Five stars for many reasons. An awesomely large parking area with easy close access to water front access. Clean bathrooms too. On this visit the tide was low. Which was perfect for exploring the beach. Fun to see all the shells and things that are normally under water. Please tu of picnic areas for larger groups too. The creek trail was closed from one side but when exploring discovered a fallen tree. Easily able to navigate over the log. See my photo. I'm sure at high tide the beach area decreases but it's all beautiful. The creek trail is short. Under two miles. Discovery pass required. Get out there! Enjoy your life! SYOY! read more

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Our very first time going to this State Park on Saturday, August 10th, 2024. There was a Cambodian Festival happening, so decided to check it out. We arrived at 1:00 PM and found the last parking space available at the end of the furthest parking lot area. Took our time taking a stroll to the event, where the food vendors were on the grassy area. Saw some Laotian food - Hmong Sausage with Sticky Rice, Chicken Wings, Whole Chicken, Papaya Salad, Fried Banana, also saw that they had Thai Iced Tea, Thai Iced Coffee, Lemonade flavors, Sandwiches, and Grilled Pork. We walked to the other side where they had a stage where they were having some dancing, live music and speeches. In addition, there were accessories, and clothing/apparel vendors who were lined up on the other side. First part of the Review is for the Cambodian event, which was a 4 out of 5. ------ The Park itself was easy to navigate around. Parking seemed self-explanatory, even though it was fully packed. There were clear signs of what was required of the State Park. You had to enter with a Discovery Pass or a National Park Pass at the Gate/Entrance. Walked around the beach area until the end of the trail where they had Private Property. Took some pictures and scenic videos of the water and scintillating viewpoints. It was a pretty short stroll after eating our lunch. But overall an enjoyable experience. Would like to visit again even without an event going on... Review of the Park - 4 out of 5. read more

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A small piece of beach. We decided to take a hike and enjoy the camp grounds this morning. A rare occasion with seeing the water orange. The hike does return you to the campground if you stay left on the trail. It has a slight incline with stairs. Perfect locations for a day camp site of enjoyment. O and clean bathrooms! read more

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Small but lovely waterfront, lots of picnic tables, a walking trail, driftwood and wild roses. If you've got a Discovery Pass, it's definitely worth a visit! read more

Saltwater State Park - Walking trail along the water - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

AMAZING park so close to home! I've been going to Dash Point State Park regularly, so I decided to switch it up and go check out Saltwater State Park. So glad I did. For starters, this beach is a great size. Much bigger than Dash Point, both in parking lot size and beach space. There's trails here, as well as a playground (obviously not open right now), and overall plenty to do here with or without kiddos! This is an awesome place to catch the sunset. There's a good amount of people who have the same idea and come do the same, but not so much that social distancing can't be practiced. There are bathrooms that are open during COVID-19. There is also a small snack shack called the Des Moines Snack Shack that's open 7 days a week (unsure of the hours). I purchased a hotdog meal for my son & I to share for a light lunch and it was only $7 for a delicious hotdog, choice of chips, and a beverage. They've also got sunscreen (for those days you just forget), candy, ice cream, and other small snacks for great prices. Highly recommend supporting because the owner is SO sweet. My one complaint has to do with PEOPLE. There is a giant trash can here and one located by the bathrooms - I came one day and these cans were full but not overflowing. When I came back a few days later, people were piling their trash outside of the trash cans instead of putting it into their car and taking it home with them to dispose of. GET IT TOGETHER, PEOPLE. Pack it in, pack it out!! It is $10 a day to come here, or you can snag a Discover Pass for $30 that's good for an entire year and gets you into all state parks (which I recommend). This will definitely be a regular spot this summer! read more

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*To enter, pay $10 Day Pass, or $30 Discover Pass good for state park entrance for a whole year* This state park offers a small sandy beach, picnic areas, camp site (closed), multiple bathrooms and a super fun hiking trail. I visited the day after Thanksgiving (which is a FREE state park day, and the last one of 2020). There are a good amount of kids and families near the beach. There was a shack selling food and snacks near the parking lot that is closed (I'm not sure whether it's closed for the winter or just the holiday). We did the Saltwater State Park Loop following the Alltrails app. This trail is awesome! It's nicely maintained, and just enough to still make you feel like you are part of the wilderness. There are a few moderate inclines, but not difficult. We came on a sunny day, and only encountered a few muddy spot. I imagine you will need good hiking shoes right after it rains. We spotted so many mushrooms, which can be a fun activity for both adults and kids. read more

