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I made the drive over to Rialto Beach from Forks. Rialto Beach is within Olympic National Park and lies north of the Quileute Tribe's community of La Push. There is a visitor center along the way that is only open during the summer that offers information about Olympic National Park. It was a little difficult to get parking because it is very small and crowded. I eventually found a spot, but temporarily got stuck because the surface is covered in pebble rocks. I took a nice walk on Rialto Beach. This is a funny story, but I am used to California beaches and showed up in swim shorts and flip flops. This beach is nothing like Cali beaches. You need a hoodie and good walking shoes because it is cold and windy. There is also driftwood and rocks all over the beach. But the beach views with its low clouds coverage is an incredible site to see. I enjoyed seeing all of the magnificent sea stacks rise out of the coastal waters. There were even trees growing on some of these large rocks formations. When dressed appropriately, this is a great beach for long scenic walks. There are numerous campsites between Ellen Creek and Hole-in-the-Wall that have fire rings. Hole-in-the-Wall is a rock arch near Rialto Beach. If you like to hike, you can hike the under two mile trek on the beach to Hole-in-the-Wall and back from the Rialto Beach parking lot. There are all sorts of wildlife to see along the way.
Amazing view of the Pacific Northwest coast. Seastacks, driftwood galore, and beautiful waves. 55 F on May 3 with the sun shining. Paved parking lot and additional parking in a gravel lot. Covered path, restrooms, and area info posted. Not a beach for swimming due to the cold unless you have a wetsuit. Bring a jacket, even in the summer. Once the sun starts to set, it may hit 40-50 degrees in July.
Gotta admit, for the drive over we did, I was a bit disappointed in Rialto Beach. Beach is beautiful, and the water is peaceful. That being said, the entire length of the beach is extremely rocky - not the most enjoyable for a walk along the water. They also do not permit anyone going in the water here. This is also the starting point for the Hole-in-the-Wall hike. If you want to do that hike, man sure to coordinate with the low tide in advance. Highlight: If you like taking pictures with the national park signs, the best Olympic National Park sign we found was on the side of the road close to Rialto Beach. If you have plenty of time to spend while in Olympic or are already in the area, definitely worth a quick stop. But if you're pressed for time (and not planning to do the hike), maybe it's best you skip this one.
Rialto Beach was a very special place to me about a zillion years ago when I was in college, and spending a lot of time being outdoorsy on the Oly Peninsula. There is just something so soothing about a natural, virtually untouched ocean beach. And, during some recent hard times, I found myself drawn there again for the first time in, well, awhile. I'm happy to report that Rialto is pretty much the same as I remembered it, although it felt quite a bit more crowded too. This could have been due to the weather, though, as it was a rare sunny, warm day so the crowds were definitely out. Still, on such a vast beach, it wasn't hard to wander down the sand and find a good spot to chillax and ponder life, while breathing in the fresh sea air and gazing out at the seastacks and sealife. This is definitely the place to come for some serious beachcombing and wildlife watching. We noticed several who appeared to be starting (or ending) long backpacking trips up the coast, and while we'd thought about visiting the famous Hole in the Wall during this visit, we only made it about half way before sitting to enjoy some sandwiches on a huge log and just marveling at the beauty of nature. If you need a dose of the wild, and some time to get away, I highly recommend Rialto. We also did a quick drive through the nearby Mora campground, which looks like a fun place to stay - maybe next year!
Anytime I'm on a beach, I'm happy. Grounding myself with earth and it makes my soul happy. This beach has loads of rocks so wear shoes or water proof shoes. Wading in the water was fairly easy. Sandy. Be careful though the waves were very large and this beach doesn't seem to be a casual swimming area. Doesn't matter to me. Covered in smooth rocks everywhere you can turn into rock sculptures called cairns. And huge gigantic driftwood trees everywhere too. It's humbling to feel so small and this beach does that. A huge forest area which sounds like it's breathing in the wind is just next the beach. So pretty. Parking is plentiful and there are bathrooms. Come calm your soul. SYOY!
