Local guide

Fox Island, WA: History, Beaches, Parks, and Things to Do

Fox Island is a quiet island in Puget Sound, about 15 minutes from Olalla Bay, connected to the mainland by a bridge completed in 1954. It has a fishing pier, a sand spit nature preserve, a nature center, a history museum, and one grocery store. It is a good half-day trip from Olalla Bay.

An island you can drive to, with a history that goes back much further than the bridge.

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

Fox Island sits in southern Puget Sound, between the Gig Harbor Peninsula and Vashon Island. It is about 6 square miles, mostly residential, with forests, beaches, and views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. The island feels remote, but the bridge makes it an easy drive from Olalla Bay.

History

Fox Island was in the traditional territory of Coast Salish peoples. The Puyallup and Nisqually tribes used the surrounding waters for fishing and clam gathering. During construction of the Fox Island Bridge, workers found a Native canoe preserved in the mud. That canoe is now in the Fox Island history museum.

The first non-Indian settlers arrived on Fox Island in 1856, just after the Puget Sound War ended. One of the first recorded real estate transactions was in 1881, when 56.5 acres sold for $118. By 1908 there were about 60 homes scattered across the island.

The biggest change came in 1954, when the Fox Island Bridge was completed. The bridge spans 1,949 feet across Hale Passage and connects the island to the Gig Harbor Peninsula. Before the bridge, the island was reached by ferry. The old ferry terminal was called the concrete dock, at the site of what is now the Fox Island Fishing Pier. The bridge made it easy to reach businesses, schools, and medical facilities on the mainland. In 1956 the island population was 120. By 2000 it had grown to more than 2,800.

Cartoonist Gary Larson visited Fox Island frequently as a child. He has called Fox Island a wondrous place and credits the island's swamps and wildlife with inspiring his interest in nature.

On April 29, 1988, a nuclear-powered US Navy submarine, the USS Sam Houston, ran aground on the southwest shore of Fox Island while operating in nearby Carr Inlet. The ship stayed aground for about 10 hours until high tide returned and tugboats freed it. No damage was done to the island.

In recent years Fox Island has become a wealthy exurb of Tacoma, largely because of waterfront property and views of the Olympics and Mount Rainier. By per capita income, Fox Island ranks 29th of the 522 ranked areas in Washington state.

Beaches and Parks

Fox Island Fishing Pier

The Fox Island Fishing Pier is at the eastern tip of the island, at 1453 Ozette Dr. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife built the concrete pier in 1995, along with restrooms, pathways, and parking. PenMet Parks has managed the site since January 2011.

The site is 5.5 acres with 635 feet of shoreline. It has a 1,200 square foot ADA-accessible pier, paved pathways, picnic areas, restrooms, and parking. It is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail System for non-motorized watercraft. Kayakers can land here and use the kayak rack. Dogs on leash are welcome.

Fishing, seasonal crabbing, and scuba diving are allowed. The pier has views of Puget Sound, Vashon Island, and Mount Rainier. Orcas pass close to the pier. Hawks, water birds, and eagles are common. No jumping or diving off the pier. No fires.

Fox Island Sand Spit (Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve)

The Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve is at 53 Bella Bella Dr, at the northwest corner of the island. It is just over five acres of open green space with a wooded trail system and water access for non-motorized watercraft. The spit is a good spot for picnicking, beachcombing, and tide pooling. Parking is free but the lot is small. Please pick up after yourself and your dog and use the designated parking area.

Fox Island Nature Center

The Fox Island Nature Center is a 5-acre nature preserve on 9th Ave, south of the Nichols Community Center. It was purchased in 2004 as a nature center and wildlife preserve. It includes lush deep forest with old cedar, ferns, and huckleberry, one of the major year-round island streams, and several wetlands. Volunteers maintain the trails, bridges, boardwalks, benches, and signs identifying native trees and plants. The center is operated by community volunteers.

Kopachuck State Park (Nearby)

Kopachuck State Park is not on Fox Island, but it is close by on the Gig Harbor Peninsula, at 10712 56th St NW, Gig Harbor. It is 109 acres with over a mile of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. It has hiking trails, a playground, an event hall, tide pools, and views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. Cutts Island, also called Deadman's Island, is a 2-acre marine state park half a mile offshore, reachable only by boat. It has eight mooring buoys. A Discover Pass is required for parking at Kopachuck. The park is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

History and Culture

Fox Island Historical Museum

The Fox Island Historical Museum is at 1017 9th Ave. It is open Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1, members free. Phone: (253) 549-2461.