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Haven't walked the trails yet but the view is beautiful! Love seeing the mountains and water! We bought a year discovery pass at the entrance and it's so worth it especially for $30 when a day pass is $10. There's a snack shack that offers ice cream, burgers, corn dogs, nachos ya know basic ball park food but hey convenience is key! I've been able to find parking on both weekdays and weekends, might not be in front but that's OK. read more

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Got here when it was low tide. Interesting sealife but didnt see crabs or fishes. Some seating area and a small kids park. Parking lot is small too. You will need a Discovery Pass for parking. read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

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Gorgeous state park! It is $10 for a day pass or $30 for the Discovery Pass for a year. Pro tip, you can now get state park pass at the local libraries! You could risk getting a ticket if you don't pay or you can park at the residential neighborhood and walk down, it's a fairly short walk. The park itself is very pretty. The beach is not a sandy beach which I particularly like best, but it's still a good area for you to walk around in shore or in the path above the water. There are benches and fire pits in the area which is well made and taken care of. Great for the upcoming summer. read more

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One of my favorite State Parks. It's generally nice and quiet here as well. I do photography as a hobby and this park has been the perfect backdrop for many photos. High or low tide, it is always a beauty to look at. A lot of places in Seattle area are crowded. I feel like this one slips through the cracks. I love it here. read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

Take a hike or relax on the beach or picnic at tables, this park was not overcrowded even on a recent beautiful weekend. Snackbar too. Only drawback is frequent plane arriving at SeaTac. read more

I'm not sure why this place has such a bad rap for camping. Although my campsite wasn't as good as some of the others (scope it out ahead of time!) I was really happy overall. It isn't far from a bathroom (and by that I mean a hole with a seat to do business, not running water), flat, and backed up to the creek for nice ambient noise and a place to play in on site. The walk to the beach is far if you are carrying as much gear and a grill like we did, but if you have a Discovery Pass you can park down closer to the beach. The airplanes are a factor, but they didn't bother me in the least. The beach is gorgeous, crowded in the sun, but we saw an octopus, seal, moon snail, live clam, and countless species of crab, fish, etc. I've never had such a good low tide walk! We also got down during high tide to play in the sand and playground. Lots of picnic tables on the beach, plenty of built in grills off the beach on the grassy bluff. I'd camp again in a heartbeat. read more

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I LOVE this beach!! There is sooo much open spots on the sand so you can sit and hangout! There are also picnic tables and bbq areas so you can enjoy lunch or dinner. There's also some pathways and some hiking in the area too! So you can really come here and do anything! The parking is pretty limited on the bottom right by the ocean but there is a lot of parking up top and walk maybe 5 mins down. It's a great beach and a place to hangout! Definitely my go to around here! read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

Small but beautiful, easy access. It's like a slightly smaller and often more pleasant version of Seahurst Park. You need a discover pass to park. read more

Fantastic day park open for public use in Phase 1. Saw many families doing cookouts, and everyone was respectful of each other's distancing. This park has a couple of loop trails, the yellow trail on the park map is a nice 30 minute foray into the tree covered valley, while the bluff trail is a very short interpretive walk with labeled signs to learn about the trees and foliage. Nice to get out of the house, lots of parking at the base by the water, and Note while this park requires a Discovery Pass there is an automated payment kiosk at the top of the hill before descending to the main lot. read more

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This park is very conveniently located about 30 minutes south of Seattle, it offers for saltwater exploration, forest areas, groomed hiking trails, camping ground, and bathrooms. The park is pretty popular with lots of people showing up on a sunny day in May, however it is largely it is large and offers many different places to explore and find solitude. Be sure to do the full 1.5 mile loop trail as well as the shorter but very scenic Bluff Trail. The bluff trail also has signs depicting local flora and their historical importance to native Americans which is a fun and educational addition to the park I take off one star because it is very close to i5 and Seatac Airport which leads to significant noise. read more

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Overall ok park. The tent campground is a little on the narrow small size. Yes, the park is conveniently located in the city and very easy to get to. You don't hear car traffic but you do hear the air traffics above every few minutes. If you don't mind that and not a light sleeper, it's okay to give it a try. The bathrooms and showers are clean. I love that they have kayak rental in the park, makes one less thing to pack for camping. The ice cream selling at the shack hits the spot after the trail walk! read more