Rialto Beach is a public beach located on the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park. The big attraction for this beach is Hole-in-the-Wall, a rock arch about 2 miles away from the trailhead. You essentially walk on the beach north and pass some rocks to get to the hole. The hole itself was pretty cool and made for a great photo-op with the ocean in the background. Along with the arch there were many other rock formations and even a tree graveyard for all the tree trunks deposited by storms. If you plan on coming, make sure you look at the tide levels because if you go during high tide the waters might come too close on the beach, giving you less space to walk to and from the hole in the wall. Other popular spots that people visit in the area are First Beach and Second Beach which are further south.
As one of the recommended hikes around Olympic National Park, I wanted to stop by and check out how the Pacific Northwest coast line differs from Southern California. It's close enough to La Push so we squeezed multiple beaches in for the day. Parking here was pretty insane and I think we really got lucky. The road branches off into two lots but one is technically supposed to be for backpackers. I think a lot of people just parked wherever they could. At the end of the parking lot, there are some public bathrooms. The hike to Hole-in-the-Wall is about 3.3 miles round trip and it seems short but it felt like it took forever. Walking on sand/gravel where you just sink in every step makes it more difficult. A big difference between Rialto and SoCal beaches is the sand quality too. I thought walking barefoot might be fun but the sand is not soft here, I mean I wouldn't even say it was a sandy beach. It's more rocky and gravel-ly. The weather started off gray and gloomy but the sun eventually cleared out the marine layer. We got some good shots of the sea stacks against blue skies. Along the way, you'll come across tons of driftwood, with some just being an entire tree! And as you get closer to the hole, there are a couple of tide pools to stop by. Saw some sea stars! The hole itself was pretty anticlimactic. You can walk through it but it's a lot smaller than I thought and I couldn't really get a good angle for pictures. Because of that, I didn't feel like the hike was worth the effort. It was cool seeing the sea stacks but I didn't need to hike just for that.
This may be my favorite beach--and this is coming from someone that grew up in Hawai'i. Sure, it's not somewhere to swim, SUP, or kayak, at least in the fall-winter months. Sure, the beach is mostly pebbles, driftwood, and kelp rather than soft, white sand. But I loved the moody atmosphere and how different it was compared to the beaches I'm used to. We visited on a Sunday in mid-October at around 11am. There was ample parking and dogs are allowed on-leash (just please make sure to pick up after them and have common courtesy). There are bathrooms in the parking lot, though I didn't use them so can't attest to cleanliness. Depending on how you enter from the parking lot to the beach, there are some logs you have to climb over. Be careful, as they may be slippery when wet. The majority of the beach until the shore break is incredibly smooth pebbles of various patterns and colors! I could spend a whole afternoon here just looking at rocks. Because of that though, I would come prepared with some sturdy shoes or boots. There was also incredibly smooth driftwood and pieces of kelp washed ashore. Some of the kelp had live barnacles on them--my first time seeing live barnacles in person! I thought it was going to be freezing because we were right on the coast but it was really mild, especially since walking on the beach got my body temperature up (I was actually sweating!) Not too windy either. We did end up seeing a dead fish and a decaying seal on the shore on our walk so definitely keep an eye on your dogs if you're putting them on a long leash. We were going to walk to the "hole in the wall" site but I ended up getting tired pretty fast. Still, this beach left an impact on me and I'm definitely glad we made a stop here!
I went here because the Chamber of Commerce recommended to go to this beach instead of Lapush. I went early in the morning so that I could see the hole in the wall before the current got too close. This literally took my breath away! It is so beautiful! It was a bit foggy, but it was still so gorgeous with the ocean and the beach and then right next to the gorgeous forest! It was just absolutely amazing! If you are in this area, this is a must see! But even if you are not in the area, it is definitely worth the trip. To see the hole in the wall you have to get there at the right time, walk down the beach about an hour, you see it, and then you have to make sure you walk back in time before the tide comes in! Visit the Chamber of Commerce for the correct times. So beautiful!
