Washington State Parks

Reservations (non-Mobile content)

Park overview:

Cama Beach State Park is a 433-acre historic fishing resort with more than 6,000 feet of rocky beach. The park provides sweeping views of Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountain Range. There is no camping, but the park offers overnight stays at 31 historic cabins and two bungalows on the beach.

While at Cama Beach, explore the expansive shoreline, view an array of wildlife, fish in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, hike or bike the area’s 15 miles of trail and take in a boating workshop with the Center for Wooden Boats.



Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk

The park is open year round for day use. Overnight cabin rentals available year round.

The welcome center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

There is no camping at this park, but cabins and two beach bungalows are available for overnight stays. To make a reservation, call Cama Beach State Park at (360) 387-1550.

Group Accommodations:

Cabins at Cama Beach State Park are available for group reservation:

Reservations of six or fewer cabins can be made up to nine months prior to arrival date. If a change is made to a reservation that was made nine months to the date of the arrival date, all cabin reservations will be cancelled and the person will be put on a waiting list for the new reservations dates desired.
Reservations of seven or more cabins can be made up to 18 months prior to arrival date. If a group reservation is made more than nine months prior to arrival, a minimum of seven cabins must be kept for the reservation period. If a group requests to reserve less than seven cabins after the original reservation has been made, all cabin reservations will be canceled, and they will be put on a waiting list for the lower number of cabins they wish to reserve.

2013 camping fees:

Please note that the following general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not all fees will apply to all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).

May 15 – Sept. 15 (peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $23 non-premium site, $26 premium site
Partial-utility campsite*: $30 non-premium site, $35 premium site
Full-utility campsite*: $32 non-premium site, $37 premium site
*Please note: Camping fees during the 2013 peak season are $28 for partial-utility sites and $29 for full-utility sites at Beacon Rock, Lewis & Clark and Schafer state parks. These parks are first come, first served.

Jan. 1 – May 14 and Sept. 16 – Dec. 31 (off-peak season)
Primitive campsite and water trail camping: $12
Standard campsite: $22 for non-premium and premium sites
Partial-utility campsite: $28 for non-premium and premium sites
Full-utility campsite: $29 for non-premium and premium sites

Maximum eight people per campsite.

Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.

Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.

More about park hours
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park from April 1 through Sept. 30; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

For more detailed information regarding reservations at this park, please visit our non-mobile Cama Beach pages.

Driving Directions

Located on the southwest shore of Camano Island, facing Saratoga Passage in Island County.


Park address:
1880 SW Camano Drive
Camano Island, WA 98282

Take I-5 north or south to exit 212 (follow the brown directional signs). Cama Beach State park is approximately 19 miles from Exit 212.
Turn west on State Route 532. Drive through Stanwood, cross the bridge west of Stanwood. Stay on the main road; turn to the left at the first "Y" intersection. Look for Camano Plaza shopping center on your left. Proceed past Camano Plaza. About five minutes past the plaza, the speed limit will slow to 35 mph. There will be a Windermere office, stay to the right of the office and you will be on Elger Bay Road. Follow this to the Elger Bay Grocery Store. Take the first right after the store onto Mountain View.
Follow Mountain View until the road starts to curve to the right. At the curve, the road will turn into West Camano Drive. The park entrance is about a half a miles from the sharp curve and will be on the left.

Park Maps

For more detailed information regarding reservations at this park, please visit our non-mobile Cama Beach pages. Cama Beach downloadable pdf map #1


List of all downloadable Washington State Park PDF maps.

Park Features

Cama Beach offers visitors a chance to step back in time to a 1930s-era Puget Sound fishing resort complete with waterfront cedar cabins and bungalows. These have been refurbished, with modern conveniences added, and are available for rent year round to individuals and groups.

Cama Beach offers day and overnight visitors alike a "time capsule" experience. The historic fishing resort was a favorite summer getaway for families for more than 50 years. The area, used for centuries by Native Americans for fishing and hunting, looks out on sweeping views of the Sound, with Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond.

History

Interpretive opportunities

For centuries, Native American people fished and hunted in the Cama Beach area. Starting in the mid-1800s, the region was used for logging. In the early 20th century, the island became more accessible with the advent of the automobile and a bridge between Camano Island and the mainland. Cottages and fishing resorts were built with the increase of the local population and became a popular family vacation destinations. Between 1934 and 1989, Muriel and Lee Risk operated a fishing resort at Cama Beach. The Risk daughters took over the property in 1990, and shortly thereafter, discussions began about turning the property into a park. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission began acquiring land through a combination of family donation and sale in 1994.

A monument honoring Leroy Stradley, the man whom developed the area as a fishing resort in 1934, is located at the park.

The park features a wide variety of educational and interpretive classes including toy boat building, boating, marine environment and life, quilting, writing and photography. Junior Ranger programs are offered year-round on Saturdays. Special interpretive programs and events are offered in the summer, including beach walks and interpretive activities led by naturalists.

