EXPLORE: State Park Round Up
State Parks on the Kitsap Peninsula are truly distinct.
We love exploring our state parks, no matter the season…but summer is a truly special time to get outside and appreciate all that the kitsap Peninsula has to offer.
Miles of shorelines, thousands of wooded acres, hundreds of camping sites, and boundless adventures await inside each of our precious state parks.
Editor’s Note: Entering a Washington State Park will require paid admission. If you plan to visit more than one park per year, the Discover Pass is the most useful tool for admission. You can purchase your Discover Pass online, in person at any state park location, or while renewing your vehicle license, or while purchasing a state fishing or hunting license, or at several retail locations near you.
STATE PARK FREE DAYS
The State of Washington Parks Department has also declared 12 days of the year as ‘Free Park Days’ - entrance to all states parks are free and do not require a Discover pass. (1) New Year’s Day, (2) Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, (3) March 9: Billy Frank Junior's Birthday (Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist), (4) March 19: State Parks Birthday, (5) April 22: Earth Day, (6) June 11: National Get Outdoors Day, (7) June 12: Free Fishing Day, (8) June 19: Juneteenth, (9) National Public Lands Day - end of Sept, (10) Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day, (11) Nov 11: Veterans Day, (12) Native American Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving).
Kopachuck State park
Gig Harbor | 10712 56th St NW
Kopachuck State Park is situated on 109 acres of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay in Gig Harbor. A magical tree-covered trail opens to sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, the Puget Sound, and Raft Island in the distance. It's the perfect place for a family adventure day!
Manchester State Park
Port Orchard | 7767 E Hilldale Rd
This historic state park sits on the eastern shores of Port Orchard and offers camping, beach exploration, event facilities and hours of fun. Watch the Seattle/Bremerton ferries chug past as juvenile bald eagles roost overhead among the thick pine boughs. Local love Manchester and visitors who are savvy use it as a jumping off point to further Kitsap Peninsula adventures!
Illahee State Park
Bremerton | 3540 NE Sylvan Way
75 acres of perfect park and 1785 feet of saltwater shoreline, Illahee (ill-uh-hee!) State Park is a local favorite for diving, beach combing, hiking, boating and waterfront adventures. In addition to the shell-strewn beach and the 300 foot dock that can tend to steal the show, there is also a gorgeous half mile of hiking trails that is all kinds of ferns and moss and evergreens. When you’re sick of the beach, retreat to the trees and watch the sun filter through the pine needles.
Belfair State Park
Belfair | 3151 WA-300
94-acres, with year-round camping options on 3,720 feet of saltwater shoreline, at the southern end of Hood Canal, with wetlands for days (neighboring Theler Wetlands around the bend in Lynch Cove).
Pebble beaches, tidal flats, salmon runs, and the park's gentle breezes offer ideal conditions for kite-flying, windsurfing and kicking back on a warm summer day. Anglers can choose from fresh and saltwater fishing, and kayakers can push off onto the Cascadia Marine Trail and explore the Puget Sound waterways.
Scenic Beach state park
Seabeck | 9565 Scenic Beach Rd NW
A short drive through the neighboring area of Silverdale, Scenic Beach opens up to expansive views of the Olympic National Park mountain range. The quintessential out-in-the-country neighborhood park, its beaches, shaded picnic areas, and seemly never ending rhododendron gardens are a mecca for locals, are also a popular wedding site and camping choice for out-of-towners.
Kitsap Memorial state park
Poulsbo | 202 NE Park Street
Kitsap Memorial State Park is located on the Hood Canal just minutes from Poulsbo. A quick search of any social platform search often packed with brides and grooms, and wedding celebrations. We love their pirate-themed kids park and the maze of concrete pathways under conifer cover with sneak peeks of the beach below. During the golden hour, the Olympic Mountains erupt in glorious shades of sunset hues.
THE EXPLORING NEVER ENDS
Your guide to Poulsbo’s Viking Fest 2024 - where to park, play, eat and stay during one of Kitsap’s favorite annual events.