Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park offers families the perfect combination of sandy Puget Sound beach access, excellent tide pooling opportunities, and a well-equipped playground. Kids can spend hours exploring the shoreline for crabs and sea creatures, building sandcastles, or playing on the playground equipment while parents relax at covered picnic areas with spectacular water and mountain views.

• ✓Excellent tide pooling with crabs, sea stars, anemones, and small fish
• ✓Sandy beach perfect for castle building and wading
• ✓Well-maintained playground with swings and climbing structures
• ✓Covered picnic shelters for family lunches
• ✓Spectacular Puget Sound and Olympic Mountain sunset views

1. 1.Check the tide schedule before visiting,low tide reveals the best tide pools and sandy areas for exploration, while high tide is better for viewing Olympic Mountain sunsets
2. 2.Bring a bucket and beach exploration tools; kids love collecting shells, examining hermit crabs, and discovering sea anemones in the tide pools
3. 3.Parking can fill up on sunny weekends, so arrive before 11 AM or visit on weekday afternoons for a more peaceful experience
4. 4.Pack layers even in summer,the beach can be breezy and significantly cooler than inland Seattle
5. 5.The wooden stairway to the beach has about 200 steps, so bring a backpack carrier for toddlers rather than a stroller

Visit during low tide (check tide tables online) for the best tide pooling and beach exploration. Weekday afternoons are less crowded, while summer evenings (7-9 PM) offer stunning sunset views over Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Free admission and parking available. Restrooms are located near the upper parking lot. No food vendors on-site, so pack snacks and drinks. The beach requires walking down (and back up!) a long staircase,be prepared for tired little legs at the end.

Open year-round, but summer (June-September) offers the warmest weather and best beach conditions. Spring and fall provide excellent tide pooling with fewer crowds. Winter visits can be beautiful but bring rain gear and expect chillier conditions.

Head to The Richmond Beach Cafe (5 minutes away) for casual burgers and fish & chips with a kids menu, or try Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park (10 minutes) which offers multiple food vendors, indoor seating, and a play area.