A popular pink salmon fishing and clamming area.
You can catch your own dinner, if properly equipped with your pole, bucket and fishing license.
Nearby attractions include Skagit Island and Hope Island North, as well as Deception Pass with its turbulent tidal currents. Stroll north along the spit and enjoy more of Puget Sound’s birdlife.
Ala Spit Background
The earliest survey data for the Ala Spit area is dated 1908.
Ala Spit eventually became an interest for real estate development. By the 1960s, in line with thinking at the time, Rip Rap revetments were installed in an effort to protect the private property interests.
In 1995, Island Co. passed a Conservation Futures Funds measure to purchase Ala Spit for a County Park. In 1997, a WWTA site was added.
Over the years, the neck of Ala Spit became narrow and there was concern over losing access.
Starting in the early 2000’s, there was increasing focus in Puget Sound on the importance of estuary and near-shore areas, such as Ala Spit, to endangered Chinook salmon, and the forage fish on which they feed.
From 2005, to the present, Ala Spit has been the focus of a number of feasibility studies, restoration efforts, and monitoring. Most of this work has been funded by grants from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), with cooperation between Island Co., Tribal Nations, and various state and federal agencies. The latest was Ala Spit Restoration, Phase 4, in 2016. This funded a partial removal of the bulkhead, and modification to the rock groin. Monitoring is on-going.
Oct. 23,2022
Compiled for a WWTA Ala Spit work party
Barbara Brock
Founding Member, WWTA
Co-Chair, Island Co. Salmon Recovery
Technical & Citizens Advisory Committee
Location: Ala Spit is located on the northeast side of Whidbey Island, south of Hope Island.
Hazards: It's a balance beam walk on the top of the bulkhead north from camp to Sanican. Inside the spit there's deep mud at low tide. Currents are strong between the site and the channel marker on Hope Island. There is also a strong eddyline off Hope Island where kayakers have capsized in the past. The main power boat traffic to Deception Pass is directly in front of the site.
Sites: 1
Water: None
Sanitation: Sanican, May–September
Overflow: None
Fires: None allowed
Extras:
Fees: Free
Special Considerations: Private home is at the top of the bluff over the site. Please be considerate.
Natural History: Ala Spit is also known as Ben Ure Spit after an Anacortes man who pirated and smuggled here in the late 1800's, living on an island (also named after him) in Deception Pass. He would sneak into the Pass and maneuver with the tides so successfully that he could evade the authorities that came after him. He was notorious for stealing rum from British ships and smuggling liquor to the Americans and British on San Juan Island.
Max People:
Max Nights:
Reservations: No
Latitude: 48.3920
Longitude: -122.5860