When most people conjure up an image of a beach, they usually think about a tropical paradise with white sand beaches, aqua blue waters and perhaps a drink in hand. Interestingly, my favorite is Ruby Beach on the Pacific coast in western Washington. No one really swims at the beach—the water is too cold. It is not a great beach to play volleyball, have a party or sunbathe. However, the beauty and significance of this beach is unmatched. Perhaps the most dramatic and notable feature is the sea stacks that dot the beach and shore. These dramatic rock formations, when large enough, support large trees and protect various creatures from predators. You can walk out to many of the stacks and explore them when the tide permits. The stacks, some with holes or arches, create the most dramatic sunsets I have ever seen and are equally powerful when the fog rolls in. This beach is amazing regardless of the season or weather condition. The beach is fairly remote, over a two-hour drive from Seattle, which keeps the beach from being overrun.
This would be enough to satisfy most visitors but there is so much more. A small freshwater stream cuts through the beach on its way to the ocean. When the tide is low it mixes with the seawater to create brackish tide pools that form what some refer to as a starfish nursery. There are other tide pools, some at the base of the stacks, which contain an array of colorful sea anemones as well as long neck barnacles, snails, crabs, sea cucumbers, nudibranchs, sculpins (a small fish) and an occasional octopus—a literal treasure trove of life. Additional features include spectacular shells, pieces of driftwood and ruby-like crystals in the sand that give this beach its name. The beach is a part of Olympic National Park. It’s protected, so visitors are forbidden from removing anything from the beach. The image shown here is a bizarre sand formation that appeared after a light rain. This beach is full of surprises and never offers up the exact same experience. You may not get served a cocktail in a coconut, but this dynamic ecosystem never disappoints.
Wow! That would be a sizeable test to not retrieve at least one tiny stone or shell from that treasured spot. So well written David and certainly a spot that would be worth the time to visit. Thank you for your observations of a beach experience I have not ever been a part all .though I have spent many, many days and nights at the beach. In fact, I met the most significant person of my life at the beach…my wife! A stroll on any beach is worth it. Oh yeeaaahhhh!