Sequim Bay State Park
Sequim, WA
Sequim Bay State Park sits in Washington's driest microclimate west of the Cascades, a rain shadow that gives it more reliably sunny days than almost anywhere else on this coast. The 1.5 miles of light colored sand and gravel beach line a calm, protected bay, gentle enough that locals actually swim here instead of just wading.
Calm, genuinely swimmable water and a real shot at sun when the rest of the peninsula is socked in, though camping and day-use crowds pick up accordingly.
How we score beachesThe rain shadow is real, not marketing. If the forecast looks gray everywhere else on the peninsula, Sequim Bay is worth checking separately; it often clears when nearby towns don't.
A Discover Pass is required for day-use parking.
Dogs are allowed on leash, standard Washington State Parks policy.
Summer is the driest and sunniest stretch thanks to the rain shadow, making this one of the more dependable beach days on the peninsula.
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