One of the things I looked forward to the most when moving to the Pacific Northwest was access to the ocean. I spent my first year in Seattle visiting beaches and searching for the best places to take my dog. During my search I came across Double Bluff Beach and off-leash area, and it quickly became my favorite off-leash dog beaches in Washington! If you’re looking for information on the best off-leash dog area in Washington, this is the blog post for you.
Before You Go:
Tides at Double Bluff Off-Leash Beach
If you go at low tide you can explore more of the beach and see crabs, sea anemone, jelly fish, and starfish. When I am bringing my dog to Double Bluff Beach I always come at high tide. He likes to run fast and far when we are at the beach, and if there are exposed rocks he always cuts the bottoms of his feet. Even at high tide, there is plenty of space for him to run and play. View Double Bluff Beach tide chart here.
Water for Double Bluff Dog Beach
When you first arrive at the parking lot, you will see a few water fountains near the bathrooms. This is great when you’re by the cars, but the beach is over 4 miles long! Take a portable water bowl with you along the beach so that you don’t have to cut your trip short.
- I visited Double Bluff Beach on 3/2/2024 and the fountains at the parking lot were not functional.
The Ferry to Whidbey Island
If you’re heading out from Seattle, it’s likely that you will be taking the ferry across the sound. I have forgotten to check when the ferry is departing before and ended up having to wait in line for over an hour. Any dog owner knows that a long wait in the car with your pup can be a little frustrating. Because of that, I am always sure to check the ferry schedules now and ensure that I will arrive about 20 minutes early.
View the Washington State Ferry Schedules here
Seattle to Double Bluff Beach
If you’re driving from Seattle, you have a few options for getting to Double Bluff Beach.
1. You can take the Mukilteo Ferry. Seattle to Double Bluff Beach on the ferry takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes and includes a fee for the ferry.
2. You can drive north and go over Deception Pass. Going from Seattle to Double Bluff Beach going over Deception Pass takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
When I am driving from Seattle to Double Bluff Beach I like to take the ferry on the way to the beach and then drive home through Deception Pass. This allows me to get my dog tired at the off-leash beach before heading to Deception Pass. This is because dogs have to stay on-leash at Deception Pass State Park. If you’re curious about the sightseeing and hiking at Deception Pass, check out my blog post on it here. Doing this loop creates a perfect day trip around the Puget Sound. I completed this loop recently and left Seattle at 8am and was home around 2pm. This included stopping for food, gas, coffee, and bathing my dog at a local dog bathing business.
Get directions to Double Bluff Beach here
Overview of Double Bluff Dog Beach
When you arrive at Double Bluff Beach, you’ll be greeted with a small parking lot and the off-leash area off to the right of the lot. One of the things that I enjoy about this beach is that I never worry about not being able to find parking! Even if the lot is full, there’s tons of street access available. Just make sure that you don’t park in the residential area, and instead opt for parking along the road that you drive in on instead.
After you park, you can head to the beach! There are bathrooms available near the parking area, and no other ones along the walk. There are trash cans, poop bags, and water stations available as well. Please make sure that you clean up after your dog and bring all garbage back to the dumpsters near the parking lot! The beach itself is 2-3 miles long. Depending on the tides, you can walk way out to the southern point of the beach and up around the corner. If the tides are high, sometimes you get blocked by the water and are left with access to about a mile of beach.
The size of Double Bluff Beach is what makes it my favorite off-leash dog beach in Washington. Even when the parking lot is packed, the beach is so large that there is plenty of room for your dog to explore. There is a lot of water access and shallow waves for your dog to splash around in. I have seen many dogs play fetch in the water, just make sure that you bring water for your dog to rehydrate after playing in the ocean water.
Other Sightseeing on Whidbey Island
- Visit a winery. Some options are Spoiled Dog Winery, Blooms Winery on Whidbey Island, and Ott & Hunter Wines.
- Visit another beach. I enjoy Moran Beach, Libbey Beach, Driftwood Beach Park, and so many more. I am yet to be disappointed by picking a random beach on Whidbey island and visiting it.
- Visit one of the towns. The towns on Whidbey feel very quaint and are fun places to stop for lunch. I typically will just do a Google search for food near me when I get to one of the towns. I have always had good cell service near the towns with Verizon.
- Visit Deception Pass. I know I already mentioned this above, but I cannot express how much I love Deception Pass. It is so worth the drive to extend your day trip and go visit the beaches in Deception Pass. Check out my detailed blog on Deception Pass here.
I use these collapsable bowls for my dog whenever I go to out on hikes
Conclusion
I recommend Double Bluff Beach to anyone in the Seattle area looking for a weekend adventure. There are many reasons why Double Bluff beach is my favorite off-leash dog beach in Washington, and its distance from Seattle is a huge perk. With or without a dog, the beach offers views of the puget sound and Mount Rainier on a clear day.
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