Glass Beach

About Glass Beach

Port Townsend tipped its rubbish off the 100-foot bluff at McCurdy Point until the late 1960s, and the waves have since turned the glass into frosted pebbles. Because it is a walk of roughly three miles each way along the shore from North Beach, it is far less picked over than easier beaches. The return depends on the tide and there are few escape routes under the bluff.

Sea glass at Glass Beach

Larger frosted pieces than most Puget Sound beaches, including plenty of cobalt, aqua, marbles and old china. The best pieces are out past McCurdy Point; plan around a falling tide.

Visiting Glass Beach

Getting there

Start at North Beach County Park beside Fort Worden State Park and walk west along the shore for about three miles to McCurdy Point (roughly 5.5 to 6 miles round trip). Check the tide table first.

Parking

Free parking at North Beach County Park; the car park holds about 20 cars and fills in summer.

Safety

Check the tide times before you go and head out on a falling tide, so you're never cut off. Keep away from the bottom of cliffs, wear sturdy shoes on rocks, and follow the collecting rules above.