Hiking - Cama Beach and Camano Island State Parks
I can’t wait for this spring to have a different story for each of these locations! There are so many beautiful places to hike on Camano, none really difficult, all dog-friendly and usually very quiet and serene.
Let’s take a look at Camano Island State Park and Cama Beach State Park
Camano Island State Park:
With easy access to preserved old-growth forests, this is one of our favorite places to go on the island. (Wait, maybe I said that for some other trail too? It’s so difficult to have just one favorite here!). Camano Island State Park offers many activity options, from camping at their campgrounds right by the shore to hiking wonderlands and picnic tables on the coastline with unmatched sunset vistas. There is something for everyone in every season.
There is a multitude of trails that equal about 4 miles in total. You can definitely hike the entire trail system in one day, and we recommend it. One of the best spots is the Al Emerson Nature Trail, whose half-mile loop takes you through an incredible array of old-growth forest dispersed with informational posts about the different flora that surrounds you!
If you’re here camping, we recommend you do the entire trail on your first day and identify the areas you like most so you can return to them. Our favorites are along the coastline with the beautiful vistas overlooking the Saratoga passage. One time when we were up in the woods looking through the trees to the water, we saw a gray whale’s blow, and it just added that one touch of magic.
Discover Pass is required. The best parking spot is just below the campground on the beach.
Public toilets are available and clean.
Camano Islands State Park Trails on AllTrails
Camano Island State Park on WTA
Cama Beach State Park
Parking can get rough in summer months, but this is another amazing place to go for off season hiking. Though it offers less trails with views (as far as we’ve found so far) the Marine Loop trail definitely provides a breathtaking vista point over the Saratoga passage and the old beach cabins towards Whidbey Island. You can also park on W Camano road for this trail if there is parking, as it can be very easily accessed by picking up the trail west of the parking spot. For a longer trip, you can go to Cranberry Lake heading East from W Camano. Even if you access this trail from the Park grounds, you cross W Camano road. Dogs must be on a leash, and there is much opportunity for wildlife sightings, mostly Robins, juncos, northern harriers, and a few dark squirrels. Though some people have reported sighting coyotes near Cranberry lake, we haven’t heard of them being on the trail.
Discovery Pass Required. Hiking length: up to 3.5miles (from parking lot to Cranberry Lake and back)
Cama Beach State Park link on WTA
