Park overview:
Fort Casey State Park is a 467-acre marine camping park with a lighthouse and sweeping views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A coast artillery post features two 10-inch and two 3-inch historic guns on display. The park features 10,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound (Admiralty Inlet), and includes Keystone Spit, a two-mile-plus stretch of land separating Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.
Planning project at Fort Casey State ParkCampsite Information:
The park offers 35 standard tent sites, one restroom and one shower. Maximum site length is 40 feet (may have limited availability). Campsites are located next to the Keystone Ferry terminal. All are first-come, first-served.
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).
2010 FeesAn additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
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 hoursCheck-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 during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: Closes Nov. 1, reopens April 1.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| Open |
| Open |
| 11/1/2009 |
| 4/1/2010 |
| Open |
| Open |
|
Schedule Note:
Interpretive center open daily June-Aug; Fridays-Mondays in Sept.; weekends in Oct.; and Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located three miles south of Coupeville, Wash., on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound in Island County.
From I-5 north:
Take the Anacortes/Whidbey Island exit (#230), and drive to the Whidbey Island turnoff. From there, proceed south on Hwy. 20 to Coupeville. Follow the signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. The park entrance sign is between the ferry terminal parking lot and the Camp Casey barracks in the 25 MPH zone.
From the Mukilteo Ferry terminal at Clinton:
Take Hwy. 525 following signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. Pass the Keystone Ferry parking lot, and take first entrance to the left.
From the south:
Follow signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. Pass ferry parking lot, and take first entrance to the left.
Park Maps
Fort Casey downloadable pdf map #1
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
The park is the site of Admiralty Head Lighthouse. A coast artillery post features four historic guns on display. The park offers spectacular views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
History
In 1858, the U.S. government purchased ten acres of land costing $400 for the construction of Admiralty Head Lighthouse. In 1890, the army took over the premises. It named its garrison "Fort Casey" in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, the last U.S. Army chief of engineers. At that time, Fort Casey, in union with Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, was said to comprise a "triangle of fire" guarding the entrance to Puget Sound.
When the fort was constructed, the old lighthouse had to be moved. A new lighthouse was built on the present site in 1903. Today the Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey serves as a historic landmark and interpretive center. The park was incorporated into Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve in 1980.
Interpretive opportunities
Historic Gun Battery Guided Tours at Fort Casey: Tours of the historic gun batteries at Fort Casey are open to all park visitors starting Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 7. Conducted by volunteers from the Fort Casey Volunteer Battalion, the 45 minute tours begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be lengthened if requested or upon participant interest. Tours start at the kiosk between Battery Worth and the parking lot. For more information, call (360) 678-4519.
An interpretive center in the lighthouse is open seasonally. Tours can be arranged by contacting lighthouse staff at (360) 240-5584.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Camping
• Fire wood
| • Auto repair
• Airport
• Camping
• Diesel
• Fishing/hunting
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Golf
• Groceries
• Hardware
• Hospital
• Marine supplies
• Overnight Accommodations
• Pay phone
• Postal service
• Propane
• Recreational equipment
• Wood
• Swimming
|
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 1.8 mi. Hiking Trails
| • Boating (saltwater)
• 2 boat ramps (saltwater)
• Diving
• Fishing (saltwater)
| • 1 Amphitheater
• Beachcombing
• Bird Watching
• 2 Fire Circles
• Interpretive Activities
|
The park contains a designated remote-control glider area and a parade field popular for kite-flying. The lighthouse is open seasonally. Tours can be arranged by calling (360) 240-5584. |
Boating Features
The park has two saltwater boat ramps.
A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping 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.
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
The park offers 68 unsheltered picnic tables. Picnic sites are first-come, first-served.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Foxes
• Otters
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Owls
• Quail
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| • Crabs
• Octopuses
• Scallops
• Sea Birds
• Sea Cucumbers
• Seals
• Starfish
• Cod
• Eel
• Perch
• Salmon
• Steelhead
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
| | • Douglas Fir
• Hemlock
• Spruce
• Alder
• Apple
• Cherry
• Daisy
• Foxglove
• Lupines
• Paintbrush
• Rhododendron
• Rose
• Berries
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
• Seaweed
• Thistle
|
|
Park photo gallery