Rialto Beach is not far from the town of Forks and is a quintessential PNW beach. I was hoping for moodier skies but arrived on a bright blue sky, sunny day. I was able to tack on a visit here after a half day in the Hoh Rainforest. Parking was about 75% full on an early June weekday and I have to wonder if it's all the way full at sunset. The path to the beach is short but when it's lower tide, you can do the 1.5 mile, one way trek over to Hole in the Wall. Tide was coming in when I visited so I just walked along the beach that as far as I could. The sea stacks were obscured by a bit of haze and not accessible due to the tide but still very scenic. There were interesting beach pebbles and one small piece of blue sea glass. I took at picture and then put them back for others to enjoy. The driftwood alone makes this a worthy stop on any Olympic National park itinerary. There were pit toilets in the lot that were clean. What a great way to top off my first day in the national park.
Rialto Beach is just outside of Forks, WA. If you're a Twilight fan, can always make a quick pit stop in town. The beach itself is a part of Olympic national Park and has ample parking. This beach isn't guarded by a gate like the typical park entrances. The undeveloped coast line is gorgeous and there are so many different beautiful views! Make sure to check the tides to get the most out of your visit! read more
Came here as part of the Twilight film location tour spot, but my jaw dropped when driving down to this beach. It looked so beautiful in the sunny weather that Jaric and I were speechless throughout the drive. Lots of parking, yes! But, u need to go to the visitor center first to get a $10 day pass so that you can hang the lime green paper on your car rear view mirror. Nice to take pictures, but I hate that there was no seating arrangement to picnic and there was no area to comfortably lay on so that you can sunbathe. I was really :( about that because I wanted Jaric and I to spend more time together at the beach. The moss on the rocks was such a sight and made it more pop in color with our pictures. I wish that I could max out my star rating for this beach because my eyes were in awe, but really could not spend a long time here with how difficult it was to comfortably stay outside without designated seating areas :( read more
The number of great beaches in this area of the state is pretty impressive! They're never the white sand beach in the Caribbean, but rather the rugged, rock Beach with loads of driftwood and places to explore. This one is literally about 10 miles down the main road and opens into a couple of large parking lots with the beach just beyond. You have to climb over layers of driftwood to get to the rock part of the beach, followed by the sand part. It means that there's always something to explore and do here! Our kids did everything from playing in the water to build forts, to you sticks like a baseball bat and golf club to hit rocks into the water. It was pretty phenomenal to watch everybody exploring and playing while the sun went down over some beautiful rocks out in the water. When the tide is down, the tide pools are pretty fantastic and there's a ton of stuff to explore out in the water. The walk down to the eye of the needle is definitely worth it, and is something you should do earlier in the day as it does tend to get fairly dark fairly quickly. Check the tide schedules and plan accordingly. If you're over in the area, this is one of those places you need to go at least once, and will probably go again the next time you visit. read more
I made the drive over to Rialto Beach from Forks. Rialto Beach is within Olympic National Park and lies north of the Quileute Tribe's community of La Push. There is a visitor center along the way that is only open during the summer that offers information about Olympic National Park. It was a little difficult to get parking because it is very small and crowded. I eventually found a spot, but temporarily got stuck because the surface is covered in pebble rocks. I took a nice walk on Rialto Beach. This is a funny story, but I am used to California beaches and showed up in swim shorts and flip flops. This beach is nothing like Cali beaches. You need a hoodie and good walking shoes because it is cold and windy. There is also driftwood and rocks all over the beach. But the beach views with its low clouds coverage is an incredible site to see. I enjoyed seeing all of the magnificent sea stacks rise out of the coastal waters. There were even trees growing on some of these large rocks formations. When dressed appropriately, this is a great beach for long scenic walks. There are numerous campsites between Ellen Creek and Hole-in-the-Wall that have fire rings. Hole-in-the-Wall is a rock arch near Rialto Beach. If you like to hike, you can hike the under two mile trek on the beach to Hole-in-the-Wall and back from the Rialto Beach parking lot. There are all sorts of wildlife to see along the way. read more
