Illahee: All Content
Park overview:
Illahee State Park is a 75-acre marine camping park with 1,785 feet of saltwater frontage on Port Orchard Bay. "Illahee" means "earth" or "country" in the Indian tradition, and views of Puget Sound from the Illahee beach give the viewer a sense of what that word meant to native people. The park has plenty of parking space, lots of fresh air, facilities for a number of outdoor activities and access to a variety of water sports.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.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
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.
The Discover Pass now can be used on either of two vehicles!Annual pass: $30
One-day pass: $10
(Transaction and dealer fees may apply)
A Discover Pass is required for motor-vehicle access to state parks and recreation lands managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Exemptions: Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, the Discover Pass is not required if you are camping or renting overnight accommodations, for the duration of your stay at that state park. For additional exemptions and more information, please visit the Discover Pass website.
Campsite Information:
The park has 23 standard sites, two full hook-up sites, five hiker/biker sites, one dump station, four restrooms (two ADA) and two showers. Tent spaces are suitable for any RV, but provide no hookups. Maximum site length is 40 feet (may have limited availability). All campsites are first come, first served.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.
Driving Directions
Located three miles north of Bremerton, Wash., on the Kitsap Peninsula in Kitsap County.Park address:
3540 Northeast Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
From Hwy. 3, north or south:
Take East Bremerton exit at north end of Silverdale. Follow road to Sylvan Way (about 7.5 miles). Take a left and drive to park entrance (about 1.5 miles).
Park Maps
Illahee downloadable pdf map #1List of all downloadable Washington State Park PDF maps.
Park Features
The park features a veterans' war memorial and the last stand of old-growth timber in Kitsap County. One of the largest yew trees in the nation grows in this park. The beach provides great views of Puget Sound.
History
Indian tradition states that the word "Illahee" means "earth" or "country." Illahee State Park was acquired in seven parcels between 1934 and 1954.Interpretive opportunities
A veterans' war memorial is located in the park. Several interpretive displays are available that explain park features such as stilted trees, a Works Progress Administration-built kitchen shelter, totem garden, yew tree and the pier.Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
| • Camping | • Auto repair • Airport • Boat rental • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • Wood • Swimming |
Most services are available near the park.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
| • 0.5 mi. Hiking Trails | • Boating (saltwater) • 1 boat ramp (saltwater) • 360 feet of dock (saltwater) • 356 feet of moorage (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Personal Watercraft (saltwater) • Swimming (saltwater) • Water Skiing (saltwater) • Clamming • Crabbing • Oysters | • Beach Exploration • Bird Watching • 3 Horseshoe pits • 1 Softball Field • 2 Volleyball Fields • Wildlife Viewing |
The park provides a children's play area. Other activities available include geocaching and metal detecting. 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
The 2013 State Parks free days are as follows:
Jan. 21 – In honor of Martin Luther King Day
March 30 – In honor of Washington State Parks' 100th birthday on March 19
April 27 and 28 – National Parks Week
June 1 – National Trails Day
June 8 and 9 – National Get Outdoors Day and Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing weekend
Aug. 4 – Peak season free day
Sept. 28 – National Public Lands Day
Nov. 9 through 11 – Veteran's Day weekend
Please note: A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife during State Parks free days. For more information, please visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Find other events at Washington State Parks
Boating Features
A one-lane boat launch is available on Port Orchard Bay.A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 may be purchased at the park.
Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available
The park also offers a pier, 356 feet of moorage dock and five moorage buoys.
Moorage fees are charged year round for mooring at docks, floats and buoys from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m. Daily and annual permits are available. For more information, call (360) 902-8844.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
The park provides four reservable picnic shelters with electricity, plus 90 additional unsheltered picnic sites. To reserve kitchen shelters, call the park at (360) 478-6460. Picnic sites are available first come, first served. Day-use groups of 20 or more are required to register and pay the applicable fees.Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
| • Bears • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Otters • Rabbits • Raccoons • Skunks • Squirrels | • Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Grouse • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Jays • Owls • Pheasants • Quail • Woodpeckers • Wrens | • Clams • Crabs • Mussels • Octopuses • Oysters • Sea Birds • Sea Cucumbers • Seals • Shrimp • Squid • Starfish • Whales • Bullhead • Cod • Perch • Salmon • Shark |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | Plant Life | Special | |
| Illahee features typical Puget Sound shoreline with some sandy beach area and old-growth forest. | • Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Spruce • Yew • Alder • Apple • Cherry • Maple • Foxglove • Rhododendron • Berries • Eel Grass • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Seaweed | One of the largest yew trees in the nation is located at the park. |
