Washington State Parks

Park overview:

Kopachuck State Park is a 109-acre marine park with 5,600 feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (or "Deadman's Island") is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. The park provides scenic views of sunsets, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound.

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.

Current alerts:

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:

Campground closure: Kopachuck State Park is open for day use only. Due to hazardous trees in the forest, the campground area is closed indefinitely.

Group Accommodations:

Group campground closure: Kopachuck State Park is open for day use only. Due to hazardous trees in the forest, the group campground area is closed indefinitely.

Park Features

This beautiful park has a western exposure with spectacular sunsets, sandy beaches and a panoramic view of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. Cutts Island, a portion of the park located half a mile from the park proper, is reachable only by private boat.

History

The name "Kopachuck" originated from "Chinook Jargon," the trade language of the Pacific Coastal Indians. Kopachuck is a merging of two words: "Kopa" meaning "at," and "chuck" meaning "water." This scenic park was once a seasonal fishing and clamming site of the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes.

Cutts Island, which sets in the water a half mile away from the park proper, is also known as "Deadman's Island." The latter name derives from the belief that the island was used by saltwater tribes who buried their dead in canoes placed in the forks of trees. It is unknown how the island acquired the name "Cutts Island." Prior to its current popular names, the place was called "Crow Island," for the large quantity of crows explorer Peter Puget discovered there in 1792, and later "Scotts Island," in honor of Thomas Scott, quartermaster of the 1841 Wilkes expedition.

Interpretive opportunities

There are currently no interpretive opportunities at this park.

Services/Supplies

	Available in the area
	• Auto repair • Airport • Camping • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • Wood • Swimming

There is a small store one mile from the park that sells groceries.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 2 mi. Hiking Trails	• Boating (saltwater) • Diving • Fishing (saltwater) • Personal Watercraft (saltwater) • Swimming (saltwater) • Water Skiing (saltwater) • Clamming • Crabbing • Oysters	• Beach Exploration • Bird Watching • 2 Fire Circles • Interpretive Activities • Wildlife Viewing
Most of the activities at Kopachuck center around the beach. During low tide, the sun warms the sand, which in turn warms the water brought in by the tide. The sandy beach is ideal for wading, sand-castle building, and exploring the marine habitat. The most popular day-use area is the beach. Getting there requires a short 1/8-mile walk down a hill. People with limited mobility may drive or be driven to the beach. Contact park staff to make such transportation arrangements. 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
June 8 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.	Get Your Feet Wet Program: As part of the Washington State Parks’ Centennial Celebration, check out the Get Your Feet Wet Program at Kopachuck State Park. Watch as volunteers collect live specimens (by permit) and place them in touch tanks. Visits can touch and explore marine life and try to stump biologist with their Puget Sound natural resources questions. Kids 10 years of age and younger may meet a park ranger on the beach near the Harbor WildWatch tent at 1 p.m. to receive a Junior Ranger goodie bag. What’s a celebration without cake? Cake will be served at 1 p.m. Presented in partnership with Harbor WildWatch. For more information, visit www.harborwildwatch.org. Please note: June 8 and 9 are State Parks free days in honor of National Get Outdoors Day. A Discover Pass is not required for vehicle access to state parks on free days.	Kopachuck (253) 265-3606

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

There are 2 moorage buoys offshore of the park. The moorage buoy fee is $12.00 per night payable in the Day Use parking lot (at the top of the gravel road).

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park provides four kitchen shelters with electricity, plus 16 sheltered and 76 unsheltered picnic tables on a first-come, first-served basis.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Chipmunks • Deer or Elk • Foxes • Raccoons • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Ospreys • Owls • Snipes • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Clams • Crabs • Mussels • Oysters • Sea Birds • Sea Cucumbers • Seals • Shellfish • Shrimp • Starfish • Salmon

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
		• Cedar • Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Alder • Maple • Foxglove • Lupines • Rhododendron • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Seaweed