8 months ago
Another beautiful blk sand beach in Forks, WA. There is a hike but we'll worth it! Good free parking. More soon... read more
Amazing view of the Pacific Northwest coast. Seastacks, driftwood galore, and beautiful waves. 55 F on May 3 with the sun shining. Paved parking lot and additional parking in a gravel lot. Covered path, restrooms, and area info posted. Not a beach for swimming due to the cold unless you have a wetsuit. Bring a jacket, even in the summer. Once the sun starts to set, it may hit 40-50 degrees in July. read more
Gotta admit, for the drive over we did, I was a bit disappointed in Rialto Beach. Beach is beautiful, and the water is peaceful. That being said, the entire length of the beach is extremely rocky - not the most enjoyable for a walk along the water. They also do not permit anyone going in the water here. This is also the starting point for the Hole-in-the-Wall hike. If you want to do that hike, man sure to coordinate with the low tide in advance. Highlight: If you like taking pictures with the national park signs, the best Olympic National Park sign we found was on the side of the road close to Rialto Beach. If you have plenty of time to spend while in Olympic or are already in the area, definitely worth a quick stop. But if you're pressed for time (and not planning to do the hike), maybe it's best you skip this one. read more
3 years ago
Rialto Beach was a very special place to me about a zillion years ago when I was in college, and spending a lot of time being outdoorsy on the Oly Peninsula. There is just something so soothing about a natural, virtually untouched ocean beach. And, during some recent hard times, I found myself drawn there again for the first time in, well, awhile. I'm happy to report that Rialto is pretty much the same as I remembered it, although it felt quite a bit more crowded too. This could have been due to the weather, though, as it was a rare sunny, warm day so the crowds were definitely out. Still, on such a vast beach, it wasn't hard to wander down the sand and find a good spot to chillax and ponder life, while breathing in the fresh sea air and gazing out at the seastacks and sealife. This is definitely the place to come for some serious beachcombing and wildlife watching. We noticed several who appeared to be starting (or ending) long backpacking trips up the coast, and while we'd thought about visiting the famous Hole in the Wall during this visit, we only made it about half way before sitting to enjoy some sandwiches on a huge log and just marveling at the beauty of nature. If you need a dose of the wild, and some time to get away, I highly recommend Rialto. We also did a quick drive through the nearby Mora campground, which looks like a fun place to stay - maybe next year! read more
2 years ago
Anytime I'm on a beach, I'm happy. Grounding myself with earth and it makes my soul happy. This beach has loads of rocks so wear shoes or water proof shoes. Wading in the water was fairly easy. Sandy. Be careful though the waves were very large and this beach doesn't seem to be a casual swimming area. Doesn't matter to me. Covered in smooth rocks everywhere you can turn into rock sculptures called cairns. And huge gigantic driftwood trees everywhere too. It's humbling to feel so small and this beach does that. A huge forest area which sounds like it's breathing in the wind is just next the beach. So pretty. Parking is plentiful and there are bathrooms. Come calm your soul. SYOY! read more
Rialto Beach is a public beach located on the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park. The big attraction for this beach is Hole-in-the-Wall, a rock arch about 2 miles away from the trailhead. You essentially walk on the beach north and pass some rocks to get to the hole. The hole itself was pretty cool and made for a great photo-op with the ocean in the background. Along with the arch there were many other rock formations and even a tree graveyard for all the tree trunks deposited by storms. If you plan on coming, make sure you look at the tide levels because if you go during high tide the waters might come too close on the beach, giving you less space to walk to and from the hole in the wall. Other popular spots that people visit in the area are First Beach and Second Beach which are further south. read more
