Watmough Bay Preserve
Lopez Island, WA
Watmough Bay Preserve sits on southeast Lopez Island, a small pocket beach framed by high, old growth fir covered bluffs with views toward Mount Baker. It's a San Juan County Land Bank property, reached by a short, shaded walk from the parking area, and a favorite for sunrise photography given the dramatic cliff setting.
A genuinely dramatic, well loved small beach with real cliff scenery, free and easy to reach, though it's compact rather than a place to spend a whole day.
How we score beachesTrails from the beach continue on to Point Colville and up Chadwick Hill for anyone who wants to extend the visit beyond the beach itself.
Free, no Discover Pass or fee needed since it's Land Bank property.
Dogs must be leashed, and owners are expected to pack out waste.
More Pacific Coast beaches

Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.

Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.

Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.
