Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

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.

Campsite Information:

The park has 23 tent spaces, two utility space, 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.

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 Fees
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 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 during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Park hours/updates:

The park is open year round for camping and day use.

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.

Park Winter Schedule

Campground Closes		Campground Reopens		Day-Use Closes		Day-Use Reopens		Watercraft Launch Closes		Watercraft Launch Reopens
Open		Open		Partial		Partial		Open		Open

Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks

Driving Directions

Located three miles north of Bremerton, Wash., on the Kitsap Peninsula in Kitsap County.

Park address:
3540 NE Bahia Vista Drive
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 #1

Illahee downloadable pdf map #2

List of all downloadable Washington State Park 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	• Beachcombing • 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.

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.

Events

Full list of events at Washington State Parks

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.

Park photo gallery

We'll be adding photos to this page soon.

Complete information for Illahee