Hood Canal Waterfront Village
About Union, WA
Welcome to Union, a small community on the southern shore of Hood Canal in Mason County, Washington, known for the Alderbrook Resort and its protected cove.
Union is a small, unincorporated community on the southern shore of Hood Canal, in the portion of Mason County, Washington, where the canal makes its Great Bend near the mouth of the Skokomish River. It sits on the Olympic Peninsula, with the forested slopes of the Olympic Mountains rising behind it and the sheltered waters of the canal spreading out to the north. With only a couple hundred residents, it is far more a village and resort destination than a town. The community's history reaches back to the Twana people and the early settlers who called the spot Skokomish before it was renamed Union City in 1889, when lumberman and developer John McReavy sought to celebrate Washington's entry into the union. His ambitions for a grand canal-side city never fully materialized, but the settlement endured as a small waterfront outpost, and its early buildings and history remain part of its character. Today Union is best known for the Alderbrook Resort and Spa, a long-established waterfront property with a golf club, marina, and dining, set on a protected cove that is ideal for swimming, kayaking, and small boats. The resort gives Union an outsized presence on Hood Canal and supports a steady stream of visitors drawn by the scenery, the quiet, and the region's reputation for oysters and shellfish. Life in Union is centered on the water and the outdoors. It appeals to those seeking a retreat or a full-time home in a calm, scenic corner of the Pacific Northwest, removed from the pace of the I-5 corridor yet still within reach of Olympia and the southern Puget Sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Union, Washington located?
Union is a small community in Mason County, Washington, on the southern shore of Hood Canal's Great Bend near the mouth of the Skokomish River. It sits on the Olympic Peninsula, roughly 40 minutes from Olympia.
What is Union, Washington known for?
Union is best known for the Alderbrook Resort and Spa, a waterfront property with a golf club, marina, and dining, and for its protected cove on Hood Canal. The area is popular for kayaking, boating, and its scenic Olympic Mountain views.
Is Union, Washington a town or a city?
Union is an unincorporated community and census-designated place, not an incorporated city. It has only about 200 residents and functions primarily as a small waterfront village and resort destination on Hood Canal.
What is there to do in Union, Washington?
Union offers kayaking, swimming, boating, and shellfish gathering on Hood Canal, plus golf at the Alderbrook Golf Club and dining and spa services at Alderbrook Resort. Hiking in the nearby Olympic foothills and the canal's seafood culture add to the local recreation.
City Guide
About Union
Real Estate & Housing
Union's housing reflects its history as a small canal-side settlement and its later life as a resort community. Properties range from modest older cabins and cottages near the shore to newer waterfront homes and larger acreage on the wooded hillsides above the canal. The Alderbrook development has added golf-course and resort-oriented homes to the mix, alongside vacation rentals serving visitors. Because the community is small and buildable waterfront is limited, inventory tends to be low, and homes often change hands as second homes or retreats as well as full-time residences. Buyers here are typically drawn by the water, the views, and the quiet rather than by urban convenience.
Neighborhoods
Lifestyle in Union
Daily life in Union revolves around Hood Canal. Residents and visitors launch kayaks and small boats from the protected cove, dig for clams and oysters when the season allows, and gather at the local market, cafe, and the Alderbrook's restaurant and spa. The community's calendar is modest and local, tied to the water and the seasons rather than to a commercial calendar. Views of the Olympic Mountains, spectacular sunsets, and abundant wildlife define the everyday backdrop. It is a quiet, unhurried existence that attracts both long-time locals and those seeking a slower, nature-centered life on the peninsula.
Schools & Education
Getting Around
Union sits along State Route 106, which follows the southern shore of Hood Canal and connects west toward Shelton and east toward Belfair. The community is roughly 40 minutes from Olympia and about two hours from Seattle, depending on the route and bridge crossings. There is no transit or rail service; residents and visitors travel almost entirely by car, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the nearest major air gateway. The winding, scenic nature of the shoreline roads is part of the area's character, favoring a relaxed pace over speed.
Parks & Recreation
Hood Canal is the center of recreation in Union, offering kayaking, swimming, boating, and shellfish gathering from the community's protected cove. The Alderbrook Golf Club provides an 18-hole course plus tennis and community amenities, and the resort offers a spa and dining overlooking the water. Hiking and mountain access in the nearby Olympic foothills, plus the canal's oyster and seafood culture, round out the local outdoor menu. For larger excursions, the Olympic National Forest and the towns around the canal are within a short drive.
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Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.
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