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I thought this was a neat place to just chill out. The beach was a decent size. Not too big and not too small. It wasn't crowded either but it probably was off season (I went in early March). I think the tide may have been in when I went as there wasn't much beach to walk on. There is a lot of debris, wood, and plants from the sea on the shore, but you can still clear out a little spot to sit and listen to the waves. If you don't want to sit out on the actual beach, there are picnic tables all around and there is even a little café/eatery place that is open during some months that you can also sit at and enjoy the area. The walking trail wasn't super long and kind of ends on at a no trespassing fence but along the way there are little information placards to give info about the area. You can even scan the QR codes or download something on your smartphone to get a virtual ranger tour. Now, the planes flying overhead really were not a problem for me. Yes, you're pretty close to SeaTac airport and of course you're going to hear and see planes flying overhead. I happen to like planes and the industry so it's cool to see a huge plane that was probably assembled or manufacturered at Boeing gliding overhead and screaming through the clouds to it's final destination. I actually really like this park. Of course, as this is a State Park, you need a Discover Pass or pay day-use fees. read more

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So, great little place to bring the family out and camp. If you are seeking the sun then it's best to take the odd numbered spots on the left side of the road, and if it's the shade you seek then take the right side. Staff is really friendly, rangers make frequent rounds, helps you feel secure. Bathrooms are pretty clean, showers aren't bad. One dollar gets you two tokens, each token gets you 3 minutes of shower time. Great family hikes and beautiful beach to walk and hangout at. The two negatives- prior campers leaving the campground dirty. Staff should make sure they are clean daily, charge the offenders a fee if they don't clean up, and the play ground is pretty dilapidated, broken parts and unsecure decking. All in all, a pretty nice, safe, kid friendly place to camp!!! read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

A great place to take your family to. They have lots of tables with bbq grills, volleyball field but you have to bring your own net, playground for the kids to play, beach sand for the kids to build sand castles, two bathroom buildings and a shower stand for those who like to go swimming and also a great place to watch the sunset. I highly recommend you guys check it. read more

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Saltwater State Park is a pretty good park/beach to go. There are some nice views, picnic tables, some birds and ducks, clams on the sand, lots of rocks on sand too, and there are bathrooms available. The parking lot is not that big though. The park is spacious and pretty clean. Would recommend this park! *btw: you either need to pay for parking or have a Discovery Pass* read more

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I know I am in Seattle by the salty fish smell of the ocean... I love that smell! Come here and this smell will await you too! I enjoy this park because there are a few walking paths, plenty of picnic and bbq spots available, and most of all access to the beach! One of our recent sunny weekends, a few friends and myself came here for a nice walk... its nice to see how nicely kept up this park is. Quite a few staff were working at clearning away overgrown shurbs and cutting the grass and cleaning up the area. Unfortunately, one incident happened... after walking as far as we could north, we decided to walk south on the beach and was greeted by a local homeowner telling us we were trespassing on beach property... not sure if we were or not... but i will be researching to inquire! read more

Small state park. There is a play ground, picnic shelters, grills, many tables and benches. Two restroom buildings and a little park house cafe. Down by the shore there is a paved trail that only spans about 1/4 mile. There's a small creek that drains into the sound. When there is not much of a crowd here, the sound is so serene at low tide. (Except for the occasional air plane.) The view is gorgeous. Cliffs, waves, sailboats... But it doesn't seem like a "state park" to me because of the small size and the very close residential neighbors. All in all, it has everything for a great picnic. (Including pesky begging crows.) I would not be tempted to hike or camp here. read more

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Another great state park of Washington State! Get yourself the annual discovery​ pass and you are free to explore ALL the state parks this wonderful place on earth has to offer (and 30$/year is not expensive at all!). This place has a ton of parking, many many picnic tables, a playground for children, nice benches on the walkway and beach access with driftwood, pebbles, and sand. The smell of saltwater and seaweed is what makes me crave time at the water and this little gem at the Puget Sound makes it possible. Be aware that this park is surrounded by private property, so not really a place to go for long beach walks. But for a nice quick break - any day! read more

Saltwater State has been a summer-time staple in my family since I was 7....what's that mean for you (the unsuspecting reader), you may be asking yourself? Well, it means you too can have 23 years worth of perspective in just a few brief moments!! Over the years, Saltwater State Park has been living & breathing in an elite circle with all of the BEST parks in Washington State! Year over year, this park gets better, cleaner & is attracting better park patrons...without fail! Great overall park for the family, camping, big groups, small groups, a date or just some plain old alone-time. ENJOY!! read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

