The USA's best West Coast beaches

California's southern coast may have inspired Beach Boys ballads and the surfer stereotypes that have become an integral aspect of West Coast lore, but northern neighbors Oregon and Washington have spectacular beaches, too. Those frigid Pacific Northwest waters might not tempt most people to swim, but they certainly offer incredible scenic beauty.

North to south, here are a few of our favorite Pacific Ocean beaches on the West Coast of the USA.

1. Ruby Beach, Washington

Best for bird-watching

Protected by Olympic National Park, Ruby Beach is about as picturesque as beaches come. The red-hued garnet grains that mix with the sand are the reason behind its name, but it's the abundance of sea stacks and massive piles of driftwood that draw photographers. Ruby Beach is also a great place for birding, and tufted puffins are often seen nesting on rocks just offshore.

Detour: Drive inland for about an hour to visit the Hoh Rainforest. Stroll down the 0.8-mile Hall of Mosses Trail to see ancient trees cloaked in heavy gowns of moss.

2. Indian Beach, Oregon

Best for hiking

You may recognize Indian Beach from the first Twilight film, in which it played the role of La Push Beach. This forested cove is inside Ecola State Park, just north of the adorable town of Cannon Beach and about 80 miles west of Portland, OR, but it feels worlds apart from city life.

Planning tip: One popular way to explore the park is by parking at Ecola Point and hiking through the woods. The journey is around 2.4 miles each way.

3. Neskowin Beach, Oregon

Best for natural phenomena

About 80 miles down the coast from Indian Beach, Neskowin Beach has long been a favorite among people looking for a compact alternative to some of the busier beach communities on the coast. Since 1998, it has also attracted those interested in a mysterious natural phenomena. Storm activity the previous winter reduced the sand level and revealed the petrified remains of an ancient Sitka spruce forest. Visit during low tide and you can walk right up to the otherworldly stumps at what’s now known as Neskowin’s Ghost Forest.

Planning tip: For the best views of the stumps, visit during the minus tides – the lowest tides of the year – which happen every winter.

4. Secret Beach, Oregon

Best for photography

Despite its name, Oregon’s Secret Beach is pretty well-known, likely owing to the number of social media influencers willing to clamor down the 0.75-mile trail to get here. Visit outside of the summer to avoid crowds at this South Coast darling and be rewarded with a small, pristine beach surrounded by massive, tree-topped rocks (both on the shore and in the water). The trailhead is just south of milepost 345 on the stretch of the Oregon Coast Hwy known as the Samuel H Boardman State Scenic Corridor, about 20 miles north of the California border.

Planning tip: Come during low or medium tide – the beach is mostly engulfed when tides are high.

5. Trinidad State Beach, California

Best for getting away from it all

The North Coast will quickly dispel any notions about what California beaches should look or feel like, so pack a hoodie and be prepared for a chilly but beautiful experience. Some 80 miles south of the state line, Trinidad State Beach has the same forest-and-sea look found in Washington and Oregon.

Planning tip: Getting to the beach involves a walk through the forest, and the beach itself feels cut off from the world beyond its crashing waves.

6. Pfeiffer Beach, California

Best for sunsets

Big Sur is lauded for its larger-than-life scenery at every turn, and Pfeiffer Beach is certainly no exception. This beach is known for two things: its purplish sand, which gets its hue from manganese garnet deposits, and Keyhole Arch, a massive sea stack with a tiny peephole that looks magical when the setting sun passes just behind it.

Planning tip: Rockslides and storm damage can lead to closures along sections of Hwy 1. Before you set out, check with CalTrans for up-to-date info on your route.

7. Butterfly Beach, California

Best for walking

Walking along Montecito's beloved Butterfly Beach in the early morning when the tide is out is ideal. Surfers float on their boards in the distance, awaiting the perfect wave. Just a 15-minute drive from Santa Barbara and within the super posh confines of Montecito, this no-frills spot (there are no facilities) is also good for swimming and is particularly breathtaking as the sun goes down. Parking can be tricky to find, so rent a bike near Stearns Wharf instead, then ride east along the water to reach Butterfly. You'll pass the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge along the path as well.

Detour: After your morning beach walk, head to Jeannine's on Coast Village Rd for a bowl-sized latte and a perfectly Californian breakfast burrito.

8. Santa Monica State Beach, California

Best for families

One of the easiest beaches to get to from Los Angeles, Santa Monica State Beach is also one of the best for families. While its golden sands and Pacific waters are enough to entice most beach-hungry visitors, there’s a lot more to do on this 3.5-mile-long beach than swimming and tanning. In fact, the beach’s star attraction isn’t its sands but Santa Monica Pier. This quarter-mile pier is home to a massive amusement park that's colorfully illuminated starting at around sunset, when crowds descend to ride the rides, snack on carnival fare and take photos with a sign marking the pier’s status as the end point of historic Route 66.

Planning tip: Finding street parking in downtown Santa Monica is a pain. However, all downtown parking structures (except Structure 3) offer free parking for the first 90 minutes.

9. La Jolla Cove, California

Best for swimming

If your favorite part of going to the beach is swimming, La Jolla Cove may be the beach for you. At this compact beach 13 miles north of San Diego, surfboards and kayaks are banned, making the water all the more appealing to swimmers.

Planning tip: If you're lucky, you may spot a California sea lion hauling out onto the sand at La Jolla Cove. Remember to keep your distance.