Local guide

The beaches worth leaving the deck for.

The best public beaches near Olalla are Kopachuck State Park in Gig Harbor and Joemma Beach State Park on the Key Peninsula: saltwater shorelines with swimming, wading, picnics, and sunset views over the sound. Purdy Spit and the Gig Harbor waterfront round out the short list. One thing to know first: the house beach is private and reserved for guests of the house. It is not open to outside visitors.

Four public shores within an easy drive, from a family swim beach to a working-waterfront park.

Written by Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

Kopachuck State Park: the swim beach

The case for it. The closest real swimming beach to the house, and the best beach day you can do near Olalla. 280 acres of day-use park on Henderson Bay with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline. The beach is rocky up high and levels into a sandbar at low tide, which is exactly why families love it for wading. Two miles of shaded trails, picnic shelters and tables, a new playground, and some of the finest sunsets on this side of the sound.

New for 2026. Kopachuck reopened on August 2, 2026 after more than a year of renovations: a new Welcome Center and park office, an upgraded parking lot, an improved trail system, a new playground, and an outdoor amphitheater. It is now firmly a day-use community park. State Parks lists beach exploration, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and bird watching among its activities, and the beach and restrooms are open year-round.

Know before you go. 10712 56th St NW, Gig Harbor. Day-use only, dawn to dusk, and a Discover Pass is required. Shellfish was closed here for the 2026 season, so check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before planning a harvest trip anywhere. Dogs on leash are allowed.

Joemma Beach State Park: the quiet one

The case for it. A 122-acre marine park with 3,000 feet of saltwater frontage on Case Inlet, on the Key Peninsula southwest of Olalla. Rocky beach, calm water, a boat ramp and dock, short forest trails, and a fraction of the crowds of the bigger parks. It is the beach for a long, quiet afternoon with a book and a pair of binoculars, with views across the water to the mountains.

Know before you go. 20001 Bay Rd SW, Lakebay, WA 98349. State Parks lists swimming, kayaking, beach exploration, and bird watching among the activities. Primitive campsites are reservable May 15 through October 1; the rest of the year it is day use. A Discover Pass is required. Leashed dogs are welcome.

Purdy Spit: the tide-flat walk

The case for it. A public county park on the spit at Purdy, between Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay, and one of the closest public beaches to Olalla. Tide flats that walk well at low tide, wading at high, and a boat ramp if you are launching kayaks. It is simpler and smaller than the state parks, which is the point: come for a walk at low tide, stay for the view back across the bay.

Know before you go. Shellfish seasons on this beach are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and change by year and season. Check their beach page for Purdy Spit before harvesting anything.

Skansie Brothers Park: the waterfront, not a beach

The case for it. Not a swim beach, but the most public shoreline in Gig Harbor and worth a stop on any beach day. A 2.59-acre waterfront park at 3207 Harborview Dr, right in the center of downtown Gig Harbor, with open-water access, a fishing pier and public dock, and the historic Skansie netshed on the National Register. Come to eat lunch on the grass, watch the boats, and let the kids cool off at the splash fountain at nearby Jerisich Park.

Know before you go. Downtown parking, no pass needed. Pair it with the shops and restaurants on Harborview Drive.

Practical notes

• Puget Sound water stays cold year-round. Wading and brave swims are fine in summer; the water does not get warm.
• Low tide doubles the beach at Kopachuck and Purdy Spit. Check a tide chart before you pick your beach.
• Discover Pass covers day-use fees at the state parks. Buy it in advance or at the park.
• The house beach is private, for guests of the house only. These are the public beaches to visit from it.

Questions people ask

What is the best swimming beach near Olalla Bay?

Kopachuck State Park in Gig Harbor. Sandy and rocky shoreline on Henderson Bay that levels into a sandbar at low tide, popular with families for wading. Day-use only, Discover Pass required.

Is the beach at the Olalla Bay house public?

No. The house beach is private and reserved for guests of the house. It is not open to outside visitors.

Do I need a pass for the state park beaches?

Yes. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access at Washington state parks, including Kopachuck and Joemma Beach. It covers the day-use fee.

Can you dig clams at beaches near Olalla?

Shellfish rules change by beach and season. Kopachuck was closed to shellfishing for the 2026 season. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife beach page for the specific beach before harvesting.

Are dogs allowed on these beaches?

Leashed dogs are allowed at Kopachuck and Joemma Beach State Parks. Check the signs at each park, since rules differ.