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 […]
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.
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 […]
Kalaloch Beach
Kalaloch Beach is part of Olympic National Park’s coastal region, offering several numbered beach access points (Beach 1-4). The area is famous for the “Tree of Life,” a Sitka spruce that hangs over an eroded bluff with roots exposed yet still thriving. Kalaloch Creek empties into the ocean here, creating diverse habitats. The Kalaloch Campground […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]