Updated August 2026
Best beaches in Alaska by water quality
Alaska has 204 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 11 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 3 earn an A for consistently clean water. Full ranking below. National lists: cleanest beaches in the US and beaches that exceed bacteria limits most often.
Alaska beaches on the map
Ways to pick a Alaska beach
Cleanest water (Grade A)
- Tony Knowles Coastal Trail — Anchorage
- Head Of Passage Canal — Valdez-Cordova
- Nome - West Beach — Nome
| Grade | Beach | County | % over limit | Samples | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Tony Knowles Coastal Trail | Anchorage | 0% | 50 | Excellent |
| A | Head Of Passage Canal | Valdez-Cordova | 0% | 46 | Excellent |
| A | Nome - West Beach | Nome | 0% | 24 | Excellent |
| B | Dillingham - Scandinavian Beach | Dillingham | 3.1% | 32 | Good |
| B | Near Island Northend Beach | Kodiak Island | 3.7% | 54 | Good |
| B | Ketchikan - Refuge Cove Beach | Ketchikan Gateway | 4.1% | 49 | Good |
| B | Kenai Peninsula - Mariner Park Beach | Kenai Peninsula | 4.5% | 44 | Good |
| B | Dock Point (Harbor Cove) | Valdez-Cordova | 5.7% | 70 | Good |
| C | Cannery Point | Hoonah-Angoon | 8% | 25 | Fair |
| C | Bayview | Aleutians West | 9.1% | 22 | Fair |
| C | Ketchikan - Thomas Basin | Ketchikan Gateway | 10.4% | 154 | Fair |
Download the full Alaska beach safety ranking
All 11 graded Alaska beaches with their Beach Safety Grade, exceedance rate, sample counts, and program status — from EPA monitoring data. Enter your email to download. A grade is a multi-year classification, not a same-day safety clearance.
Alaska beach grade updates
Get new grades and water-quality updates for Alaska beaches by email.
Where to stay near Alaska beaches
Find beachfront hotels, condos, and vacation rentals across Alaska — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Alaska beaches
Prices for Oct 2–4, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Watch Alaska beach grades
Get an email when a graded Alaska beach posts a new sample or swim advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
The table ranks Alaska beaches by Beach Safety Grade from EPA bacteria samples. Grade A beaches have the fewest exceedances of the safe-swimming limit.
Hotels, condos, and vacation rentals for Alaska beaches are on the map on this page. Compare water quality in the table, then book from the town you actually want to swim from.
Alaska beaches vary. Of 11 graded beaches, 3 earn an A for the fewest bacteria exceedances and 0 earn an F for exceeding the safe-swimming limit most often. A grade is a multi-year record, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory the day you swim.
The day you swim. A grade is a history of samples, not a same-day clearance — check the county advisory before you get in.