As one of the recommended hikes around Olympic National Park, I wanted to stop by and check out how the Pacific Northwest coast line differs from Southern California. It's close enough to La Push so we squeezed multiple beaches in for the day. Parking here was pretty insane and I think we really got lucky. The road branches off into two lots but one is technically supposed to be for backpackers. I think a lot of people just parked wherever they could. At the end of the parking lot, there are some public bathrooms. The hike to Hole-in-the-Wall is about 3.3 miles round trip and it seems short but it felt like it took forever. Walking on sand/gravel where you just sink in every step makes it more difficult. A big difference between Rialto and SoCal beaches is the sand quality too. I thought walking barefoot might be fun but the sand is not soft here, I mean I wouldn't even say it was a sandy beach. It's more rocky and gravel-ly. The weather started off gray and gloomy but the sun eventually cleared out the marine layer. We got some good shots of the sea stacks against blue skies. Along the way, you'll come across tons of driftwood, with some just being an entire tree! And as you get closer to the hole, there are a couple of tide pools to stop by. Saw some sea stars! The hole itself was pretty anticlimactic. You can walk through it but it's a lot smaller than I thought and I couldn't really get a good angle for pictures. Because of that, I didn't feel like the hike was worth the effort. It was cool seeing the sea stacks but I didn't need to hike just for that. read more
This may be my favorite beach--and this is coming from someone that grew up in Hawai'i. Sure, it's not somewhere to swim, SUP, or kayak, at least in the fall-winter months. Sure, the beach is mostly pebbles, driftwood, and kelp rather than soft, white sand. But I loved the moody atmosphere and how different it was compared to the beaches I'm used to. We visited on a Sunday in mid-October at around 11am. There was ample parking and dogs are allowed on-leash (just please make sure to pick up after them and have common courtesy). There are bathrooms in the parking lot, though I didn't use them so can't attest to cleanliness. Depending on how you enter from the parking lot to the beach, there are some logs you have to climb over. Be careful, as they may be slippery when wet. The majority of the beach until the shore break is incredibly smooth pebbles of various patterns and colors! I could spend a whole afternoon here just looking at rocks. Because of that though, I would come prepared with some sturdy shoes or boots. There was also incredibly smooth driftwood and pieces of kelp washed ashore. Some of the kelp had live barnacles on them--my first time seeing live barnacles in person! I thought it was going to be freezing because we were right on the coast but it was really mild, especially since walking on the beach got my body temperature up (I was actually sweating!) Not too windy either. We did end up seeing a dead fish and a decaying seal on the shore on our walk so definitely keep an eye on your dogs if you're putting them on a long leash. We were going to walk to the "hole in the wall" site but I ended up getting tired pretty fast. Still, this beach left an impact on me and I'm definitely glad we made a stop here! read more
I went here because the Chamber of Commerce recommended to go to this beach instead of Lapush. I went early in the morning so that I could see the hole in the wall before the current got too close. This literally took my breath away! It is so beautiful! It was a bit foggy, but it was still so gorgeous with the ocean and the beach and then right next to the gorgeous forest! It was just absolutely amazing! If you are in this area, this is a must see! But even if you are not in the area, it is definitely worth the trip. To see the hole in the wall you have to get there at the right time, walk down the beach about an hour, you see it, and then you have to make sure you walk back in time before the tide comes in! Visit the Chamber of Commerce for the correct times. So beautiful! read more
3 years ago
Rialto Beach is not far from the town of Forks and is a quintessential PNW beach. I was hoping for moodier skies but arrived on a bright blue sky, sunny day. I was able to tack on a visit here after a half day in the Hoh Rainforest. Parking was about 75% full on an early June weekday and I have to wonder if it's all the way full at sunset. The path to the beach is short but when it's lower tide, you can do the 1.5 mile, one way trek over to Hole in the Wall. Tide was coming in when I visited so I just walked along the beach that as far as I could. The sea stacks were obscured by a bit of haze and not accessible due to the tide but still very scenic. There were interesting beach pebbles and one small piece of blue sea glass. I took at picture and then put them back for others to enjoy. The driftwood alone makes this a worthy stop on any Olympic National park itinerary. There were pit toilets in the lot that were clean. What a great way to top off my first day in the national park. read more
We had this stop on our to-do list for Hole in the Wall, but our arrival time didn't work out with the tide. The area is lovely though, expansive beach with loads of driftwood and rock formations. While it wasn't my favorite stop along the Olympic coastline it was certainly pretty. Plenty of parking, and a peaceful and short drive from Forks. read more
