Glass Beach is one of the best beaches to find jewelry quality beach glass in the Pacific North West. I'm sure you can find great quality beach glass in various locations but not concentrated into an area such as Glass Beach in Port Townsend. Beach Glass or "sea glass" of jewelry quality is produced where adequate surf tumbling has occurred (see our page on Sea Glass). Glass Beach is located just beyond McCurdy Point and extending south below the elevated bluff. You will find the exposure to surf at the point to be a prime producer of high quality beach glass.
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Historical: In the past, McCurdy Point was a remote bluff located several miles west of Port Townsend and a great place to dump trash before modern environmental concerns and local real estate development prohibited the dumping. McCurdy Point is a 100 foot bluff that extends south and east with elevated headlands. The North Beach headlands that extend east from McCurdy Point toward Point Wilson Lighthouse offer a four mile stretch of beach for beach combing where agates, driftwood, colorful rocks and sea glass might be found. North Beach is considered to be Port Townsend's main beach.
Access: There is only one APPROVED way to get to Glass Beach and this is from the North Beach Park in Port Townsend. Hikers used to access the beach from the Marina Drive parking lot at Cape George and walk 3.2 miles northeasterly to Glass Beach at McCurdy Point but this route is no longer approved due to the private access. Some hikers have commented below that they were in danger of having their car towed having parked in the Marina Drive parking lot. So, DO NOT USE THIS LOCATION TO HIKE INTO THE GLASS BEACH AREA! The approved access to Glass Beach is from the North Beach parking lot on Kuhn St. in Port Townsend and walk the 2.7 miles west to McCurdy Point. Believe me, you will have actually walked 3.5 to 4 miles by the time you have reached McCurdy point because of the tendency to beachcomb along the way. The three mile hike to McCurdy Point west is not for the faint of heart and offers a certain level of sacrifice to those committed to finding great beach glass. There are sandy areas along the way depending on the tide levels. There are also areas of larger coble rocks that make the walk more hazardous for those with weak knees and ankles. Please be prepared for such conditions and wear the proper foot wear to deal with hiking across rocks.
Warning! The tides will challenge you if you haven't done your homework. Attempting to move westerly up North Beach at high tide is not recommended. The beach above +8 foot high tide becomes obscured with waves and the hiker will be forced to climb over fallen cliff rocks and retreat upwards toward the high bank that in places holds game trails. This is not recommended! Only attempt to hike out on North Beach toward McCurdy point when the tides are below 6 feet and falling. This is very important especially if you are accompanying children! Please watch the video to the right providing information about the "Hike out to Glass Beach."
Access: There is only one APPROVED way to get to Glass Beach and this is from the North Beach Park in Port Townsend. Hikers used to access the beach from the Marina Drive parking lot at Cape George and walk 3.2 miles northeasterly to Glass Beach at McCurdy Point but this route is no longer approved due to the private access. Some hikers have commented below that they were in danger of having their car towed having parked in the Marina Drive parking lot. So, DO NOT USE THIS LOCATION TO HIKE INTO THE GLASS BEACH AREA! The approved access to Glass Beach is from the North Beach parking lot on Kuhn St. in Port Townsend and walk the 2.7 miles west to McCurdy Point. Believe me, you will have actually walked 3.5 to 4 miles by the time you have reached McCurdy point because of the tendency to beachcomb along the way. The three mile hike to McCurdy Point west is not for the faint of heart and offers a certain level of sacrifice to those committed to finding great beach glass. There are sandy areas along the way depending on the tide levels. There are also areas of larger coble rocks that make the walk more hazardous for those with weak knees and ankles. Please be prepared for such conditions and wear the proper foot wear to deal with hiking across rocks.
Warning! The tides will challenge you if you haven't done your homework. Attempting to move westerly up North Beach at high tide is not recommended. The beach above +8 foot high tide becomes obscured with waves and the hiker will be forced to climb over fallen cliff rocks and retreat upwards toward the high bank that in places holds game trails. This is not recommended! Only attempt to hike out on North Beach toward McCurdy point when the tides are below 6 feet and falling. This is very important especially if you are accompanying children! Please watch the video to the right providing information about the "Hike out to Glass Beach."
North Beach heading west toward McCurdy Point and Glass Beach
Directions: Drive to North Beach parking lot, 5880 Kuhn St. in Port Townsend, WA. Walk west on North Beach for 2.7 miles to McCurdy Point. After rounding the point you will be on Glass Beach. There is a 100 foot high bluff and access to Glass Beach is made only by walking the full 2.7 miles from the North Beach parking lot or 3.2 miles from Cape George marina.
a google maps view of the North Beach access and Glass Beach destination
Rocks: Rockhounds may find various rocks along North Beach as they hike out to McCurdy Point. There are large gravel beds filled with granite, basalt, quartz and jasper of various colors. It is always my focus to look for colorful quartz with a high level of opacity that allows light to pass through. I am also looking for orbicular jasper that is peculiar to the Pacific Northwest. As always on each beach, my radar is also focused on agates! Walking back from my last hike out to Glass Beach I was really dragging. Then as I crossed a gravel bed I noticed gleaming up at me a nice medium sized carnelian agate. It's always a thrill to pick up a carnelian. Even though it was the only agate I picked up that day since my radar was primarily on sea glass.
quartz and orbicular jasper
Beach Glass: Glass Beach is loaded with beach glass and the hunter can load up a bag within an hour. As the hiker rounds McCurdy Point you will notice two old car axels illustrating the remains of the old dump as the point was known decades ago. This marker is the beginning of Glass Beach!
McCurdy Point and the beginning of Glass Beach
After you have rounded the point you will notice concentrated gravel beds up close to the bluff. You will find many glass pieces here and beyond. Search the gravel beds and with almost every scoop you will pull out glass fragments. Every few yards there are concentrated gravel beds sculpted by the waves and loaded with glass.
