Narrows Park

This is a rocky beach walk along the shores of the Tacoma Narrows, right underneath the bridge that famously collapsed in 1940. You start from a small parking area off Lucille Parkway in Gig Harbor, where a porta-potty, picnic table, and public telescope sit just above the waterline. From there you head south along the beach toward the bridge towers.

The first stretch is straightforward cobble and sand, though you will step over some downed trees. Past the one-mile mark, tide pools open up and the footing gets rougher with eroded cliffs and snags. This is where the walk gets interesting: sea stars, anemones, and small crabs in the pools, harbor seals hauled out on rocks, and the occasional porpoise passing through the narrows.

Timing matters here. You need to check the tide tables before heading out. Plan your visit for a couple hours past high tide, otherwise the beach narrows and you will not make it to the bridge. On a clear day, the views looking south through the narrows toward the Olympic Mountains are worth the trip on their own.