3 years ago
This was probably our favorite beach. Warning: You have to walk in sand, rocks and cross a creek to get to the "hole -in-the-wall" where you meet the tidepools. We went during 0.1 low tide. IT is about 1.5 mile to walk there. Bring good shoes, shades and water! Easy parking. read more
An incredible beach with a one of a kind vibe and atmosphere. The drive down is so ominous yet breathtaking. You are submerged and surrounded by trees and fog, which was exciting and reminiscent of Twilight. As all Twilight fans know, Twilight is primarily based in Forks, Washington. Now I know that it wasn't filmed here, but it was interesting to see the backdrops that sparked and catapulted Stephanie Meyers into making the series. At times I wish the weather wasn't so gloomy and foggy, but reflecting back I think that's what really added to the experience. It made everything so peculiar and that much more mysterious. I could stay here for hours listening to the waves and being immersed in the mist. There were a few locals catching some waves, which was fun to watch. We walked along the coastline where it's mostly pebbles and rocks. It's somewhat hard to walk on, so know your limits when walking down to the big boulders. Overall, Rialto Beach is truly something special and everyone should find themselves lucky to experience this place. read more
Visiting Rialto Beach was the most amazing place. We visited earlier in the day to explore the beach and go tide-pooling during low tide, which was a fantastic experience! There are a few areas of the beach that you can only get to during low tide that are so worth it! Be sure to check tide charts for the beach prior to going and know when the tide will come back in for your own safety. During low tide, we explored the otherwise covered areas of the beach. We explored the hole in the wall, a very picturesque spot, and went tide-pooling looking for sea stars, urchins, and other sea life. We spotted lots! This beach is a forested beach with large rocks and driftwood that makes for an amazing landscape. We planned to only stay for a few hours and ended up spending the entire day here because we were having so much fun! We decided to stay for the sunset, which apparently everyone else did as well because there were tons of people on the beach to witness the beauty. And wow! What a beautiful sunset it was....truly one of the most amazing sunsets I've ever seen! The way the mist and fog hangs over the beach and forest adds a special feel to the atmosphere, and we were even greeted by a few seals who played in the Pacific Ocean while we watched the sunset. At the end of the night, leaving was difficult for me, as I didn't know when I would next witness something as awe-inspiring as this location. read more
This beach is amazing... its very serene and not crowded. There is free parking and clean restrooms. We set up some fold up beach chairs with some snacks and drinks and just slept on the beach for hours. Not the best beach for the little ones- the beach is rocky and water is rough and cold. This is a good beach to sit with a friend or loved ones, or even solo, and take in the view. read more
There's something about this beach. I was here during sunset and its amazing to watch. The hole in the rock was a nice hike to, and for photo ops and seeing sea critters during low tides. The beach was good for bird watching and just enjoying the waves. The hike back seemed forever during the dark because you had to remember where to pull off left into the parking lot. Luckily, we followed the crowd. read more
Ran to Rialto beach on our last night in forks to catch the sunset on the west coast. So glad we decided to do this!! The beach is full of rocks which is different to the beaches in Florida. The rocks look all dark at first glance but as you walk you'll see different colored ones which became fun to collect. However it is beautiful to see and walk along. There were tons of driftwood spread around and the big logs which were a great use for seats to watch the sun drop. While staying in the forks area we did as much hiking as possible but the beaches were our favorite! read more
For any travelers exploring Olympic National Park, this beach is a must!! Most people will come here specifically to visit Hole-in-the-Wall, which is a fairly short hike from the parking lot. The most challenging part of this hike is crossing Ellen Creek, which is about the halfway point. The best and safest time to visit is during a low tide (or better yet, during a negative tide)--when you'll spot plenty of colorful creatures such as starfish and sea anemones. read more
6 years ago
