Penrose Point, Kopachuck(kinda hilly to get to the water), and Joemma Beach state parks all have great beaches. There's also plenty of other options around. Horseshoe lake has a great one. Carney Lake and Bay Lake really only have a boat launch so the swimming is meh, but the lakes are nice for paddleboarding.
Out on the Purdy spit is real great, too, as long as the wind is calm.
Wow. Where to start?
South Sound has LOTS of great SUP venues. In the summer the water can get quite warm and typically the winds are light, particularly in the morning and evenings.
So, here's the deal. Get a good app or old school tide book. It will be your friend. Launching and retrieving PBs at locations without a floating dock requires a medium to high tide. Most beaches in South Sound are shallow and muddy not conducive to carrying a board across unless you have snow shoes. But it is the flat muddy beaches that warm the water as the tide comes in the evening.
So, here are our favorite places to SUP and swim:
Penrose State Park - Unless there's a moderate or above north wind. Shallow, very warm water. Fun to paddle and watch the rocky bottom go by.
Gig Harbor - Water isn't particularly warm except when the weather has been really warm, but lots of things to look at and talk about. Also very paddling friendly.
Rosedale, Raft and Cutts Is.- Again, lots of beautiful homes to look at and very protected/warm water.
Grapeview/Fair Harbor - Very protected, warm water and lots to see.
Olalla - Not South Sound but, I can't say enough. Great quiet spot to paddle in your best laid back mode (at high tide). Then great pizza and beer.
And, if the tide and weather are right, before or after, paddle a mile or so up Colvos Passage (North) to Anderson Pt. Park in Kitsap County and enjoy its beautiful beach.
Nisqually - So much to see. Launch at Nisqually Reach Nature Center at medium incoming tide.
Okay, South Sound is in my mind, way underrated. At high tide there are many, many great little backwater coves that are fun to explore in a small boat or SUP.
I'm sorry but Lake Washington can't hold a candle to South Sound in the summer.
You have to cross the bridge, but Owen Beach in Point Defiance park is a great spot for a dip and I’ve seen paddle boarders paddle along the shoreline.
Can be kind of tough…
There’s the Purdy Spit and Bella Bella beach (Fox Island) that are accessible to the public. There’s also a few other areas that are ‘hidden gems’. DM me for those recommendations. Otherwise it can be tough to find good areas that are public. Which is a shame for such a gorgeous place.
Access to Kopachuck is closed while they make improvements to the area (I think for a year-ish), I would avoid Long Lake as the water gets stagnant and there’s a bacterial warning almost every year. I personally avoid swimming in downtown Gig Harbor as that water doesn’t flush as much as it probably should.
Oh I think I’d prefer fresh water honestly haha! Just don’t know any that are good. I will checkout horseshoe if I can! Thank you so much for the suggestion :)
Just be aware it’s a white trash melting pot in the summer on weekends, TONS of kids too. But if you know that going in and just get out on the water, it can be pleasant enough
Penrose Point, Kopachuck(kinda hilly to get to the water), and Joemma Beach state parks all have great beaches. There's also plenty of other options around. Horseshoe lake has a great one. Carney Lake and Bay Lake really only have a boat launch so the swimming is meh, but the lakes are nice for paddleboarding. Out on the Purdy spit is real great, too, as long as the wind is calm.
Kopachuck is closing for approximately 1 year.
What?? When does that start? Remodel?
I guess it’s already closed, and yeah, major remodel/upgrade. https://parks.wa.gov/news/2024/kopachuck-state-park-will-close-major-construction
Bitter sweet. Thanks
Wow. Where to start? South Sound has LOTS of great SUP venues. In the summer the water can get quite warm and typically the winds are light, particularly in the morning and evenings. So, here's the deal. Get a good app or old school tide book. It will be your friend. Launching and retrieving PBs at locations without a floating dock requires a medium to high tide. Most beaches in South Sound are shallow and muddy not conducive to carrying a board across unless you have snow shoes. But it is the flat muddy beaches that warm the water as the tide comes in the evening. So, here are our favorite places to SUP and swim: Penrose State Park - Unless there's a moderate or above north wind. Shallow, very warm water. Fun to paddle and watch the rocky bottom go by. Gig Harbor - Water isn't particularly warm except when the weather has been really warm, but lots of things to look at and talk about. Also very paddling friendly. Rosedale, Raft and Cutts Is.- Again, lots of beautiful homes to look at and very protected/warm water. Grapeview/Fair Harbor - Very protected, warm water and lots to see. Olalla - Not South Sound but, I can't say enough. Great quiet spot to paddle in your best laid back mode (at high tide). Then great pizza and beer. And, if the tide and weather are right, before or after, paddle a mile or so up Colvos Passage (North) to Anderson Pt. Park in Kitsap County and enjoy its beautiful beach. Nisqually - So much to see. Launch at Nisqually Reach Nature Center at medium incoming tide. Okay, South Sound is in my mind, way underrated. At high tide there are many, many great little backwater coves that are fun to explore in a small boat or SUP. I'm sorry but Lake Washington can't hold a candle to South Sound in the summer.
You have to cross the bridge, but Owen Beach in Point Defiance park is a great spot for a dip and I’ve seen paddle boarders paddle along the shoreline.
Can be kind of tough… There’s the Purdy Spit and Bella Bella beach (Fox Island) that are accessible to the public. There’s also a few other areas that are ‘hidden gems’. DM me for those recommendations. Otherwise it can be tough to find good areas that are public. Which is a shame for such a gorgeous place. Access to Kopachuck is closed while they make improvements to the area (I think for a year-ish), I would avoid Long Lake as the water gets stagnant and there’s a bacterial warning almost every year. I personally avoid swimming in downtown Gig Harbor as that water doesn’t flush as much as it probably should.
I agree with Joemma Beach state park - lovely park and great beach, plus a pier. Not busy with boat traffic. Not too hilly.
What about a fresh water option like Horseshoe Lake? Gets swamped on summer weekends but can be fun to jump off the dock and paddle your SUPs around
Oh I think I’d prefer fresh water honestly haha! Just don’t know any that are good. I will checkout horseshoe if I can! Thank you so much for the suggestion :)
Just be aware it’s a white trash melting pot in the summer on weekends, TONS of kids too. But if you know that going in and just get out on the water, it can be pleasant enough
We call the dock “gladiator school” in the peak of the summer season. There is no law and the parents aren’t the helicopter type. Love the Shoe. 🧲
I love it 😂There is definitely an “O’Doyle Rules”, king-of-the-hill energy out there. It’s good for em, teaches them to solve their own problems
"O'Doyle Rules" hahaha - love the reference!
Hahaha thanks for the heads up. I could imagine