Semiahmoo Spit is a narrow, mile-long sandy strip extending into Semiahmoo Bay near the Canadian border. The beach offers stunning views of Mount Baker, the San Juan Islands, and the Canadian Coastal Mountains. Historically significant as the site of the Alaska Packers Association Cannery, now preserved as a museum documenting the area’s fishing industry. The […]
Beaches for Photography
Moclips Beach
Moclips Beach is located at the northernmost town on Washington’s southern coast, offering a quieter alternative to more developed beach towns. The area has significant cultural importance to the Quinault Indian Nation, whose reservation borders the town. Historically a thriving resort destination in the early 1900s, most structures were destroyed in violent storms, giving the […]
Damon Point
Damon Point is a sandy spit that extends into Grays Harbor, forming a unique peninsula with beaches on all sides. The area is designated as a marine protected area and wildlife refuge, particularly important for snowy plovers, a threatened shorebird species. The point offers four miles of walkable beach around its perimeter. Once the site […]
Pelican State Beach
Pelican State Beach holds the distinction of being California’s northernmost state beach, located just south of the Oregon border. This remote, undeveloped beach offers a wild, pristine coastline experience with minimal facilities and often few visitors. The beach features dramatic views of offshore sea stacks and the Oregon coast stretching northward. Birds including brown pelicans, […]
Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach features dramatic offshore islands, massive driftwood, polished stones, and crashing waves. It’s famous for the spectacular Hole-in-the-Wall formation, a natural arch accessible by a 1.5-mile hike during low tide. The beach is part of Olympic National Park’s coastal strip and offers primitive camping opportunities. Wildlife viewing includes bald eagles, seals, and during migration […]
La Push Beach (First Beach)
Located in the Quileute Indian Reservation, First Beach at La Push is a crescent-shaped shore featuring dramatic sea stacks and driftwood. It’s the most accessible of the three La Push beaches and offers beautiful sunset views. The beach gained fame as a filming location for the Twilight movie series. Situated at the mouth of the […]
Second Beach (La Push)
Second Beach is accessible via a 0.7-mile forested trail and is considered by many to be the most scenic of the three La Push beaches. The trail descends through old-growth forest before opening to a spectacular coastline with dramatic sea stacks, tide pools, and natural arches. It’s a popular spot for overnight camping (permit required), […]
Shi Shi Beach
Shi Shi Beach is a remote, pristine coastline in Olympic National Park, accessible only by a 2-mile hike through rainforest. The beach is renowned for its Point of Arches, a series of dramatic sea stacks and natural arches that make it a photographer’s paradise. The relative difficulty of access keeps crowds minimal, offering a true […]
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 […]
Dungeness Spit
Dungeness Spit is the longest natural sand spit in the United States, extending 5.5 miles into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This unique landform is protected as part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 250 bird species and diverse marine wildlife. Hikers can walk the length of the spit to reach […]