Located in Washington State's Jefferson County within Olympic National Park, Ruby Beach serves as the northernmost of the park's southern coastal beaches. You can reach this scenic destination directly along Highway 101, situated roughly 27 miles south of the town of Forks.
The beach earns its unique name from the distinctive ruby-like crystals embedded within the beach sand. As you explore the shoreline, you will encounter a tremendous amount of driftwood, which is a characteristic feature shared by virtually all beaches along this northern coastline.
One of the primary visual highlights at Ruby Beach is its impressive array of sea stacks. Gazing about four miles southwest off the beach, you can also view Destruction Island and the Destruction Island Lighthouse standing out in the water.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Car | Drive along Highway 101 in Jefferson County, Washington. |
| Road | Located 27 miles south of the town of Forks. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- Be prepared to navigate a tremendous amount of driftwood along the beach.
- Destruction Island and its lighthouse can be viewed 4 miles southwest off the coast.
- The beach is named after the ruby-like crystals found in its sand.
