62°
Mostly Cloudy
6%
29
King County, WA · Puget Sound
Saltwater State Park
25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198
137 acres of driftwood shore and forested creek ravine two miles off I-5, halfway between Seattle and Tacoma. The only Washington state park with a purpose-built underwater artificial reef, which makes it the most-used shore dive on the east side of the Sound — sea stars, urchins, lingcod, and rockfish. Salmon spawn in McSorley Creek in autumn.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
NWS alert active · 54°F water · 62°F air
Full NWS forecast for Today
Mostly cloudy. High near 62, with temperatures falling to around 60 in the afternoon. South wind 1 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Tonight
Rain after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South southwest wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 62°F air — chilly for a beach day
- Cloud cover — overcast reduces uv exposure but the vibe too
Water
- 54°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry
Safety
- NWS alert active — wind advisory issued november 7 at 2:02am pst until november 8 at 4:00am pst by nws seattle wa
29 /100
skip
0 Swim
48 Sunbathe
68 Walk
77 Photo
Best for photography today
Weather alert in effect
Wind Advisory issued November 7 at 2:02AM PST until November 8 at 4:00AM PST by NWS Seattle WA
Atmosphere
Air Temp
62°F
Cloudy
Wind
1 to 7 mph
S
Rain
6%
Today
Air Quality
58 Moderate
PM2.5 (fine particles) · Seattle-Bellevue-Kent Valley
UV Peak
2 Low
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~100m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 12 PM
Tomorrow
56°F
Light Rain Likely
Water
Water Temp
54°F
Too cold to swim
Next Low Tide
9:50 PM
-0.7 ft · in 3.3h
Barometer
29.96 inHg
1015 hPa · buoy TCNW1
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
7:01 AM
Sunset
4:44 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
56°
Light Rain Likely
60%
9
56°
Light Rain
99%
4
59°
Light Rain
91%
5
64°
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy
16%
45
61°
Chance Light Rain
39%
31
57°
Light Rain
76%
6
What to Bring Today
- critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 54°F — dangerously cold
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Paved day-use lot; fills on summer weekends. Discover Pass required.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed.
Entry Fee
WA Discover Pass $10/day or $45/year.
Address
25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Saltwater State Park today?
Saltwater State Park shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Saltwater State Park dog-friendly?
Leashed dogs allowed.
Is there an entry fee at Saltwater State Park?
WA Discover Pass $10/day or $45/year.
Are there lifeguards at Saltwater State Park?
No lifeguards are stationed at Saltwater State Park. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Saltwater State Park?
Amenities at Saltwater State Park include restrooms, campground, artificial reef (scuba), tide pools, picnic tables, forest trails.
When is the water warmest at Saltwater State Park?
Puget Sound and the Salish Sea stay cold year-round. Surface temperatures peak in late July and August at roughly 55-62°F, and the deeper channels stay in the low 50s. Swimming is short-dip territory for most people; wetsuits are normal. Shallow, sun-warmed bays like Birch Bay run several degrees warmer than the open Sound.
Where is Saltwater State Park located?
Saltwater State Park is in King County, WA, at 25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS