The Gold Coast. Union is where the canal makes its sweeping Great Bend — the Olympic Mountains frame the far side of the water, and the sunsets here are the ones that end up in travel photographs. A small community with limited services, but the setting is the point.
Where to Eat
Restaurants & Dining
Hood Canalé is a waterfront pizzeria with an easy local atmosphere and canal views — a genuine non-resort option in a town that mostly points you to Alderbrook. The Restaurant at Alderbrook serves chef-prepared local seafood with world-class wines (brunch 8am–2pm, dinner 5pm–9pm). Hook & Fork at the resort offers outdoor seating right on the canal with blankets provided — prawns, clams, and burgers, dogs welcome at the patio.
Coffee
Coffee Options
Alderbrook lobby café for resort guests. Stock up in Hoodsport (9 miles north) or Belfair (18 miles south) otherwise — Union has very limited independent coffee options.
What to Do
The Great Bend & Beyond
Twanoh State Park has the warmest swimming water on the canal — a beach, picnic shelters, a short hiking trail, and a boat launch. Discover Pass required. Alderbrook watercraft rentals (kayaks and paddleboards) are available to non-guests through the resort's rental program. The WA-106 Gold Coast drive from Union toward Hoodsport hugs the canal closely — pull off anywhere for Olympic Mountain views across the water. Skokomish Valley Road heads south from Hoodsport through river bottomland toward the Olympic foothills — one of the quieter scenic drives in the region.
Groceries & Essentials
Services
No grocery in Union. Hoodsport (9 miles north) has a small market; Belfair (18 miles south) for a full grocery run. Fill up on gas in Hoodsport before heading into the more remote stretches of the canal.
Where to Sleep
Stays Near Union
Twanoh State Park camping puts you right on the water — tent and RV sites at some of the most affordable waterfront rates on the canal. VRBO lists 30+ homes in the Union area, ranging from forest retreats to waterfront properties on the Great Bend. Alderbrook Resort, Hood Canal Resort, and Robin Hood Village are already featured on the main Where to Stay page.