Hike-in Required
No
ADA accessible
No
Guided tours
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Lit in 1913, the Alki Point Lighthouse serves as a navigational aid for mariners on the southern point of Seattle's Elliott Bay. Less than a quarter mile from heavily trafficked Alki Beach, most visitors to West Seattle often miss this hidden historic landmark.

Clearly visible from the sound, the lighthouse is almost unnoticeable for pedestrians passing by on Alki Aveneue. In fact, the lighthouse is only one of numerous Coast Guard buildings that occupy Alki Point. The property is also the main residence for the Commander of the Coast Guard's 13th District, which includes Washington as well as all of Oregon.

The property and lighthouse are open for tours to the public, but only for exceptionally limited times during the summer: it is open June through the end of August on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you are visiting during the off season, you can easily walk around the property via the beach at low tide to gain views of the lighthouse, the entire property, and to look west over the Puget Sound toward the Olympic Mountains.

In total, Alki Point Lighthouse is one of 19 U.S. lighthouses still standing on the Puget Sound, not all of which are currently in use. The others include (from north to south):

Note: Dogs or other pets are not permitted on the Alki Point property.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Historic lighthouse. Views of Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains.

Cons

Only open June through August.

Pets allowed

Not Allowed

Features

Lighthouse

Location

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