Park overview:
Potlatch State Park is a 57-acre camping park with 5,700 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal. The park's beautiful grounds are home to a variety of activities, from interpretive programs for kids to boating and 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: 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.
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 38 tent spaces, 35 utility spaces, one dump station, one restroom in the day-use area and two restrooms with showers in the campground area. Maximum site length is 60 feet (may have limited availability). Two of the tent sites are for primitive use (hikers and bicyclers) only. Camping areas are subject to availability, and reservations are accepted for summer camping. To make a reservation, visit
online or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
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.
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Driving Directions
Located 12 miles north of Shelton, Wash., on the state's western side in Mason County.
From Shelton:
Drive twelve miles north on U.S. Hwy. 101 to park entrance.
From Hoodsport:
Drive three miles south on U.S. Hwy. 101 to park entrance.
Park Maps
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Potlatch downloadable pdf map #1
Potlatch downloadable pdf map #2
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
Sunny days and low tides attract many to Potlatch to harvest oysters, dig for clams or catch crab and fish. The beautiful Hood Canal offers scenic views, and windy days bring out kite fliers and windsurfers. Scuba divers favor Potlatch for its accessibility and easy descent, and kayaking is a popular day-trip activity. The park offers summer interpretive programs.
History
The area where Potlatch State Park is now located was known as "Enetai" (meaning "beyond") to the Skokomish Indian Tribe. The Indians set their winter villages here and held potlatches in the area. The park is named in honor of the potlatch, a gift-giving ceremony.
Later, the property became the Minerva Resort, with cabins and hotel. A sawmill that once sat on the site was destroyed by fire.
Interpretive opportunities
The park offers summer amphitheater programs and Junior Ranger activities.
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
|
Firewood, propane, groceries and gasoline are all available three miles north of Potlatch in Hoodsport.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 0.2 mi. Hiking Trails
| • Boating (saltwater)
• 5 feet of moorage (saltwater)
• Diving
• Fishing (saltwater)
• Clamming
• Crabbing
• Oysters
| • 1 Amphitheater
• Beach Exploration
• Bird Watching
• 6 Fire Circles
• Interpretive Activities
• Sailboarding
|
Four major rivers lie within a 30-mile radius of Potlatch. These include the Skokomish, Hamma Hamma, Duckabush and Dosewallips. 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
Potlatch has five mooring 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.
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
The park offers one reservable picnic shelter and several unsheltered picnic tables. The picnic shelter may be reserved by visiting
online or calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Bears
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Grouse
• Gulls
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Ospreys
• Owls
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| • Clams
• Crabs
• Mussels
• Octopuses
• Oysters
• Sea Birds
• Sea Cucumbers
• Seals
• Shellfish
• Shrimp
• Squid
• Starfish
• Whales
• Salmon
• Steelhead
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
| Average annual rainfall is 64 inches. | | • Cedar
• Douglas Fir
• Hemlock
• Alder
• Apple
• Cherry
• Maple
• Daisy
• Foxglove
• Rhododendron
• Berries
• Eel Grass
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
• Seaweed
• Thistle
|
|
Park photo gallery