This is a small park, perfect for a sunny day when you just want to take a couple hours and spend some time in nature. The sun was shining beautifully today so I dragged my boyfriend out of work and we took a walk here. You need a Discovery Pass to get in, which is $30 for a year and worth it because you can use it for two vehicles and it's for all state parks in Washington. You can walk along the beach, and it was low tide when we came which was a lot of fun. I had enjoyed walking along the boulders between the shore and the paved path. We spent some time looking for crabs on the beach -- carefully so as not to hurt them! There were gulls and crows hanging out on the beach, and some ducks in the water too. Lots of benches and tables to sit on. Probably will get pretty crowded in the summer but on this cool winter day there were only a few small families, some joggers and stray people like us out to enjoy the sun. Great place to watch the sun set into the Sound. read more

Saltwater State Park - Gulls in the water during low tide - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

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Usually a nice park to play in for the afternoon, unfortunately there's a lot of construction going on right now and it really ruins the experience. If you don't have an annual Discover Pass then you're definitely going to want to pass Saltwater State Park up - it's not worth the charge! Currently they're expecting to wrap up their project at the end of April, scratch this park off your list until then. read more

This is a small park with a great view of the water. The playground is tiny, but you have a beach to set the kids loose on and they'll love it. There are a few picnic tables and BBQ grills too. To get down to the actual beach, wear strong shoes as it's rocky and the path isn't the best. We saw a huge firepit and will have to come back later to try that out. You have to have a pass to be here or have cash to pay for parking. read more

The beach is a lot longer than the central "tame" spot that makes it look like a small intimate beach. You can actually walk a quite a long ways north, between the Sound and a steep high cliff. In days before it cost $10 to park and hang out all day (there's an automated pay station; don't expect staff to be much help), I'd go down to the water three or four times a week and eat lunch. In winter, with very little use, I'd sometimes be alone, and hooboy did the seagulls act thrilled to see someone. Nowadays it has to be a much more calculated journey. I actually like it best in a big storm with large waves breaking on the shore and no humans in sight. Dress for the weather and what an amazing meditative lonesome walk it can be. On nice summer days it gets crowded but still a nice place to hang with the family for a day. Strategically located halfway between Seattle and Tacoma, not far from Interstate 5, so it has a large draw of urban citizens, besides heavy use by people trapped in the densest suburban population anywhere in the state. Excellent picnic areas, and you can cook on site. There's a boat launch but it's kind of steep and scary to use. There are a couple easy but gorgeous hiking trails that make it seem like a very wildernessy location though it's in the middle of suburban sprawl, and a great place to get away from the sprawl without going far. One has to accept airplanes flying overhead on the way to or from SeaTac Airport. Drinking in the park generally is not allowed, though it happens, but at least you won't encounter a lot of drunks. The exception is for registered campers who can drink whatever they brought if they don't take it beyond their camp site. I haven't camped over night in aeons, but the parking slots are small, mapped out decades ago, and like most camp grounds nowadays, in summer especially it fills up fast -- crowded, noisy with people bringing radios and tvs, overnights aren't as pleasant as the hiking trails and the beach. Nearby town of Des Moines has anything you might need that you forgot to bring along. It is a working class town and kind of grubby, but situated right on Puget Sound where you'd expect only a ritzy town, with some beach access of it's own. The town does have a yacht club, with high fences to keep us rabble away. read more

As soon as you step out the car, the rush of the salt water comes straight at you! It's a beautiful and relaxing place to hang with friends, go on a date, or re-collect and re-energize yourself. My friend and I went here at what I believe was low tide. So, there was more land to walk on. There's literally barnacles everywhere and you could hear the crackling of the water all over the beach because of the barnacles. There's even a hiking trail that is mild. It starts off steep and levels out pretty quickly into it. Anyone, just about, could start it and complete it in an hr or a little bit more depending on their pace. Overall, this is a great place to spend some time. read more

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A lovely park on a lovely fall day. The beach and picnic tables were clean, and people were keeping a respectful distance. We had a small 4-person memorial for our loved one. Such a lovely view and no trouble parking. read more

Came here on a rainy day and it was gorgeous. I'm not from here I'm a Cali girl so rain to me is almost like a unicorn, I don't take it for granted lol. The colors were so pretty with the leafs, green grass the clouds and the water. I went in October so it was pretty cold for me but it was worth it and I had an umbrella in my hand as I shivered lol. I'm sure this place looks pretty during the summer too but on a cloudy afternoon during fall it was beautiful. read more

