!
Fabulous scenes xx
Thank you ☺️
They’re wonderful beaches. I always liked the walk into Second Beach, and the reward at the end of that walk.
I agree. I love the hike to Second Beach!
The Second Beach trail is absolutely incredibly stunning!
Yes, it’s a wonderful hike!
Gorgeous terrain!! 😎🤗
Yes, indeed! 🤩
I can see why it made the list, but I much prefer sandy beaches. We have a mixture of both here, and yesterday afternoon we went to a stony one that I don’t enjoy so much. Unlike your wild area, this was a seaside town, very traditional. Best wishes, Pete.
https://beetleypete.com/2025/04/05/an-afternoon-in-sheringham/
Looks like a fun outing! I like all kinds of beaches. Most of the other ones on the list were warm and tropical. Ruby Beach was unique in being wild, remote, and rugged.
We enjoyed Ruby Beach but liked Rialto even more, and First Beach! All were great for photography, as you have shown. We missed Second Beach as we didn’t have time for the walk but did stop at some of the others further south; however Rialto and First Beach were our favourites 🙂
All are wonderful, but I think I like Rialto best too. And I love the hike to Second Beach!
A such beautiful beaches! I love the Oregon coast.
Thank you! These beaches are all in Washington state and are off the beaten path, remote and rugged. I love the Oregon Coast too (our neighbor to the south) as you can drive the entire coast from top to bottom!
Whoops! Sorry to get your state wrong. 😬 I’ve actually driven from Seattle down both the Washington and Oregon coasts and both are lovely. 😍 I’d be lucky to revisit either state’s coasts…
No problem. 😊 Both coasts are winderful. Oregon’s is more famous and easier to drive, Washington’s, more rugged and remote.