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 […]
Washington Beaches
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 […]
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 […]