Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Park overview:

This 10-acre marine park is reachable by car or boat. The park features 685 feet of saltwater shoreline on Mystery Bay and offers a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains.

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 10 p.m.
Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The park is open year round for day use only.

Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks

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 no camping.

Simple locator map of Mystery Bay State Park

Driving Directions

Located on the west side of Marrowstone Island off the Olympic Peninsula in Jefferson County.

By car from Hadlock:
Drive one mile south on Oak Bay Road turn left onto SR 116 and continue eight miles, crossing bridge, skirting Indian Island, and crossing a spit to Marrowstone Island. The road name changes to Flagler Road. Drive approximately six miles and turn left into park.

By car from Seattle or Edmonds:
Take the Kingston Ferry or Bainbridge Ferry and follow signs to the Hood Canal Bridge. Cross over and drive five miles, then turn right onto easily-missed Highway 19 (Beaver Valley Road). Travel 10 miles, turn right onto Chimacum-Center Road. At the four-way stop in Port Hadlock, turn right onto Oak Bay Road. Drive approximately one mile and turn left onto SR 116. Drive approximately eight miles, turn left into the park.

By boat:
Boat access is the channel through Kilisut Harbor. The narrow channel makes an S-curve at the entrance. Any deviation from the center of the channel can lead to grounding. Mystery Bay is on east side of harbor, two miles south of entrance.

Park Maps

Mystery Bay downloadable pdf map #1

List of all downloadable Washington State Park maps.

Park Features

This 10-acre marine park features 685 feet of saltwater shoreline and offers a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. This park is of primary interest to boaters, although it is reachable by car or boat.

History

The name "Mystery Bay" derives from smuggling activity on the island during Prohibition days. Transporting booze from Canada was a profitable and somewhat honored occupation in the remote waters of northwest Washington. Sequestered between Marrowstone and Indian Islands, Kilisut Harbor was one refuge used by smugglers to evade Coast Guard vessels. Smugglers' boats were easily hidden in the overhanging trees at a small bay near the end of the harbor. Smugglers' regular disappearance here was categorized by the Coast Guard as "mysterious," hence the name of the bay.

Interpretive opportunities

The park offers no interpretive activities.

Services/Supplies

	Available in the area
	• Boat rental • Camping • Gifts • Groceries • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Wood

The park has limited facilities, but there is a general store within a mile of the park at Nordland.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
	• Fishing (freshwater) • Boating (saltwater) • 1 boat ramp (saltwater) • 683 feet of moorage (saltwater) • Diving • Personal Watercraft (saltwater) • Clamming • Crabbing • Oysters	• Beach Exploration • Bird Watching • 3 Fire Circles
Clams and oysters can be found on the beach at low tide, and crabbing is good off-shore. 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

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.

Full list of events at Washington State Parks

Boating Features

The park offers one single-lane launch ramp, which drops gently down the beach north of the floats.

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 provides 683 feet of moorage and a boat pumpout station.
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 one kitchen shelter without electricity, plus four unsheltered picnic tables, all available first come, first served. Drinking water is available, however the water contains high levels of sodium. Sodium intolerant persons should not consume.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Deer or Elk • Otters • Rabbits	• Doves or Pigeons • Eagles • Gulls • Wrens	• Clams • Crabs • Oysters • Sea Birds • Seals • Shellfish • Starfish • Perch