Services/Supplies

Available in the park	Available in the area
• Boat rentals • Park store	• Auto repair • Airport • Boat rental • Camping • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • Wood • Swimming

Cama Beach State Park features a park store at the north end of the waterfront cabins near the historic gas pumps. Groceries, snacks and souvenirs are available.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 15 mi. Hiking Trails	• Boating (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Personal Watercraft (saltwater) • Swimming (saltwater) • Crabbing	• Beach Exploration • Bird Watching • 1 Fire Circle • 2 Horseshoe pits • Interpretive Activities • Wildlife Viewing
A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Events

Events
Date/time	Event description	State Park
Ongoing	LeRoy’s Park Geocache: Experienced geocachers may search for a multi-cache at Cama Beach State Park. The multi-cache highlights the history of the area, including the popular 1930’s Puget Sound resort that was later transformed into a state park and the 1905 logging camp. Participants may play by visiting www.geocaching.com and entering the describing number GC3BGCQ. Registration with the site required for participation. - Detailed News Release -	Cama Beach (360) 387-3342
May 11	Mother’s Day Weekend Sail: Hitch a ride on Cama Beach State Park’s livery of powerboats to larger vessels sailing around Saratoga Passage. Boat rides are free and everyone is welcome. Youth and families also are welcome to build toy boats using hand tools and wooden hulls prepared by The Center for Wooden Boats. Other onshore presentations and indoor activities will be available.	Cama Beach, boat house (360) 387-1550
June	Fish On! The Historic Boathouses and Fishing Resorts of Puget Sound: The Center for Wooden Boats celebrates the story of unique regional small watercrafts, their builders and places to rent them in the exhibit "Fish On! The Historic Boathouses and Fishing Resorts of Puget Sound." The exhibit tells the story of the rise of salmon sport fishing and the numerous boathouses and Puget Sound resorts that supported the activity.	Cama Beach, boat house (360) 387-1550
June 8 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Youth Fishing Derby at Cama Beach: Children of all levels of fishing experience may try their hand at saltwater fishing. The free event is open to children 15 years of age and younger. Anglers must take along their own equipment. The event begins with the program, "How to fish in saltwater," which teaches beginning anglers fishing basics. Rowboat rentals are available. Presented in partnership with The Center for Wooden Boats and the Cama Beach Foundation. The Discover Pass not required for vehicle access to the event. Please note: June 8 is a State Parks free day in recognition of National Get Outdoors Day. A Discover Pass is not required for vehicle access to Washington state parks on free days.	Cama Beach, boat house (360) 387-1550
July 27 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.	Cama Quilt Show: See quilts on display along the beach of Cama Beach State Park during the annual quilt show. More than 50 bed-sized quilts by the Cama Beach Quilters are on display, with hands-on quilt activities and fabric arts open to all ages. Meet the artists who add color to the Cama Beach cabins with amazing handmade quilts. For more information, visit www.camabeachfoundation.org.	Cama Beach (360) 387-1550
Aug. 17 12 - 4 p.m.	CamOcean: Learn about healthy waters and oceans in a day of family fun. The annual CamOcean Worlds Ocean Day festival returns to Cama Beach State Park. The event features interactive activities for all ages, including storytelling, beach walks, the Salmon Fun Run, Maritime Music Festival and arts and crafts with recycled materials. Have fun and help the marine environment. Co-sponsored by The Center for Wooden Boats.	Cama Beach (360) 387-1550
Aug. 24 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Beach Art Festival: Create drawings or sculptures using inanimate objects found on the beach as part of the second annual Cama Beach State Park beach art festival. Each individual or team will receive a 25-foot-long piece of rope to define their work space on the beach. Artists will gather art materials from the beach (only shells, rocks and driftwood) and construct their pieces within their section of rope, creating 2D or 3D works of art without leaving the shore. The event is sponsored by the Cama Beach Foundation. For more information, visit www.camabeachfoundation.org.	Cama Beach (360) 387-1550
Aug. 31	Discover Sail Cam Isle Regatta: Celebrate the art of small boat sailing with activities for all ages. Participate in sailing races along Saratoga Passage or view different type of small boats from the shore. The festival is an opportunity for boat builders and enthusiasts to share their stories and skills. More information will be available closer to the event.	Cama Beach, boat house (360) 387-1550
Oct. 26 12 - 4 p.m.	Harvest Festival and Haunted Booothouse: Embrace autumn at the Cama Beach State Park harvest festival. Activities for the whole family include pumpkin decorating, VegiCar races and games and skill challenges for treats. Learn facts about animals that live on the beach, uncover the secrets of Cama Beach State Park and The Center for Wooden Boats and get in the Halloween spirit by entering the Haunted Boooathouse. The event is presented in partnership by The Center for Wooden Boats, Cama Café and the Cama Beach Foundation. For more information, visit www.camabeachfoundation.org.	Cama Beach (360) 387-1550

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park provides 15 unsheltered picnic tables. All are available first come, first served.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life

Park photo gallery