Moran State Park
Pass through the welcome arch at Moran State Park on Orcas Island, and time begins to slow. You'll find yourself in a Northwest island frame of mind, free to relax, breathe and head into the vast, varied terrain.
Hike, cycle or drive to the summit of Mount Constitution for expansive views of the San Juan archipelago. Climb the historic stone tower on the mountaintop for an even grander view. Enjoy the park's five lakes, where you can swim, kayak, stand up paddle or fish for rainbow trout. Explore Moran's 38 miles of hiking trails, or take a trail ride on your favorite bike or with your trusted horse. Stroll through a natural preserve to spot birds and wildlife.
Set up camp under the stars, or enjoy "glamping" in a luxury platform tent. Wind down by the lake with a good book, or venture back in time with a closer look at the park's structures, more than 20 of which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
Whether it's a day trip or an extended stay, Moran State Park offers a chance to refresh, renew and expand your horizons.
Park features
Moran State Park is 5,424-acres and offers abundant camping (151 sites), five freshwater lakes for swimming and non-motorized boating and more than 30 miles of hiking, bicycling, mountain biking and equestrian trails. Mount Constitution stands 2,407 feet above sea level.
Automated pay station: This park is equipped with an automated pay station for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass.
ADA amenities/facilities
- Campground
- Restroom
Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities.
Picnic & day-use facilities
The park provides two kitchen shelters with and two without electricity, plus six sheltered and 55 unsheltered picnic tables. Most facilities are available first come, first served.
The log kitchen shelter located at the Cascade Lake swim area is reservable. It includes stone fireplace, wood grill, sink, electrical outlets and lights. Capacity is 100 people. Parking for this shelter is shared with swim beach users and may fill up on summer days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activities
Trails
- 6 miles of horse trails
- 11 miles of bike trails
- 38 miles of hiking trails
Water activities & features
- Boating (non-motorized)
- Fishing (freshwater)
- Swimming
- Watercraft launches (2)
Other activities & features
- Bird watching
- Fire circle
- Mountain biking
- Wildlife viewing
concessions
- Orcas Adventures and the Sugar Shack - A visit to Moran is not complete without a stop at here for goodies and fun! The Sugar Shack offers a variety of beverages and snacks including delicious homemade ice cream sandwiches and made to order espresso. You will also find fun souvenirs, beach gear, swim wear, towels, and sunscreen. Adjacent to the concession stand, Orcas Adventures has a dock-side location offering boat, SUP, kayak and inflatable floatie rentals. Orcas Adventures and the Sugar Shack is located right off the main road on Cascade Lake. In addition to the Cascade Lake location, Orcas Adventures also has boat and kayak rentals available at Mountain Lake. They are open weekends in May and September and daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, visit them online or on Instagram.
- Dancing Tree Farms - Moran State Park is proud to have the first firewood vending machine located in Washington State Parks! The firewood vending machine is located in the Midway Camp loop and and offers bundles of locally sourced firewood for $6.50. Machine takes cash and cards.
- Leanto - If you are looking for a different way to experience Moran State Park, consider a Platform Tent setup by LEANTO! Located in the Southend Campground, LEANTO has outfitted five walk-in campsites with yesteryear canvas wall tents pitched on cedar plank platforms. Most important, they’ve tricked-out those tents with some comfortable furnishings and equipment. Platform Tent sites are available by reservation June through September. For more information and reservations, visit LEANTO online.
Interpretive opportunities
The Summit Visitor Center offers indoor and outdoor interpretive displays focused on the geology and ecology of the San Juan Islands. From April through October visitors can step inside to learn more about the coast Salish inhabitants, the Civilian Conservation Corps and visit the gift shop operated by Friends of Moran volunteers. Interpretive displays in the observation tower on Mount Constitution tell the story of Robert Moran and the architecture of the iconic tower.
There is a short, self-guided interpretive trail near the kitchen shelter in the day-use area.
Additional information
- A snack bar and boat rentals are available Memorial Day through Labor Day. Please call Orcas Adventures at (360) 376-4665 for boating information.
- Certain bike trails are closed seasonally. Eleven miles are open year round, and 25 miles are open to bicycle use between Sept. 15 and May 15.
- Cascade Lake is stocked yearly by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Species include rainbow, cutthroat and kokanee trout.
- Mount Constitution Road is not accessible to large trailers or motor homes. Large vehicle access is restricted above Mountain Lake.
- 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 and Wildlife.
- Printable park brochure (PDF).
- San Juan Islands state park brochure (PDF)
Boating features
Located in San Juan County on Mountain Lake, Moran offers two watercraft launches. Internal combustion engines are not allowed.
Launching a boat at a state park requires one of the following:
- An annual launch permit (Natural Investment Permit); or
- An annual Discover Pass and a daily launch permit; or
- A one-day Discover Pass and a daily launch permit. 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.
Boat launch
Latitude: 48º 39' 58.69" N (48.6663)
Longitude: 122º 49' 39" W (-122.8275)
Campsite information
The park has 124 standard campsites, six hiker/biker sites, one dump station, five restrooms (one ADA), and 10 showers (two ADA). No electric hookup sites are available at the park. Campsites are located in five different camping areas.
Northend camp area is located closest to the entrance, across the road from the day-use and swim beach area. Several of these sites provide a great deal of privacy.
Midway camp area is near the Cascade Lake boat launch with 12 of the sites located on the shore of the lake. The remaining Midway sites are across the road from the lake, but several offer nice views.
The Southend camp area is the most popular with almost all of the sites located right along the shoreline. This area has one ADA-accessible campsite and restroom facility.
Mountain Lake camp area is located 1 mile up Mount Constitution Road on the shores of Mountain Lake, the largest lake in the park. For those who arrive by bicycle or on foot, six hiker/biker campsites are located on the road to Mount Constitution.
Maximum site length is 45 feet (limited availability). Certain areas and campsites will not fit large RVs or motorhomes.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.
Reservations & fees
Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.
Glamping Sites
The five glamping sites located in the Southend Campground are operated by Leanto. For questions and reservations, visit them online.
Services & supplies
Boat rentals run Memorial weekend to Labor Day. There is a snack bar located at the Cascade Lake swim area and a gift shop is located at the summit of Mount Constitution. There is a medical clinic in Eastsound, open on weekdays.
In park
- Boat rentals
- Camping
- Firewood
- Pay phone
Surrounding area
- Airport
- Auto repair
- Boat rental
- Camping
- Diesel
- Fishing
- Gasoline
- Gifts
- Golf
- Groceries
- Hardware
- Horse rental
- Hunting
- Marine supplies
- Overnight accommodations
- Pay phone
- Postal service
- Propane
- Recreational equipment
- Swimming
- White gas
- Wood
Though Moran State Park opened in 1921 when shipbuilder and former Seattle Mayor Robert Moran donated more than 2,700 acres to the state for a park, it was primarily influenced by one of the most significant eras in American history, the Great Depression. One of the first and most popular public works projects to grow out of the Depression and the New Deal was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Overseen by the U.S. Army, the CCC employed nearly three million Americans between 1933 and 1942. In employing people to build parks and plant trees, the CCC also led to a greater public awareness and appreciation of the outdoors. The CCC planted nearly three billion trees to help reforest America; they constructed more than 800 parks nationwide. The CCC is credited with upgrading most state parks and significantly updating forest fire-fighting methods.
The builders of Moran State Park used native materials on site to construct the many stone and wooden shelters and buildings, among them the impressive lookout at the summit of Mt. Constitution.