This is a really beautiful beach and so picturesque for the PNW. We were there over the summer and it was a perfectly cloudy misty mystical day. The beach itself is a mixture of this incredible black sand and lots of pebbles, rocks, and driftwood. The large piles of driftwood have been cleverly assembled by visitors into various mini forts that give the spot a whimsical feel. There's some beautiful rock formations dotting the coastline and tons of tide pools! We saw anemones, varieties of starfish, and lots of shells and little creatures living inside the pools. There are lots of great things to do here from walking along the beach admiring the views, visiting the Hole in the Wall rock, searching out tide pools for fish friends, and building driftwood forts. We were here on a weekend and it was already busy mid afternoon and we had to park on the road. Once we were ready to leave it was even crazier with people rushing to get in to see the sunset. I definitely recommend this unique beach but plan ahead and get a good parking spot before it fills up. read more
5 years ago
This East Coast girl was drooling over how gorgeous the view is from this beach. Driftwood lined the beach for miles giving it the perfect backdrop. We visited close to sunset and there was a dense fog giving it a cool eerie feel - perfect for Vampires ;) The best part - you can park your car and only have to walk a few feet to get your toes in the sand! read more
6 years ago
Wow, what an incredibly scenic beach. Evidently everyone else knows about this place because parking at 8am was full. The rocks and driftwood everywhere are so scenic. Go at low tide so you can see the beautiful starfish and bright green sea anemones. We also saw 3-4 bald eagles. It really is such a unique beach unlike any I've seen before. You have to walk about 1.5 miles down to see the big hole in the rock. Go check it out if you're in the area- it's really worth it! read more
4 years ago
As with most places on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, is this place in La Push, or is it in Forks? I've found that to be true with a lot of places I've visited this past July. Not sure if I could find these out-of-the-way places without a physical location to plug into the GPS but I got lucky as I was pointed in this direction by a pit-stop for a toilet break at Three Rivers on Hwy 20; almost didn't make it out here given it's remote location and uncertainty if I could ever find this place but it was so worth it and looking back now I would have never passed this place up. If you are used to the beaches of Hawaii, California or Florida you are in for a treat because the beaches on the Olympic Peninsula are nothing like any of those. Forget pristine white, blinding sand and cabanas with sea gulls screaming over head and little drinks with frou frou umbrellas and girls in Brazilian bikini thongs and families slathered in sun tan lotion lying on colorful towels basking in the sun. Picture instead vast open spaces of utter wideness (is that a word), isolated from city lights, buildings and civilization. You drive through a forest of trees just to get here and park in the paved lot and make your way to the beach. What you see before you is unlike anything you've seen before if you are a first time visitor: It's rugged, wild, desolate, wind-blown, haunting, beautiful and totally untamed. Ghostly spires of dead tree skeletons jut out at all angles from the dark sand and smooth round rocks greet your bare feet as you clamber over ancient pieces of driftwood. Giant tangles of kelp litter the beach as does washed up remnants of ocean life. The wind whips and howls in your ear but that's OK because it's nature's song reminding you that you here, you made it here and you are alive; you can feel everything around you in exquisite detail from the sun overhead beaming down on the top of your head to the smell of the fresh air you can't smell anywhere else on earth. Eagles soar overhead and maybe you may hear a few people down the beach but other than that, it's basically isolated. It's totally beautiful and if you can visit with an open mind knowing that this is an untamed beach that will not bow to commercialism and frou frou drinks and sun bathers you will be OK with this place. It's a magical place that allows you to be in it, not the other way around. read more
6 years ago
Rialto beach is stunning! My one and only recommendation is the city find a way to support more patrons by facilitating more parking. I don't know if that would even be possible with the surrounding area. However, I will still be back. That doesn't change my opinion of the place whatsoever. A lot of people were staying the night out there--which sounded like so much fun. The drive out there was gorgeous. The beach was VERY populated, but there was still plenty of space. Everyone should go to see the sunset at Rialto. read more
7 years ago
