Camano Island State Park

Camano Island State Park: Where 900 Volunteers Built a Community Paradise Connecting Two Historic Parks

Set on Camano Island’s rocky shores with sweeping views of Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains, and Mount Rainier, Camano Island State Park stands as a testament to community vision and volunteer spirit, built in a single remarkable day in 1949 by nearly 900 volunteers from Stanwood and Camano Island who transformed 134 acres into a beloved family destination that celebrated its golden anniversary in 1999. This volunteer-built paradise creates the perfect complement to neighboring Cama Beach Historical State Park, connected by a scenic one-mile trail that allows visitors to experience both a community-created camping haven and a preserved 1930s resort in one extraordinary island adventure.

Camano Island State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

Camano Island State Park preserves one of Washington’s most inspiring community creation stories, where nearly 900 volunteers from Stanwood and Camano Island joined together in 1949 for an extraordinary single-day effort that transformed designated parkland into a fully functional family destination, demonstrating the power of collective vision and community spirit that continues to define the park’s character over seven decades later. This remarkable volunteer legacy creates a unique atmosphere where visitors experience not just natural beauty but the tangible result of neighbors working together to create lasting recreational opportunities for future generations.

The park’s 134 acres along 6,700 feet of rocky shoreline provide sweeping views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier while serving as the perfect complement to neighboring Cama Beach Historical State Park, connected by a scenic one-mile trail that allows visitors to experience both a community-built modern camping destination and a preserved 1930s resort atmosphere. This dual-park experience, combined with the park’s position in the Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area, creates opportunities for visitors to enjoy comprehensive island recreation while learning about both community volunteerism and regional maritime heritage.

Activities & Recreation

Camano Island State Park is one of 24 Washington State Parks with GPS-based treasure hunting. Visit Geocaching.com to search for geocaches in this park. Learn more about Geocaching in Washington State.

Camano Island State Park’s signature experience centers around the unique dual-park adventure where visitors can camp in the community-built paradise while exploring neighboring Cama Beach Historical State Park via the connecting one-mile trail, creating opportunities to experience both modern family camping and 1930s resort history in a single stay. The park’s volunteer-built character shines through in thoughtful amenities like the Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter with its sweeping Saratoga Passage views, while the Saturday evening amphitheater programs continue the community tradition with presentations ranging from “whales of Puget Sound” to “how your old shirt can save a salmon,” reflecting both local ecology and conservation spirit.

Facilities & Amenities

Camano Island State Park provides comprehensive family camping amenities including modern restrooms with hot showers, accessible facilities, automated pay stations, and specialized accommodations like hiker/biker sites and a Cascadia Marine Trail site for human-powered watercraft users. The park features a full-service boat launch with seasonal dock service, amphitheater for educational programs, and the distinctive Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter that accommodates up to 44 people inside and 80 total with its large windows showcasing Saratoga Passage views, making it ideal for weddings, family reunions, and special events. Additional facilities include North Beach picnic shelter, meadow areas for large gatherings, and interpretive trails with displays explaining the Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area.

Camping & Accommodations

Camano Island State Park accommodates diverse camping preferences across 77 standard reservable campsites with nearby restrooms and showers, plus five intimate forest cabins sleeping up to five people each with peek-a-boo water views through the trees. The campground operates with lower loop sites open year-round while upper loop sites (including pull-through sites better suited for RVs) operate May through September, complemented by specialized first-come first-served sites for hiker/bikers and Cascadia Marine Trail users arriving by human-powered watercraft. The group camp provides a large-scale option accommodating up to 100 people and 28 vehicles with dedicated restrooms and showers, while cabin guests can enjoy the unique experience of adding a small tent outside their cabin to accommodate up to eight total people.

Planning Your Visit to camano Island State Park

Camano Island State Park operates from 6:30 AM to dusk year-round, requiring a Discover Pass for vehicle access with reservations recommended for the May through mid-September peak season when all campsites require advance booking. The park’s location allows easy exploration of neighboring Cama Beach Historical State Park via the one-mile connecting trail, while boat launch users need either annual launch permits or combination Discover Pass and daily launch permits. Seasonal considerations include upper campground closures during winter months and dock removal at the boat launch during fall/winter, though launch access continues year-round for dedicated boaters.

What to Bring & Know

• Curiosity about the remarkable 900-volunteer creation story and appreciation for community-built recreation that demonstrates neighbor cooperation
• Camera equipment for capturing sweeping Puget Sound, Olympic Mountain, and Mount Rainier views from multiple park vantage points
• Trail gear for exploring the connecting path to Cama Beach Historical State Park and experiencing both parks in single visit
• Wildlife observation tools including binoculars for spotting forest animals and marine mammals from orcas to harbor seals
• Event planning awareness for Lowell Point Kitchen Shelter availability and North Beach meadow rental opportunities for special gatherings
• Respect for conservation efforts including closed clamming areas and marine stewardship principles in Saratoga Passage protection zone

Final Word

Camano Island State Park delivers an inspiring combination of community volunteer legacy and natural beauty, where 900 neighbors’ single-day creation in 1949 continues to provide island paradise camping with easy access to neighboring Cama Beach’s historic 1930s resort experience.