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 […]
Washington Beaches
Washington State’s beaches span three distinct coastal zones: the wild Pacific Ocean beaches of the Olympic Peninsula and southwest coast (Ruby Beach, Rialto Beach, Kalaloch, Ocean Shores, Westport, and Cape Disappointment), the sheltered pebble and sand pocket beaches of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands (Alki Beach, Golden Gardens, Lincoln Park, Mukilteo Lighthouse Park, and Deception Pass), and warm freshwater lake beaches on Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish, and Lake Chelan. Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound waters remain cold year-round (46 F to 56 F), making tide pooling at low tide, beachcombing, sea kayaking, clamming, and storm watching more common than prolonged ocean swimming without a wetsuit. Washington State Parks require vehicles to display a daily ($10) or annual ($30) Discover Pass, while Olympic National Park beaches require an NPS entrance pass. Always carry a tide table on Olympic Peninsula beaches to avoid being trapped at high tide around headlands. Use the filters below to explore Washington beaches across the outer Pacific Coast, Olympic National Park, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and inland lakes by tide pooling, sea kayaking, clamming, camping, and summer swimming. Before visiting, ensure you display a Washington State Parks Discover Pass or National Park pass where required, carry a printed NOAA tide chart for headland hikes, and check the Washington Department of Ecology BEACH program for water quality updates.
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 […]
Grayland Beach
Grayland Beach State Park offers 7,449 feet of ocean frontage on the Pacific Ocean south of Westport. The beach is known for its excellent razor clam digging during designated seasons. The 412-acre park includes 4 miles of flat, sandy beach that permits vehicle access in certain areas. The steady winds make it ideal for kite […]
Birch Bay
Birch Bay is a shallow, crescent-shaped bay that warms up significantly during summer months, making it one of the most swimmable beaches in Washington. The bay’s extreme tidal exchanges can expose up to a half-mile of tidelands during low tide, creating exceptional opportunities for collecting shellfish and exploring tide pools. The 194-acre Birch Bay State […]
Semiahmoo Spit
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 […]
Richmond Beach
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park features 32 acres of steep, wooded slopes leading down to a Puget Sound beach with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and shipping traffic. The park includes both an off-leash dog area and dog-restricted zones to accommodate different users. Railway tracks run along the beach, providing train-watching opportunities. The hillside above […]
Lincoln Park Beach
Lincoln Park in West Seattle combines a mile of saltwater beach along Puget Sound with 135 acres of forest trails and recreational facilities. The beach includes both rocky and sandy sections, with a paved path running its length. The park features Colman Pool, a heated saltwater pool with views of Puget Sound (open summers). Located […]
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 […]
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 […]
Dash Point State Park
Dash Point State Park offers 3,301 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The beach is famous for skimboarding, with its flat sandy terrain and gentle slope perfect for this sport. The park encompasses 461 acres with forested hiking and biking trails in addition to beach activities. At low tide, the beach extends far out, […]