Rialto Sunset – Washington

Rialto Sunset – Olympic National Park, Washington

Bathed in the warm glow of sunset, two hikers explore the exposed rocks and tide pools near the rugged end of Rialto Beach. Long stretches of sand punctuated by sea stacks, teaming tide pools, and easy access, make Rialto Beach one of most popular hikes along the Olympic coast. At a bit less than 2 miles long, Rialto spans from the Quillayute River in the south to Hole in the Wall, an arched sea stack, in the north. The beach is part of the Olympic National Park coastal strip, a segment of protected wilderness coast along Washington’s Pacific rim. Attracting over 3 millions visitors a year, mostly from nearby Seattle, the park offers a peaceful respite from the pace and noise of city life.