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This was a great time of the year to walk out on the beach, the tide was way. Flip over rocks and let the adventure begin! I love this place. read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

Starch-boy, our son, and I went here after picking up a great deal off of Craigslist, for a metal detector. It was easy to find, plenty of parking and WOW, such a nice beach! Within a mater of minutes we found a nickel! Not bad, now we only have to find a few hundred more to pay this damn thing off.... Oh, we also found a buried Dr. Pepper can, full of sea-crap....after tossing the can in the trash we walked a short ways back to our truck. Upon walking up to the parking lot a park Ranger saw us and waved, I thought, "Wow, what a nice Ranger..." Then he parked his truck directly behind ours and ripped me for not registering at the park office and buying a metal detector's license, uh??? WTF?? I mean, cripes, we found a nickel and cleaned up your freaking park man! Shouldn't you be paying US for doing YOUR job???!! Sheesh..... He let us go after a lecture on metal detecting fees and he was kind enough to let us keep the freaking nickel.... still... -1 for the lecture, I mean it's not like we found some large pirate booty or DB Cooper's missing money bag.... read more

This park is very pretty but they want to close it so early! I know most parks close around dusk but maybe since it is a state park the hours are different. The park seems very small and it becomes questionable if it is worth the entry fee. Steve bought a long term pass when were out on the Olympic Peninsula one time so we did not need to pay to get in. The restrooms seem closed most of the time which is not amusing when you had a large coffee drink before you arrived. One restroom along the beach was closed for the season and the other one which was in a corner of the parking lot at the bottom seemed to have a permanent sign that said the bathrooms were being cleaned. While there is a very nice view from Pugent Sound and it is convenient since it is nestled in the metro area but I am sure there are bigger and prettier state parks that are not far from the city. read more

I have so many fond memories of this park and still enjoy going back each summer! It does cost money to get in since it's a state park, but you can get a yearly pass, which is only $30 (and then you can get into all state parks). The beach is nice, and there is a paved trail. I love playing on the beach and walking on the sidewalk in the sunshine. There is plenty of parking, and they have a little restuarant there with pretty decent food (and ice cream for those hot days!). This park is definitely worth a visit! read more

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In stormy weather this park is pretty good, but on sunny, clear days it really shines. The scenery probably has something to do with it: you're basically right on the Sound, pretty forested areas behind you and that gorgeous, sparkling water out in front. The coastline is rough but it makes it all the more fun. This definitely isn't Alki. There are huge boulders and big logs to climb on, preventing you from getting easily to the water, save for the sandy area near the parking lot. And although the beach is not huge, it's just the right size to have some fun digging in the sand without bumping into your neighbor. The park facilities are just ok - there is a child's playground that has seen its better days and the picnic tables look a little worn. But I can't complain much - there are a ton of tables here. And the shelters aren't bad either. If you haven't been here yet it is worth a try. This is one of those hidden gems that the tourists don't hear about, which sort of makes it better than those popular spots, in my humble opinion. Just cross your fingers that your out-of-towners visit on one of those beautiful sunny days - otherwise, they won't know what they're missing! read more

Nice little beach. I did not have a discover pass, no one was checking anyway. Seen a few park workers. The picnic area needs a little care. All tables need power scrubs, the bbq grills looks 40 years past replacement. If you catch this place when nearly empty it's pure joy. You can sit back and have a appreciation for nature and small marine creatures. I do not go state parks more than a few times a year, and hate the idea of needing a pass to park and look at nature. God meant this to be free, man always wants a piece of the action. read more

Saltwater State Park - Parks Near Me - Des Moines, Washington

Not impressed. Good for families or big gatherings for an outdoor bbq party. If you're looking for a peaceful romantic getaway..this is not the place. Very small beach area. Noticed a trail head next to parking lot. No signage as to the trail distance. It appeared ungroomed. Didnt go hiking, but I'd like to check it out just once sometime. They have several picnic table areas with individual bbq's just bring the charcoal, grilling paraphenelia and away you go. read more

Why not just camp on the SEATAC tarmac? It might be quieter. What could be a very gorgeous state park is ruined by the constant loud noise of the approaching and departing planes. As a cat, I was terrorized by the noise. I would not recommend bring pets here. Perhaps a good campground for people who are deaf. read more