Sandy beach
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Surfing
No
Snorkeling / SCUBA
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.

Without a doubt Seattle's most popular beach, Alki has all the charm of an idyllic vacation destination and all the convenience of a local beach.

This 0.6-mile stretch of beach in West Seattle between Alki Point and Duwamish* Head is not only the most relaxed setting in the city, but its also the original landing site of the Denny Party, the first European settlers to the city in 1851. Here, Chief Seattle greeted the party and helped them through the winter before they ventured to their final settlement on the eastern shore of Elliott Bay. Today, a monument in Alki Beach Park commemorates the historic event.

Beyond simply hunkering down in the sand and enjoying the views of the Olympics, Alki Beach** is a summer mecca for beach volleyball, bicycling, jogging, and strolling along the Alki Trail. The beachfront park includes a bathhouse built in 1911 that now functions as an art studio, public restrooms, picnic tables and fire pits, and an extensive lawn along the park's southwestern end.

* "Duwamish," meaning "many-colored river," comes from the Chinook word "duwampsh."

** Alki Beach was the first designated municipal beach on the west coast.

Note: Bike rentals (four-wheeled, tandem, and conventional) are available at Wheel Fun Rentals. Call 206.932.2035 for details.

Logistics + Planning

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Seattle's largest beach. Sand volleyball courts. Views of the Olympic Mountains.

Cons

Summer crowds. Very limited parking.

Location

Comments

07/13/2016
An amazing place to watch the sunset! I even found a pretty cool spot to hammock further along the shore, looking over Seattle.
03/21/2015
An amazing clear day in March... good for any Spring Break in the PNW! And, many miss out, but don't forget that Alki Point Lighthouse is just down the road a quarter-mile from the beach. Also, love me some guacamole and chips at Cactus (note the order of those two items)!
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