Point Defiance - Gig Harbor View Point
About
Point Defiance - Gig Harbor View Point is a public ocean beach in Point Defiance Park in Washington, about 2 miles from the town of Ruston. It's a simple stop with restrooms on site, and there is no fee to visit. Swimming is not allowed here, so plan on enjoying the view rather than getting in the water. Summer is the most comfortable time to come. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 76°F with only four or five wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the mid-40s and rain on 20 or more days. Several other spots sit within a few miles. Wilson Way Bridge Boulder and the Point Defiance Park climbing area are both about 2 miles away, and the Adam Tallman Nature Park Trail is about 2.2 miles off. For a longer outing, the Lost Lake Trail lies roughly 3 miles away.
Beach Details
Swimming
Not allowed
Parking
Available
Fee
Free
Restrooms
Yes
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Point Defiance - Gig Harbor View Point
Washington
Data: Washington State Department of Ecology, Coastal Atlas public beach access. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: May–Sep. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 64–76°F and lows of 47–54°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Tacoma Narrows Ap, WA weather station, 3.7 mi away. High / low in °F.
- Jan46° high36° low
- Feb48° high37° low
- Mar53° high39° low
- Apr57° high41° low
- May64° high47° low
- Jun70° high51° low
- Jul76° high54° low
- Aug76° high54° low
- Sep70° high51° low
- Oct59° high46° low
- Nov50° high40° low
- Dec46° high36° low
Where it is
- Point Defiance Park · Public land
- Nearest town
- Ruston, Washington · 2.1 mi
Source: NIFC Jurisdictional Units; USGS GNIS populated places
Nearby
- Wilson Way Bridge BoulderRock climbing1.9 mi
- Point Defiance ParkRock climbing2 mi
- Adam Tallman Nature Park TrailHiking2.2 mi
- Lost Lake TrailHiking3.2 mi
- Central-West Cascades & SeattleRock climbing3.3 mi
Puget Canyon TrailHikingPhoto: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.1 mi- Hidden Beach TrailHiking4.4 mi
- TacomaRock climbing7.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Best time to visit Point Defiance - Gig Harbor View Point
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
46° / 36°
21 wet
Feb
48° / 37°
18 wet
Mar
53° / 39°
19 wet
Apr
57° / 41°
15 wet
May
64° / 47°
12 wet
Jun
70° / 51°
9 wet
Jul
76° / 54°
4 wet
Aug
76° / 54°
5 wet
Sep
70° / 51°
9 wet
Oct
59° / 46°
16 wet
Nov
50° / 40°
19 wet
Dec
46° / 36°
21 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tacoma Narrows Ap, WA, 3.7 mi away at 292 ft. We don't have this place's elevation, so higher spots nearby can run cooler. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