The museum has more than 3,000 artifacts on display in dioramas, showcases, and free-standing exhibits. They include Native American artifacts, the canoe found during bridge construction, maritime history, the largest collection of pulley blocks in the state, antique gasoline engines in working order, a display on the historic Mosquito Fleet that once served the area, and a display on former Governor Dr. Dixy Lee Ray.

The Acheson Cabin, a saddle-notched log cabin, was moved to the museum site in August 1977. It is an example of traditional log construction with cedar wedge chinking and cement daubing.

Chapel on Echo Bay

The Chapel on Echo Bay is at 400 6th Ave. It is a 100-year-old chapel at the water's edge with views of the Olympic Mountains and Echo Bay. Phone: (253) 549-7039.

Tanglewood Island and Lighthouse

Tanglewood Island is a small island in Hale Passage off the northern shore of Fox Island. It was a summer home of Conrad L. Hoska, a prominent Tacoma figure. From 1945 it hosted a boys' camp, and the lighthouse structure was completed in 1946. The island is private, but the lighthouse is visible from the water and from parts of Fox Island's north shore.

Outdoor Activities

Fox Island is good for fishing, kayaking, beachcombing, bird watching, and walking. The Fishing Pier is the main spot for fishing and crabbing. The Sand Spit is good for tide pooling and picnics. The Nature Center has trails through forest and wetlands. Kayakers can launch at the Fishing Pier and paddle around the island, but check tides and currents before crossing Hale Passage. The water around Fox Island is known for orca sightings, seals, sea lions, and seabirds.

Dining

Fox Island Grocery and Deli

Fox Island Grocery and Deli is at 587 6th Ave. It is the only grocery store on the island. Phone: (253) 549-2124. Hours: Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The store has groceries, a deli with sandwiches and pizza, growlers, gas and diesel, drive-thru espresso, and DVD rental. Zog's Beer Garden is in the back, with American food, bar, pizza, live music, and a three-level outdoor space with fire pits.

For more dining options, drive to Gig Harbor, about 15 minutes away. See our Gig Harbor guides for waterfront dining, seafood, breakfast, casual eats, and coffee shops.

Getting There from Olalla Bay

Fox Island is about 15 minutes by car from Olalla Bay. Drive to the Fox Island Bridge, which crosses Hale Passage and connects the island to the Gig Harbor Peninsula. The bridge is 1,949 feet long, with one lane each direction and a sidewalk on the east side. There is no toll.

A car is helpful for getting around the island, though the parks are close together. Parking is free at the Fishing Pier and Sand Spit, but lots are small and fill up on summer weekends.

Practical Details

• Fox Island Fishing Pier: 1453 Ozette Dr, Fox Island, WA. Free. Dogs on leash. Phone (PenMet Parks): (253) 858-3400.
• Fox Island Sand Spit: 53 Bella Bella Dr, Fox Island, WA 98333. Free. No entrance fee.
• Fox Island Nature Center: 9th Ave, Fox Island, WA. Free. Operated by community volunteers.
• Fox Island Historical Museum: 1017 9th Ave, Fox Island, WA. Sat-Sun 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $1. Phone: (253) 549-2461.
• Chapel on Echo Bay: 400 6th Ave, Fox Island, WA. Phone: (253) 549-7039.
• Fox Island Grocery and Deli: 587 6th Ave, Fox Island, WA 98333. Phone: (253) 549-2124. Mon-Fri 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat-Sun 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Kopachuck State Park: 10712 56th St NW, Gig Harbor, WA. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Discover Pass required for parking. Phone: (253) 265-3606.
• Drive from Olalla Bay: About 15 minutes to the Fox Island Bridge.

Questions people ask

How do you get to Fox Island from Olalla Bay?

Drive about 15 minutes to the Fox Island Bridge, which crosses Hale Passage and connects the island to the Gig Harbor Peninsula. The bridge was completed in 1954.

Is there a fee to visit Fox Island parks?

No. The Fox Island Fishing Pier and the Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve are free to visit. Parking is free but lots are small.

When is the Fox Island Historical Museum open?

Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1, members free.

Can you kayak to Fox Island?

Yes. The Fox Island Fishing Pier is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail System for non-motorized watercraft. Kayakers can land at the pier and use the kayak rack. Check tides and currents before crossing Hale Passage.

What is the Fox Island Bridge?

A 1,949-foot bridge across Hale Passage, completed in 1954, that connects Fox Island to the mainland. Before the bridge, the island was reached by ferry.