Mukilteo Lighthouse Park

Mukilteo Lighthouse Park anchors the north end of the Central Sound region at the western foot of Front Street in Mukilteo, immediately west of the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry terminal. Entry is directly out from the beach in front of the restrooms. Two clay walls run parallel to the shoreline: a smaller wall at roughly 40 feet and a larger wall at roughly 67 feet. Past the second wall, the seabed slopes steeply into depths well beyond recreational limits. Giant Pacific octopus, resident fish, shrimp, and crabs are documented across the clay wall structure.

The Point Elliott Light Station sits at the west end of the property and gives the park its name. Diving here carries a legal history worth knowing. In August 2008, the Mukilteo City Council imposed a ban on diving at the park citing safety concerns near the boat launch. On April 21, 2009, the council reversed the ban unanimously after scuba community advocacy, with the Park and Recreation Commission recommending no-lifeguard signage, a 100-foot buffer around the boat launch, and continued exploration of a formal underwater dive park. The park itself transferred out of state park status and now sits under City of Mukilteo management.

The two clay walls and the slope beyond define a rocky reef biome, the clay's vertical faces functioning as reef structure for the invertebrate cover documented across them. Scuba is the dominant activity here, at an intermediate rather than beginner level because of the currents. Slack timing is essential: the point is known for swift currents on tidal exchanges, and down-currents can develop off the point on large tidal exchanges. A 100-foot buffer around the boat launch was established under the 2009 city resolution and remains in force.

The park has a large paid lot at $3 per hour, and Mukilteo residents may obtain a free annual permit through the city Passport portal. Restrooms are on site at the beach. Park hours run roughly 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May through September and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from October through April. Marine Area 9 rules govern the water: rockfish retention and possession are closed, lingcod may be speared only from May 21 through June 15 at a maximum 36 inches and a daily limit of 1, and cabezon is open May 1 through November 30 at a minimum 18 inches and a daily limit of 1.