Washington boasts more than 160 miles of coastline, stretching from the Columbia River to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. And whether you’d prefer to catch waves, go for a hike, fly a kite or just wiggle your toes in the sand, there’s a beach here with your name on it.
La Push
In the tiny village of La Push near the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, the Second Beach Trail, 14 miles west of U.S. 101, leads over sandy beaches lined with ancient sea stacks and tide pools packed with colorful urchins.
Rialto Beach
Tucked inside the western fringe of Olympic National Park, Rialto Beach is strewn with sun-bleached logs and cobbly rocks. An hour to the south, Kalaloch Beach, which sits directly off 101, is among the park’s most accessible beaches and a great spot for birders.
Cape Alava
Set on the westernmost point in the Lower 48, Cape Alava is home to the popular Ozette Loop. The 9.3-mile trek reveals a highlight reel of coastal wonders, including Lake Ozette, one of the state’s largest bodies of freshwater.
Griffiths-Priday State Park
In between the beach towns of Moclips and Ocean Shores, this 364-acre park provides critical habitat for osprey, hawks, blue herons and a host of gull species.
Waikiki Beach
You won’t confuse this sandy cove inside Cape Disappointment State Park with that other Hawaiian beach. And that’s a good thing: practically the only manmade structures around happen to be historic lighthouses. And the park’s Benson Beach offers long stretches of sandy beach tailor-made for riding the wind.
Long Beach Peninsula
In southwest Washington, the Long Beach Peninsula offers a 28-miles stretch of public beaches and state parks. Explore Long Beach, a picturesque beach town equipped with game parlors, old-fashioned amusement park rides, sweet shops and quirky museums.
Read Beach Towns of Washington State.
-Amanda Castleman
Photo Credit: The Long Beach Peninsula/(c) 2013 LDELD / Flickr.com
