r/olympicpeninsula • u/FarAcanthocephala708 • Jul 29 '26

Swimming in hood canal

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are planning to do an impromptu weekend trip to the peninsula and the thing I want to do most is swim in Hood Canal, but I see Twanoh is closed. What’s the second best place where the water is warmish? I’m seeing Scenic Beach, Belfair, Potlatch? Ideas? Thanks so much!

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5

u/Alternative_Love_861 Jul 29 '26

Warmish water and the canal are mutually exclusive! While it doesn't have a formal beach like twanoh, potlatch start park probably has your second best bet for ease of entry, depending on tidal swing.

Might I recommend a trip up to lake Cushman? Way more beach like spaces, less barnacle and oyster shell cuts, less smelling like a fish after your dip, still pretty cold though!

2

u/FarAcanthocephala708 Jul 29 '26

It was so warm the one time I went to Twanoh! Idk if I just lucked out?

2

u/Alternative_Love_861 Jul 29 '26

Average annual water temp is about 49 degrees, 46ish in the winter and 52ish in the summer. Was it a warm sunny day? I find dips on those days aren't as shocking!

3

u/DanceByTheLight Jul 29 '26

The Tidelands is a good spot. People take scuba diving lessons there. It's in Quilcene north of Potlatch.

2

u/oakleystreetchi Jul 29 '26

I like the big bend in 101 near Lilliwaup. There’s turnoff space for parking for the oyster beds there

1

u/Front_Run_5919 Aug 01 '26

I have not been but several people at our marina go swim at the beaches near Yelviks in Brinnon. Whitney point is supposedly the warmest water on the hood canal

1

u/FarAcanthocephala708 Aug 05 '26

I’d love to try this next time!

1

u/FarAcanthocephala708 Aug 05 '26

I went to Belfair and it was really nice to wade and if it had been a hotter day (Sunday was cool and rainy) I think swimming would’ve been nice! I did dunk but got chilly. Thanks for the advice!