We may not have the perpetually warm weather and white sand of Southern California, but Washington beaches can certainly hold their own when it comes to breathtaking beauty and soft ocean breezes. But while many flock to Long Beach and Ocean Shores for their summer vacations, some of our more underrated beaches remain calm and uncrowded. Rialto Beach is one of those spots.
Rialto Beach is located on the Olympic Peninsula near the mouth of the Quillayute River.
The beach was named after the famous magician Claude Alexander Conlin after the Rialto theater chain. Conlin had a home that overlooked the beach in the 1920s until it burned in the 1930s.
Rialto is defined by the offshore islands known as sea stacks that the Olympic Peninsula beaches are known for, as well as giant drift logs and rocky shorelines.
But despite the rocks, this beach also has plenty of sandy stretches, especially during low tide.
Although the town of Forks is nearby, and the beach is near the 94-site Mora campground, yet it often remains delightfully uncrowded.
This is probably due to the popularity of the nearby La Push.
Rialto Beach is accessible by Mora Road, off of La Push Road.
It's about 75 miles from the city of Port Angeles.
You can camp here, but you'll need a permit first.
You can get one in person at the Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles.
When you go, make sure to explore the tide pools.
You never know what you'll find.
If nothing else, this is the perfect place to take a secluded sunset stroll.
Depending on the time of year, you might have the entire beach to yourself.
Do you prefer quiet beaches to our more popular tourist spots? If so, our hidden beaches road trip is for you.
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