Things to Do in Belfair, WA and the Hood Canal
Canal O'Neal sits right on the shore of the Hood Canal in Belfair, Washington, where the Olympic Peninsula meets the South Puget Sound. In summer this stretch of the canal holds the warmest saltwater in the Pacific Northwest, averaging around 75 degrees, and the sunsets over the Olympic Mountains are the kind guests plan whole evenings around. After almost forty years on this beach, our family has strong opinions about the best ways to spend a day here. This is our local guide.
On the Water, Right Outside the Door
You don't have to drive anywhere for the best activity in Belfair. The house comes with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a private dock, and the calm, warm water of the canal is ideal for a morning paddle or an afternoon swim off the lawn. Keep an eye out for seals, herons, and bald eagles working the shoreline. If you want to try shellfish harvesting, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lists open seasons, beaches, and licenses.
Parks and Trails Near Belfair
Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve (2 miles). Nearly four miles of flat, accessible trails wind through 139 acres of salt marsh where the Union River meets the Hood Canal. Come in fall to watch chum salmon push upriver, and bring binoculars any time of year for eagles, herons, and wintering waterfowl. This is our favorite easy morning walk.
Twanoh State Park (5 miles). One of Washington's oldest state parks, opened in 1923, with 3,100 feet of shoreline on the warmest swimming water in the state, plus a forest trail through moss-draped trees along a salmon creek. A Discover Pass is required for parking.
Belfair State Park (10 minutes). Tide flats made for exploring at low tide, and one of the area's classic spots for seasonal clam and oyster harvesting.
Tahuya State Forest (20 minutes). A big network of forest trails popular with mountain bikers and hikers on the wilder side of the Kitsap Peninsula.
Where to Eat and Drink in Belfair
Belfair keeps it local and casual, and these are the places we send our own friends. The Hideaway is our pick for a relaxed sit-down meal. Lotus Garden covers Chinese, Haru Sushi and Teriyaki Wok handles sushi and teriyaki cravings, and Westside Pizza is the easy night in. Belfair also has a rotating cast of taco and food trucks that are absolutely worth pulling over for. For a local pint, Bent Bine Brew Co. on Highway 3 pours its own beers and usually has a food truck parked outside. Hours change seasonally, so check before you go.
Day Trips Along the Hood Canal
Union (12 miles) A pretty waterfront hamlet twenty minutes down the canal. Hook & Fork serves local seafood, the Union Market is a great stop for provisions and gifts, and Alderbrook Resort is the spot for a nicer dinner or a spa afternoon.
Hoodsport, Lake Cushman, and Staircase (23 to 40 miles). Follow the canal to Hoodsport, then climb past the striking blue water of Lake Cushman to the Staircase entrance of Olympic National Park, one of the easiest ways into the Olympics and a spectacular half-day of old-growth forest and river trails.
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon (34 miles). Oysters eaten a few feet from the tide flats they grew on, at a fifth-generation family farm in Lilliwaup. The drive up Highway 101 along the canal is half the fun. Open Friday through Sunday; reservations recommended in summer.
Pallin' Around Charters (about an hour). For a splurge day on the water, this six-guest charter out of Pleasant Harbor in Brinnon runs chef-prepared dining cruises, guided shellfishing and kayaking trips, and scuba charters aboard a beautifully restored 1969 mahogany trawler. Book well ahead in summer.
Shops and Local Finds
For browsing, Belfair has White Barn Decor, Heather B's Cottage Boutique, and Crazy Hill Botanicals, plus a fun little thrift store at the HUB Center and McLendon's Hardware for anything a beach day forgot.
From May through the growing season, the Belfair Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
in the Theler Center lot on Highway 3, with local produce, oysters, and crafts.
Annual Events Worth Planning Around (2026)
Allyn Days Salmon Bake & Geoduck Festival, July 17-19, 2026. Ten minutes away at Allyn Waterfront Park: salmon bake, oyster shucking, live music, and vendors on the water.
Hoodstock Music Festival, August 14-15, 2026. A one-of-a-kind floating music festival off Union. No boat needed; there is a shore stage with food and art.
OysterFest, October 2-4, 2026. The West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival in nearby Shelton, the region's signature food event.
Make Belfair Home Base
Everything in this guide sits within an easy drive of our beach, and the best parts, the sunsets, the warm water, the dock, are steps from the kitchen. Check availability and book your Hood Canal stay at Canal O'Neal.