Titlow Beach sits along Puget Sound in Tacoma in Pierce County near the south end of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, forming the centerpiece of the 75-acre Titlow Park. The beach and park take their name from Charles Titlow, an early Tacoma settler who homesteaded the area in the late 19th century, with the property later developed as a public park providing shoreline access and recreational facilities. The sandy beach offers great views of both the Narrows Bridge spanning overhead to the north and the Olympic Peninsula mountains rising to the west across Puget Sound. Titlow Beach has long served as a popular destination for Tacoma residents seeking saltwater beach access with amenities including tennis and basketball courts, playfields, trails, spraygrounds, playgrounds, and picnic areas throughout the surrounding park.
Swimming in Puget Sound's generally clean and safe waters attracts visitors during warm summer months, though lifeguards are not usually on duty requiring swimmers to assess their own abilities and water conditions, with the Washington Department of Ecology BEACH program testing water quality weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Kayaking and paddleboarding launch from the small ramp to the water near railroad tracks, providing access to explore the Tacoma Narrows shoreline and paddle beneath the spectacular bridge spanning overhead, though strong currents through the Narrows require experienced paddlers comfortable with challenging tidal conditions. Scuba diving has become popular at Titlow Beach with divers exploring underwater marine environments, kelp forests, and rocky areas beneath Puget Sound's surface. Beachcombing and tide pool exploration during low tides reveal intricate marine life including sea stars, anemones, crabs, barnacles, mussels, and small fish trapped in rocky pools, with clam digging and crabbing available during appropriate seasons. Fishing from shore and the beach yields bottom fish, perch, and seasonal salmon runs. The park's trail system includes Hidden Beach Trail covering 1.3 miles and Lagoon Loop spanning 0.75 miles, providing forest walking opportunities above the beach. Wildlife watching includes harbor seals hauling out on nearshore rocks, bald eagles soaring overhead, great blue herons stalking tideline areas, and diverse seabirds including cormorants, gulls, and scoters utilizing the productive waters where the Narrows meets Commencement Bay.
Tacoma waterfront dining offers excellent seafood restaurants near Titlow Beach and throughout the city. Anthony's at Point Defiance features fresh Northwest seafood with twenty-foot high dormer windows providing expansive 280-degree views of Vashon Island, Mount Rainier, and local boating activity adjacent to the Vashon ferry terminal. Harbor Lights occupies Ruston Way waterfront with stunning views of Commencement Bay, originally established in 1959 with renovations in 2015, serving variety of Northwest seafood dishes and outdoor seating. Duke's Seafood prepares commitment to sustainability sourcing locally and adhering to Washington State's strict fishing regulations along Tacoma waterfront. WildFin American Grill creates waterfront dining along Commencement Bay with scenic views. The Fish Peddler sits on Foss Waterway serving fresh seafood in Tacoma's working waterfront district.
