Jetty Island
OPEN & ACCESSIBLE YEAR-ROUND BY PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
Passenger ferry available during Jetty Island Days (July 5 – Sept. 1, 2024); *Reservations Required* - $3-$5/person (children 2 & under free)
Bask in the sun, play in the sand and swim in the warm shallow waters at the Port of Everett’s Jetty Island. This hidden waterfront gem offers the longest sandy beach in Puget Sound with an untouched natural beauty — a rarity in the Pacific Northwest.
The island is open to visitors year-round by personal watercraft, or you can catch a ride on the foot ferry to the island during Jetty Island Days from July 5 thru Sept. 1. Jetty Island Days is provided in partnership by the Port of Everett, City of Everett and Snohomish County, bringing more than 50,000 people to the island every summer season.
If you haven’t planned your beach day yet, what are you waiting for! Explore this page for all the details to plan your trip. Ferry reservations open May 1.
Please note: There are ghost shrimp hard at work on the island creating their burrows which can cause unexpected sinking when walking on exposed mud at low tides. Please be cautious!
Ferry Schedule & Reservations
ferry Reservations required
$3-$5/person (2 & under free)
During Jetty Island Days the ferry operates July 5 thru Sept. 1, 2024. The ferry operates five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday).* The ferry departs from Jetty Landing, adjacent to the boat launch at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive.
Ferry schedule
- Wednesday - Thursday; 10 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
- Friday & Saturday; 10 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
- Sunday; 10 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
reservations & Parking
Ferry rides are available by reservation only. Reservations are $3 Wednesday - Thursday, $5 Friday - Sunday per person; children 2 and under ride for free (applicable taxes and booking fees apply). While children 2 and under ride for free, they still need to have a reservation to board the ferry. Reservation confirmation will come with an option to pre-purchase Visitor Parking at Jetty Landing at a discounted rate of $2 (plus taxes and fees) for up to 8 hours.
Note: Standby seats may become available, but will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis and is not guaranteed.
*Cancellations & Closures
Ferry service may be canceled due to inclement weather. Early closures may be necessary on nice days when Jetty Island reaches maximum capacity. On some days, another dock will temporarily be used for departing and returning from Jetty Island due to low tides. Those days will be noted here. Please plan accordingly as this dock is farther from the parking lot and the steeper incline of the ramp may be harder to navigate.
Rules & Regulations
- Do not bring pets, alcohol or glass containers
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
- Build campfires ONLY in designated areas
- No lifeguards — swim ONLY on the west shore at your own risk
- No overnight camping
- Take only pictures and leave only footprints!
- Please note: There are ghost shrimp hard at work on the island creating their burrows which can cause unexpected sinking when walking on exposed mud at low tides. Please be cautious!
Guest Moorage
Boating to Jetty Island? The Port's Guest Dock 9 is located at Jetty Island, and guest moorage is available on a first-come, first serve basis. If you are staying less than six (6) hours before 10 p.m., you are not required to pay guest moorage fees, otherwise standard guest moorage rates apply and can be paid via DockWA.
Jetty Island Activities
The extreme sport of kiteboarding is growing in popularity and many athletes travel from outside the area to kiteboard at Jetty Island.
The island is as educationally important as it is for summer recreation, serving as the perfect teaching tool regarding the importance of wildlife preservation and the nearby estuary. Occasionally, the City of Everett Parks Department provides educational walks and tours to learn about the local ecosystem. Many visitors come to observe the wide variety of bird species that have made Jetty Island their home. More than 50,000 people visit Jetty Island each year!
Please note, we suggest that you bring jackets, sunscreen, drinking water and beverages, shoes and changes of clothing for everyone in your group. Our all-sand paths are not suitable for strollers and other wheeled equipment.
Site History
The Port-owned Jetty Island is a man-made island composed of sediment deposited by the Snohomish River. It began as a riprap jetty in the late 1800s and provided a protected harbor and navigation channel. The Port of Everett gained ownership of Jetty Island in 1929 and, with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, built a new marsh of dredged river materials in 1989. The original dredged material is more than 100 years old and has been added to over time as the result of maintenance dredging of the Snohomish River Channel.
Jetty Island is a jewel to all who visit its sandy beaches, a rarity in the Pacific Northwest. Visitors often speak of Jetty Island’s untouched natural beauty. With no electricity or plumbing, the only structure on the island is the seasonal floating restroom off its shores. Jetty Island is a nature preserve with juvenile salmon, waterfowl and bald eagles being just a few examples of the wildlife living on the Jetty. Continuous work is being done to improve and expand the island’s wildlife habitat.