Park overview:
Camano Island State Park is a 134-acre camping park with 6,700 feet of rocky shoreline and beach. The park provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and offers opportunities for shellfish harvesting.
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: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round for camping and day use. Some campsites are closed in winter.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Current alerts:
The trailer dump station is closed for renovation.
CLAM SEASON CLOSED: Due to an unexplained die off of clams in the Port Susan/Saratoga Passage area, Washington State Parks, in cooperation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, has closed clam season to harvesting until further notice during the clam season at Camano Island State Park. This is a temporary measure to assure recovery of the clam population and future recreational harvest.
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 camp has 88 tent spaces,
five cabins, one dump station, two restrooms and two showers. Utility campsites are not available at the park. The upper camping loop (sites 43-88) are pull-through sites and are better suited for RVs of up to 40 feet. All campsites are first come, first served.
Group Accommodations:
The park offers one kitchen shelter,
five cabins and a group camp that accommodates a maximum of 100 people. The group camping area has restrooms and showers. Fees vary with size of the group. To make a reservation, call Cama Beach State Park at (360) 387-1550.
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, Brooks Memorial, Columbia Hills, Conconully, 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 fourteen miles southwest of Stanwood, Wash. in Island County.
Park address:
2269 S. Lowell Point Road
Camano Island, WA 98282
From I-5:
Take exit #212 and head west onto Hwy. 532. Three miles west of Stanwood, take left at fork (road is now East Camano Dr. and no longer SR 532). Drive approximately six miles on East Camano Dr. (At this point East Camano Dr. heads left by Windermere. Keep to main road, which is now Elger Bay Rd). At a spot marked by Elger Bay Grocery, gas station and a café, turn right onto Mountain View. Travel two miles, climb a steep hill, then turn left onto Lowell Point Rd. The road will dead-end at park entrance.
Park Maps
Camano Island downloadable pdf map #1
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
The park provides sweeping views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainer. Comb the beach, watch the boat traffic, or hike the forest loop trails.
History
Earliest inhabitants of Camano Island were the Kikalos and Snohomish Indians, who used the island for a summer dwelling while gathering seafood and berries. They named it "Kal-lut-chin," meaning "land jutting into a bay." The island was renamed for Jacinto Caamaño, a Spanish explorer.
The first European settlers came to the island in 1855 and began extensive logging operations. Farmers came later and developed the area agriculturally.
After the land was designated for use as a park in 1949, the initial development was accomplished in a single day by nearly 900 volunteers from Stanwood and Camano Island. The park celebrated its 50th birthday in July, 1999.
Interpretive opportunities
At this park, a volunteer group hosts interpretive programs during the summer months.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Camping
• Fire wood
| • Auto repair
• Camping
• Diesel
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Golf
• Groceries
• Hardware
• Marine supplies
• Overnight Accommodations
• Pay phone
• Postal service
• Propane
• White gas
• Wood
• Swimming
|
Most services are available within a few miles of the park.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 3 mi. Hiking Trails
• 1 mi. Bike Trails
| • Boating (saltwater)
• 2 boat ramps (saltwater)
• Diving
• Fishing (saltwater)
• Personal Watercraft (saltwater)
• Swimming (saltwater)
• Water Skiing (saltwater)
• Clamming
• Crabbing
| • 1 Amphitheater
• Bird Watching
• 1 Fire Circle
• Interpretive Activities
• Sailboarding
• Wildlife Viewing
|
The park has a large field for ball games in the day-use area. An 18-hole golf course is located near the park on Camano Island.
Check Fish and Game regulation booklet and local papers for season dates of clamming, crabbing and fishing. 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.
NOTE: Due to an unexplained die off of clams in the Port Susan/Saratoga Passage area, Washington State Parks, in cooperation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, has closed harvesting during clam season at Camano Island State Park. This is a temporary measure to assure recovery of the clam population and future recreational harvest. |
Events
Free days at state parks: Visit Washington state parks for free. The Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park on ten designated free days in 2013.
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.
| Events |
| Date/time | Event description | State Park |
Jan. 1
1 - 3 p.m. |
First Day Hikes, Camano Island: Ring in 2013 by connecting with nature at a First Day Hike in one of many Washington state parks on New Year’s Day. Discover the natural beauty of Washington as part of a national effort to share stewardship for natural, cultural and recreational resources. The First Day Hikes kick-off a year-long celebration of State Parks’ centennial year.
The hike at Camano Island State Park is a moderate two and a half mile hike from the Bluff trail to Cama Center, beginning at the Lowell Point parking lot. The hike is open to participants of all ages. Taking along pets is not recommended, however, friendly dogs are allowed if on-leash at all times. Refreshments are provided. A shuttle is available to drive participants back to Lowell Point from Cama Center. Participants are suggested to take along warm clothes, water and snacks. For more information, call (360) 387-3031.
America’s State Parks First Day Hikes are occurring across the country. The National Association of State Parks Directors organizes the nation-wide effort. For more information about First Day Hikes, visit www.americasstateparks.org/first-day-hikes.
|
Camano Island, Lowell Point parking lot
(360) 387-3031 |
Feb. 2
9:50 a.m. - 12 p.m. |
Guided Winter Walk: Everyone is invited to participate in a free guided trail walk through Cama Beach State Park by the Friends of Camano Island Parks. The walk is moderately paced and takes place rain or shine. Participants will meet at Ivy Road and Dry Lake Road junction and walk from the northeast section of the park to the new Marine View Loop Trail. The walk continues to the Bluff Trail and the Old Entrance Trail, a total distance of approximately 2.7 miles. Participants are recommended to wear weather appropriate clothing and study shoes or boots. Please leave pets at home. A shuttle returning visitors to the parking area is available after the hike. For more information, visit www.friendsofcamanoislandparks.org.
|
Camano Island
(360) 387-3031 |
| May 9 and 10 |
Second Grade Education Days: The annual education days for second grade students returns to Camano Island State Park. Schools and students are welcome to the two-day outdoor learning event with beach walks by the WSU Beach Watchers, an estuary program in the park’s marsh area and more. Presented by the Friends of Camano Island Parks. For more information, visit www.friendsofcamanoislandparks.org.
|
Camano Island
(360) 387-3031 |
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Boating Features
There are two boat ramps.
A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a daily trailer dump permit for $5 is available 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.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
The Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter has a sink, wood stove and is wired for electricity and will accommodate groups of up to 44 people. A generator and a small amount of firewood will be provided upon request. There are two large charcoal braziers and picnic tables. To reserve call Cama Beach State Park at (360) 387-1550.
The North Beach picnic shelter is first come, first served and can accommodate up to 12 people.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Otters
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Doves or Pigeons
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Owls
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| • Clams
• Crabs
• Mussels
• Octopuses
• Sea Birds
• Sea Cucumbers
• Seals
• Shellfish
• Shrimp
• Starfish
• Whales
• Bullhead
• Cod
• Crappie
• Eel
• Perch
• Salmon
• Shark
• Steelhead
• Trout
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | Special |
During the last ice age, the area was covered by an ice sheet approximately one mile thick. The glacier carved the shape of the island with its high "feeder banks" that helped build the beaches.
| | • Cedar
• Douglas Fir
• Hemlock
• Spruce
• Yew
• Alder
• Apple
• Cherry
• Maple
• Poplar
• Daisy
• Foxglove
• Lupines
• Paintbrush
• Rhododendron
• Rose
• Berries
• Eel Grass
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
• Seaweed
• Thistle
| Native Americans used this area as a camp while fishing and gathering shellfish.
|
Park photo gallery