Glass Beach gravel beds
You will find many clear and brown glass fragments in abundance. The real hunt is for diverse colors such as greens, blues and various others shades. The cobalt blues and reds are very rare and a significant find. Have a great time. (see our page "Sea Glass" for information about sea glass, types, quality, grading and art- it's still under construction)
Porcelain: Scattered in among the rocks and glass fragments you will also find porcelain or pottery shards. These are usually quite thick and were artifacts from vintage dinnerware or other home accessories.
Stay Focused: You will notice once you've arrived at the spot that you will become lost in the hunt that captures prizes every few seconds! Don't forget to watch the waves, the time and the tide! Several bottles of water would also be suggested since the hike is taxing and you will possibly suffer from dehydration and leg cramps on the ride home if you don't drink enough. (learned experience)
Note- next time I'm taking a garden hand rake to dig into the gravel beds.
Porcelain: Scattered in among the rocks and glass fragments you will also find porcelain or pottery shards. These are usually quite thick and were artifacts from vintage dinnerware or other home accessories.
Stay Focused: You will notice once you've arrived at the spot that you will become lost in the hunt that captures prizes every few seconds! Don't forget to watch the waves, the time and the tide! Several bottles of water would also be suggested since the hike is taxing and you will possibly suffer from dehydration and leg cramps on the ride home if you don't drink enough. (learned experience)
Note- next time I'm taking a garden hand rake to dig into the gravel beds.
a collection of sea glass found in about an hour and a half
The sea glass hoard from a few hours on Glass Beach
Glass Beach/ North Beach hike tips to avoid high tide dangers
New Entry: 2.22.16
On Monday, February 22nd, I made another exploratory hike heading west on North Beach in Port Townsend. A few weeks ago I made my first hike out to Glass Beach and found an abundance of sea glass as time allowed. During that hike I experienced a great deal of difficulty making my way along the beach because of the rising tide. The the tide was getting higher and higher and I was forced to go up on the rocks at the base of the bluff. After making it out to the beach below McCurdy Point I began finding fragments of glass immediately before the point and southward after it. The beach area called "Glass Beach" actually begins at McCurdy Point and spreads southwesterly. I had heard from many locals that the primary concern when taking a hike out to Glass Beach and McCurdy Point was the TIDES! The higher tides tend to cover the beach and make it very difficult to hike out to the point if you haven't done your homework!
So, I decided I needed to do a little more exploratory work on North Beach to determine the best times and best tide levels to make the three mile hike. The high tide a few weeks ago was 8.8 feet which made hiking the beach very difficult.
On Monday I deliberately set out on North Beach just before low tide in order to explore the exposed gravel beds, hunt for agates and sea glass and to determine what tides would work best for a trek out to Glass Beach. There are several places along the beach with obstacles that pose difficulty whenever the tides are higher. These obstacles actually protrude out onto the beach and as the rising tides come in the exposed beach becomes pinched off. These obstacles were observed at six feet "high tide" levels to determine whether they posed difficulty at that level. Most hikers who are determined to go out to Glass Beach beyond McCurdy Point must make that trek when tides are at least less than seven feet. When the tide rises higher than seven feet a hiker will be forced up onto the rocks or sandy bluff. The following map illustrates my route this week that brought me only 1.5 miles west on the beach from the North Beach parking lot. Several of the obstacles were passed and measured for tide levels at those points. Please refer to my video "Hike out to Glass Beach," for detailed information about the tidal concerns that all hikers should consider.
For more details about the best tide levels that the obstacles should be passed on the beach please see my "Olympic Peninsula - North Beach, Port Townsend, WA" field report.
New Entry: 2.22.16
On Monday, February 22nd, I made another exploratory hike heading west on North Beach in Port Townsend. A few weeks ago I made my first hike out to Glass Beach and found an abundance of sea glass as time allowed. During that hike I experienced a great deal of difficulty making my way along the beach because of the rising tide. The the tide was getting higher and higher and I was forced to go up on the rocks at the base of the bluff. After making it out to the beach below McCurdy Point I began finding fragments of glass immediately before the point and southward after it. The beach area called "Glass Beach" actually begins at McCurdy Point and spreads southwesterly. I had heard from many locals that the primary concern when taking a hike out to Glass Beach and McCurdy Point was the TIDES! The higher tides tend to cover the beach and make it very difficult to hike out to the point if you haven't done your homework!
So, I decided I needed to do a little more exploratory work on North Beach to determine the best times and best tide levels to make the three mile hike. The high tide a few weeks ago was 8.8 feet which made hiking the beach very difficult.
On Monday I deliberately set out on North Beach just before low tide in order to explore the exposed gravel beds, hunt for agates and sea glass and to determine what tides would work best for a trek out to Glass Beach. There are several places along the beach with obstacles that pose difficulty whenever the tides are higher. These obstacles actually protrude out onto the beach and as the rising tides come in the exposed beach becomes pinched off. These obstacles were observed at six feet "high tide" levels to determine whether they posed difficulty at that level. Most hikers who are determined to go out to Glass Beach beyond McCurdy Point must make that trek when tides are at least less than seven feet. When the tide rises higher than seven feet a hiker will be forced up onto the rocks or sandy bluff. The following map illustrates my route this week that brought me only 1.5 miles west on the beach from the North Beach parking lot. Several of the obstacles were passed and measured for tide levels at those points. Please refer to my video "Hike out to Glass Beach," for detailed information about the tidal concerns that all hikers should consider.
For more details about the best tide levels that the obstacles should be passed on the beach please see my "Olympic Peninsula - North Beach, Port Townsend, WA" field report.
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