McMicken Island Marine State Park

McMicken Island Marine State Park: Hidden South Puget Sound Gem with Tidal Island Access

McMicken Island Marine State Park offers a unique dual-access experience in South Puget Sound, where visitors can reach this 11.5-acre forested island either by boat or by walking across a natural tombolo during low tide from nearby Harstine Island. This day-use marine park features 1,661 feet of pristine saltwater shoreline, old-growth forest trails, and abundant shellfish beds, providing an intimate island adventure with convenient tidal access for those without watercraft.

McMicken Island Marine State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

McMicken Island Marine State Park sits in the protected waters of Case Inlet on the east flank of Harstine Island, offering visitors a rare tidal island experience in South Puget Sound. Named after William C. McMicken, Washington Surveyor General from 1873 to 1886, the island features a fascinating natural tombolo that connects it to Harstine Island during low tide periods, allowing pedestrian access for several hours each day. This unique feature makes McMicken Island Marine State Park accessible to visitors without boats, unlike most marine parks in the Washington system.

The island’s thick virgin forest of cedar, fir, hemlock, and Pacific madronas creates a lush canopy over an often impenetrable understory of salal, ferns, and huckleberries. Originally homesteaded in the 1890s by Swedish immigrant Charles Lundquist, who cleared 2 acres at the south end for farming, the island remained in private hands until the state purchased it in 1974 from the Warren family, who had owned it since 1914. The family retained private use of a small southeastern section under agreement with the state.

Activities & Recreation

Facilities & Amenities

McMicken Island Marine State Park maintains minimal facilities to preserve its natural character as a day-use destination. The park provides two vault toilets and limited picnic tables distributed around the island, while five mooring buoys offer overnight moorage in the sheltered cove. No potable water, garbage receptacles, or camping facilities are available, requiring visitors to bring all necessary supplies and pack out all waste following Leave No Trace principles. A short forest trail winds through the woods providing access to unexpected views of Mount Rainier visible over the hills of the Key Peninsula to the southeast. The natural tombolo creates the park’s most unique feature, allowing visitors to walk directly from Harstine Island during low tide periods.

Camping & Accommodations

McMicken Island Marine State Park is day use only. No overnight camping is allowed.

Planning Your Visit

McMicken Island Marine State Park operates 8 a.m. to dusk daily, requiring either boat access or timing visits with low tides for tombolo crossing from Harstine Island. Visitors planning to walk should consult tide tables carefully, as the sand bar connection is only exposed during lower tides for a few hours each day. The park is administered as a satellite of Jarrell Cove State Park, with moorage fees charged for the five overnight buoys available in the sheltered cove. Shellfish harvesting requires current permits and adherence to seasonal regulations. No camping is permitted, making this strictly a day-use destination. Winter visitors should be prepared for limited daylight hours and potentially challenging tidal conditions affecting the tombolo crossing.

What to Bring & Know

• Current tide tables essential for planning tombolo crossings from Harstine Island
• All water, food, and supplies as no services are available on the island
• Valid shellfish harvesting permits if planning to dig clams or collect other seafood
• Sturdy footwear for potentially muddy or slippery tombolo crossing conditions
• Pack-in, pack-out mentality as no garbage services are provided

Final Word

McMicken Island Marine State Park provides a rare opportunity to experience true island solitude in South Puget Sound, whether accessed by boat through the sheltered cove or by walking the natural tombolo that connects it to the mainland during low tide.