This is probably one of my favorite beaches in the US. The sunsets are stunning and the rocks and driftwood are amazing. The views are incredible like out of a movie! read more
8 years ago
Olympic National Park is also unique for its wild and undeveloped coastline on its west side. Instead of resorts or vacation homes that usually surround a beach, a pine curtain of spruce trees run up to the edge of Rialto Beach. In addition, it features islands and gorgeous rock formations right off the coast. Next, you cannot actually swim in the ocean because of driftwood in the water. In addition, the waves of the Pacific Ocean are strong there so I am not sure I would want to venture out in the water even without the driftwood. The beach is popular for the 1.5 mile walk up to the Hole-in-the-Wall. As the name suggests, it is a big hole naturally pierced through one of the ends of an oval shaped rock. Once you are on the north side of the hole, you can look back through it to view the ocean and beach where you came from on the walk up. It is like peering through a looking glass. Naturally, it is a unique and beautiful view of Rialto Beach. In addition, there are sea creatures at that point of the beach such as clams and starfish. It is also home to the interesting sea anemone. At first glance, it looks like a plant. In actuality, it is a predatory animal. The apparent flower petals are actually tentacles. If you take a stick and poke them, they will close up like they would when ensnaring prey. Make sure to check when low and high tides will occur during the day before visiting Rialto Beach. You will want to plan your day around low tide so there is more beach to walk on and so the Hole-in-the-Wall is not submerged under water when you are there. For example, we wanted to visit Forks and the Hoh Rainforest on the same day. The two hours before and after high tide was the perfect window to visit Rialto Beach. Consequently, we drove around Forks before going to the beach then went to the Hoh Rainforest after we were finished with the beach. Moreover, we drove in the wrong direction when we were driving to Rialto Beach. We initially went to the First Beach just south of Rialto Beach. They do not connect. Accordingly, we had to drive back around. If you are heading to Rialto Beach, make sure you are on Mora Road and drive to the end of it. If you are visiting Olympic National Park and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile. read more
I don't think I've ever been to a beach this... unique! The rocks are quite large and there's driftwood everywhere! We we first arrived, we thought it was the result of a tsunami or something, but it's because salt-water kills trees. There are literally hundreds of dead trees, preserved, but still standing - very cool. It's definitely worth climbing on the driftwood and hopping around from one to another. The pebbles (or should I say large rocks) don't really make this beach a fun beach to play in, but it's a nice place to sit and relax, not much else. -- PHOTOS: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/18DIwSI54L1bCXBYj0ZjqQ?select=JnSVYt8tEMkMpvCIHf2_CA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/18DIwSI54L1bCXBYj0ZjqQ?select=ZCjX4UPJKgjD-Eu0sARUMg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/18DIwSI54L1bCXBYj0ZjqQ?select=WA_D3xIKtIv4nIIASDNr6g read more
8 years ago
Tide pools, starfish, sea anenome, crabs, hiking, camping. . . . Rialto Beach is a lot of fun and a great place for a short hike and overnight camp. Get your backcountry camping pass at the Forks Ranger Station. Also, bear cannisters are required on the coast so bring your own or rent one from the Ranger Station. There aren't any bears but you need to protect your stuff from raccoons (We did not see any). Start your hike from the Rialto Beach parking lot. About 1/2 mile down the beach is Ellen Creek. You can camp anywhere on the beach north of Ellen Creek. We camped at a great spot exactly at the Ellen Creek sign. Then just hiked a couple miles up the beach past "Hole in the Wall." It was lot of fun but could get strenuous hopping over rocks and walking on soft sand. There is nothing better than falling asleep next to a big fire and listening to the ocean. Have fun!! read more
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More info about Rialto Beach
Forks, WA 98331
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http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/rialto-beach.htm
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Are there any accommodations right on the beach besides camping?
I have a rental a few miles away. But no Rialto Beach has no homes within a couple miles. There is the Lodge at 1st beach in La Push.
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8 years ago
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Rialto Beach - hiking - Updated May 2026
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