Joemma Beach State Park is a secluded 122-acre marine park on the Key Peninsula featuring 3,000 feet of saltwater shoreline on Case Inlet of Puget Sound. The beach is notable for being a stop on the Cascadia Marine Trail, a water trail for human-powered boats. The park offers primitive campsites that are particularly popular with […]
Beaches for Kayaking
Owen Beach
Owen Beach is located within Point Defiance Park, a 760-acre urban oasis in Tacoma. The beach recently underwent a major renovation to improve accessibility and address climate change impacts. Situated along the Tacoma Narrows, it offers views of Vashon Island, the Olympic Mountains, and marine traffic. The beach is accessible via the Five Mile Drive […]
Kopachuck Beach
Kopachuck Beach is part of a 109-acre marine state park along Henderson Bay in Puget Sound. The beach offers dramatic views of Cutts Island (also known as Deadman’s Island), a small, tree-topped island accessible by kayak at low tide. The shoreline features a mix of sand and small pebbles, with a forested backdrop that provides […]
Hobuck Beach
Hobuck Beach is a crescent-shaped beach on the Makah Reservation near Neah Bay, the northwestern-most point of the contiguous United States. The beach’s protected bay location makes it one of the safest places to surf on the Washington coast, with gentler waves than more exposed beaches. Hobuck Beach Resort offers camping and cabin rentals right […]
Fort Worden Beach
Fort Worden Beach is part of a 434-acre historical state park that was once a U.S. Army base built to protect Puget Sound. The beach offers stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Olympic Mountains, and shipping traffic. The Point Wilson Lighthouse, built in 1879 and rebuilt in 1913, stands at the northern […]
Golden Gardens Park
Golden Gardens Park is a popular urban beach in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, offering stunning views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The park features sandy beaches, wetlands, hiking trails, and fishing piers. It’s one of the few Seattle parks with designated fire pits, making evening beach bonfires a popular activity (permits required). The protected […]
Cama Beach
Cama Beach State Park preserves a historic 1930s fishing resort on Camano Island. The beach fronts Saratoga Passage with views of the Olympic Mountains across the water. Historic cedar cabins built between 1934 and 1955 can be rented year-round. The Center for Wooden Boats operates on-site, offering boat rentals and educational programs about maritime heritage. […]
Rosario Beach
Rosario Beach is part of Deception Pass State Park, Washington’s most-visited state park. This small, sheltered cove features exceptional tide pools that are part of a marine protected area. The Maiden of Deception Pass story pole, a Samish Indian carving, tells the legend of the area. Several hiking trails connect Rosario to other parts of […]
Monterey State Beach
Monterey State Beach stretches along the southern shoreline of Monterey Bay, extending from Monterey to Seaside with spectacular views of the entire bay. The beach’s protected location within the bay creates gentler conditions than many California beaches, making it popular for swimming and water sports. The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail runs adjacent to sections […]
Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach sits in front of the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in upscale Montecito, offering a quiet alternative to Santa Barbara’s main beaches. Unlike most California beaches that face west, Butterfly Beach has a south-facing orientation that provides spectacular views of the Channel Islands and exceptional sunset vistas. The narrow sandy beach is backed […]