A Local’s Guide to Public Beaches & Waterfront Access in Gig Harbor, Washington

One of my favorite things about Gig Harbor is how connected we are to the water. But knowing where you can actually access the shoreline is another story!

Some of my favorite local waterfront spots are tucked away along the Gig Harbor Peninsula, on Fox Island, or just outside of downtown. Whether you want to explore at low tide, launch a kayak, watch boats go by, enjoy a picnic, or catch an incredible Pacific Northwest sunset, there are several public waterfront spots worth knowing about.

Here are some of my favorite public beaches and shoreline access points around Gig Harbor — including my personal pick for the best sunset view.

🌅 My Favorite Sunset Beach: Bella Bella Beach

DeMolay Sandspit Park – Fox Island

If someone asks me where I like to watch the sunset around Gig Harbor, Bella Bella Beach is my pick.

Officially known as DeMolay Sandspit Park, this waterfront park sits on the northwest tip of Fox Island and offers an expansive beach and sandspit, viewpoints, trails, picnic areas, and access for non-motorized watercraft.

But the real reason I love it?

The sunsets.

There is something about sitting near the water as the sun begins dropping across the horizon that is hard to beat. The combination of open water, driftwood, beach, and changing evening sky makes this one of my favorite places to end a summer day.

My pick for: Sunset views, beach walks, photography, picnics, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

🌊 Sunrise Beach Park

10015 Sunrise Beach Drive NW, Gig Harbor

Sunrise Beach is one of my favorite places on the peninsula when I want to spend some time right along Puget Sound.

The park offers more than 2,000 feet of shoreline along Colvos Passage, along with picnic areas and forest trails overlooking the water. On clear days, the views can stretch toward Mount Rainier and Vashon Island.

Low tide is especially interesting here because much more of the shoreline becomes exposed to explore.

Sunrise Beach is also used for swimming, fishing, scuba diving, kayaking, and other non-motorized water activities.

My pick for: Beach exploring, low tides, walking trails, Puget Sound views, kayaking, and spending time by the water.

🌉 Best Narrows Bridge View: Narrows Park

1502 Lucille Parkway NW, Gig Harbor

Narrows Park is one of those local spots that feels a little tucked away.

The park offers more than 1,000 feet of sandy and rocky shoreline along the Tacoma Narrows, with fantastic views of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and across the water toward Tacoma.

There is also a grassy area, picnic tables, an overlook, and access for non-motorized watercraft.

If you enjoy photographing the bridge, watching marine traffic, or simply sitting near the water, this is a beautiful spot to know.

My pick for: Tacoma Narrows Bridge views, shoreline walks, photography, picnics, and watching boats travel through the Narrows.

🏖️ Kopachuck State Park

10712 56th Street NW, Gig Harbor

Kopachuck is one of the area's most recognizable public waterfront destinations.

The state park sits along Henderson Bay and offers saltwater shoreline, trails, picnic areas, and water access.

The beach is especially fun to explore at low tide, when much more of the shoreline is exposed.

Looking across Henderson Bay, you can also see Cutts Island Marine State Park, a small marine state park accessible by boat.

My pick for: Beach days, picnics, low-tide exploring, kayaking, and Henderson Bay views.

🎣 Fox Island Fishing Pier & Beach

1453 Ozette Drive, Fox Island

The Fox Island Fishing Pier is another waterfront spot that can be easy to overlook when thinking about local beaches.

Along with the fishing pier, the site provides public beach access and picnic space along the Tacoma Narrows.

Even if fishing isn't on the agenda, it is a beautiful place to walk down to the water and enjoy the scenery.

My pick for: Fishing, shoreline access, picnics, and Tacoma Narrows views.

⚓ Eddon Boat Park

3805 North Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor

If you want waterfront access without leaving downtown Gig Harbor, Eddon Boat Park is worth knowing about.

This historic boatyard property includes a sandy beach with pedestrian water access, a public pier and float, and a public kayak launch.

It is also one of my favorite places to experience a little bit of Gig Harbor's maritime history. The historic boatyard gives the waterfront a completely different feel from some of the area's larger natural beaches.

My pick for: Downtown water access, kayaking, maritime history, and watching activity around the harbor.

🐚 Purdy Sand Spit

Heading toward Purdy, there is another public shoreline area that can be easy to drive past without realizing it is there.

The Purdy Sand Spit is an undeveloped public waterfront area along SR 302 with beach access and a boat launch.

Because it is much less developed than places like Kopachuck or Sunrise Beach, I think of this as more of a shoreline-exploring stop than a traditional park.

It is also an interesting location for bird watching and observing the changing tides.

My pick for: Shoreline exploring, bird watching, water views, and experiencing a more natural waterfront setting.

🌅 So, Where Is My Favorite Sunset in Gig Harbor?

For me, it is Bella Bella Beach on Fox Island.

The open shoreline, sandspit, driftwood, water, and expansive sky create such a beautiful setting as the sun goes down.

On a clear summer evening, it is pretty hard to top.

My Gig Harbor Beach Picks at a Glance

🌅 Favorite Sunset: Bella Bella Beach / DeMolay Sandspit
🌊 Favorite Beach for Exploring: Sunrise Beach Park
🌉 Best Narrows Bridge View: Narrows Park
🏖️ Classic Beach Day: Kopachuck State Park
🎣 Fishing + Beach Access: Fox Island Fishing Pier
⚓ Downtown Water Access: Eddon Boat Park
🐚 Natural Shoreline Experience: Purdy Sand Spit

A Few Things to Know Before You Go

One thing that makes Gig Harbor's beaches different from a traditional sandy ocean beach is the tide.

The same beach can look completely different depending on when you visit. At high tide, there may be very little shoreline exposed, while low tide can reveal a much larger area to explore.

I always recommend checking the tide before heading out, especially if beach walking or shoreline exploring is the goal.

Parking can also be limited at some of the smaller waterfront locations, particularly Bella Bella Beach, so pay attention to posted signs, designated parking areas, and private property.

Why I Love Gig Harbor's Waterfront

There is something special about being in a community where the water is such a visible part of the landscape.

There are public places throughout the peninsula where you can walk down to Puget Sound, watch the tides change, launch a kayak, look for marine life, photograph the scenery, or simply sit and enjoy the view.

Exploring these public waterfront spaces is one of my favorite ways to experience Gig Harbor.

And for me, a summer sunset at Bella Bella Beach is pretty hard to beat.

Have a favorite Gig Harbor beach or waterfront spot that I missed? Send me a message — I always love discovering another local place to explore!

Beach conditions, park hours, parking, water access, and amenities may change. Check the appropriate City of Gig Harbor, PenMet Parks, Pierce County, or Washington State Parks information before visiting.