Local guide

Face west at golden hour.

The best sunsets near Olalla Bay are the ones over the water: the sun dropping into the Sound while the Olympics go pink behind it. Four public spots are worth your evening: Purdy Spit, Kopachuck State Park, Joemma Beach State Park on the Key Peninsula, and Manchester State Park on Rich Passage. Every one of them faces west. The difference is how much shoreline, how far a drive, and whether you want the Olympics in the frame. One honest note: the house itself faces east, so the dock and deck get the sunrise, not the sunset. Mornings belong to the house; evenings belong to these beaches.

Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The best light comes before the sun touches the water.

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

When to go

November through February is the secret season. The sun sets in the southwest, which puts it directly over the water from every west-facing beach on this list, and the low, slow light often turns the Olympic Mountains pink behind the sunset. Summer sunsets are reliable and long, but the sun drops further north, so the light comes in more from the side.

Sunset time swings a lot at this latitude. Roughly: 9 pm in mid-June, 7 pm in early October, and just after 4 pm around the winter solstice. A partly cloudy sky beats a clear one: thin clouds catch the color, a gray deck hides it. If the day looks promising, commit early; the good light starts well before sunset.

The four spots

About the house itself: it faces east. The dock gazebo and the deck look out over the bay toward the sunrise, so there is no sunset to watch from the house. What you get instead is the sun coming up over the water, which is worth setting an alarm for. For sunset, drive to one of the four west-facing beaches below.

Purdy Spit: the closest public sunset. The county park on the spit at Purdy, between Burley Lagoon and Henderson Bay, faces west over Henderson Bay. There is no big drive and no Discover Pass: park, walk to the water, and watch the sun drop straight into the bay. About 10 minutes from the house.

Kopachuck State Park: the bigger west-facing beach. Washington State Parks lists 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay, and the beach faces west, so the sunset comes down over the water in front of you. The park reopened in August 2026 after a full renovation, with a new Welcome Center and trails, so the grounds are in better shape than they have been in years. Day-use only; needs a Discover Pass. About 15 minutes from the house.

Joemma Beach State Park: sunset plus the Olympics. On the east side of the Key Peninsula with 3,000 feet of shoreline on Case Inlet. The beach looks west across the inlet, and the Olympic Mountains rise beyond it, so on a clear evening the sun sets into the water with the whole range lit behind it. This is the most photogenic sunset of the four and the longest drive: about 45 minutes down the Key Peninsula. Day-use and camping; needs a Discover Pass.

Manchester State Park: sunset over Puget Sound. On Rich Passage near Port Orchard, with over 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline and Washington State Parks' promise of views of the Sound. The shore faces west across Puget Sound, so the sun sets over open water with the mountains beyond. The shoreline also carries WWII-era structures, including a historic torpedo warehouse, which gives photographers something to put in the foreground. About 25 minutes from the house; needs a Discover Pass.

A few practical notes

State park gates and day-use areas have hours, so check before heading out for a winter sunset: some day-use areas close at dusk. Bring a headlamp or use your phone light for the walk back. In summer, the mosquitoes find you fast on the still water at dusk, so bring repellent. And whatever the month, stay for the twenty minutes after the sun goes down: the afterglow is often the best part.

Questions people ask

Where is the best place to watch the sunset near Gig Harbor?

Purdy Spit, about ten minutes from Olalla: the closest public sunset over the water. Kopachuck is the bigger west-facing beach, Joemma Beach adds the Olympic Mountains to the frame, and Manchester State Park looks west across Puget Sound.

What time is sunset in the Seattle area?

Roughly 9 pm in mid-June, 7 pm in early October, and just after 4 pm around the winter solstice. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early for the best light.

Which month has the best sunsets in Puget Sound?

November through February. The sun sets in the southwest, directly over the water from the west-facing beaches, and the low light often paints the Olympics pink.

Do I need a Discover Pass for the state parks?

Yes for Kopachuck, Joemma Beach, and Manchester: all three are Washington state parks. Buy one in advance online or at the park. Purdy Spit is a county park and does not use the Discover Pass system.

Can I watch the sunset from the beach house dock?

No. The house faces east, so the dock and deck get the sunrise, not the sunset. House guests get the sun coming up over the bay from the dock gazebo; for sunset, use the public beaches below. The beach is private and reserved for house guests only.