Moran State Park

Moran State Park: San Juan Islands’ Premier Mountain Adventure with Historic CCC Stone Tower

Moran State Park stands as the crown jewel of the San Juan Islands, offering the most expansive hiking trail network in the archipelago and commanding views from Mount Constitution’s iconic stone observation tower. Located on Orcas Island in Olga, this 5,424-acre park promises visitors an unmatched Pacific Northwest mountain experience, combining pristine wilderness with masterfully crafted Civilian Conservation Corps architecture and access to five pristine lakes surrounded by dense forests and dramatic elevation changes.

Moran State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

Moran State Park encompasses the most diverse terrain in the San Juan Islands, featuring forests, wetlands, bogs, hills, and five distinct lakes that create a mountain wilderness experience unique to the archipelago. The park’s character centers around Mount Constitution, whose 2,409-foot summit offers the highest point in San Juan County and provides sweeping marine views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain ranges, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and the surrounding islands. The signature 53-foot stone observation tower, designed by renowned Seattle architect Ellsworth Storey and completed in 1936, stands as a testament to the remarkable craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

This historic park serves adventurous visitors seeking challenging mountain terrain combined with lake-based recreation, offering everything from gentle forest loops to demanding summit ascents. The park’s design philosophy reflects both the vision of its benefactor, shipbuilder and Seattle mayor Robert Moran, and the skilled handiwork of CCC crews who spent eight years constructing trails, buildings, and the iconic mountaintop tower that remains the park’s defining feature.

Activities & Recreation

Facilities & Amenities

Moran State Park provides comprehensive facilities reflecting its status as the San Juan Islands’ largest public recreation area. The park features two kitchen shelters without electricity and 55 picnic tables available first-come, first-served, plus a reservable log kitchen shelter at Cascade Lake with stone fireplace, wood grill, sink, and electricity. Five restrooms serve the park along with ten shower facilities and one dump station for RVs.

The Summit Visitor Center atop Mount Constitution operates April through October, featuring displays on geology, ecology, Salish inhabitants, and CCC history, plus a gift shop run by Friends of Moran volunteers. The Sugar Shack near Cascade Lake offers beverages, snacks, homemade ice cream, and souvenirs, while Orcas Adventures provides SUP, kayak, paddle boat, canoe, and fishing gear rentals at both Cascade and Mountain lakes.

Camping & Accommodations

The park offers diverse overnight experiences across four campgrounds with 124 standard campsites and six hiker/biker sites, accommodating RVs up to 45 feet with limited availability and no electrical hookups. LEANTO glamping provides five walk-in platform tent sites in the South End Campground, featuring canvas wall tents on cedar platforms with comfortable furnishings, available June through September by reservation.

Camp Moran Retreat Center accommodates large groups up to 144 guests in heated cabins with a rustic lodge featuring a wood-burning stove and commercial kitchen. The retreat center includes an outdoor amphitheater, volleyball and basketball areas, and sits adjacent to Cascade Lake’s day-use beach.

Planning Your Visit

Moran State Park operates year-round with seasonal hours from 6:30 a.m. to dusk (April-September) and 8 a.m. to dusk (October-March). Access requires a scenic ferry ride from Anacortes to Orcas Island, then a 13-mile drive along Orcas Road through forests, hills, and farmlands to reach the park.

A Discover Pass is required for day visits, available as an annual pass for $30 or day pass for $10. Ferry reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak season from May 15 to September 15 when campsite reservations are also advised. The park can be accessed via Washington State Ferries, and visitors should plan for potential weather delays and seasonal ferry schedule changes.

What to Bring & Know

• Sturdy hiking boots with good traction for Mount Constitution’s challenging 2,058-foot elevation gain from Cascade Lake
• Layers and weather protection for summit conditions, which can be significantly cooler and windier than lake level
• Camera for capturing panoramic views from the observation tower spanning the Cascades, Olympics, and San Juan Islands
• Cash or cards for Dancing Tree Farms firewood vending machines, the first in Washington State Parks
• Ferry reservations and flexible schedule to accommodate potential weather-related delays or cancellations

Final Word

Moran State Park delivers the San Juan Islands’ ultimate mountain adventure, where historic CCC craftsmanship meets pristine wilderness and the iconic Mount Constitution tower rewards hikers with unparalleled Pacific Northwest vistas.

This park is part of the Explore Washington State Parks Directory—showcasing all of Washington’s State Parks from the rugged Pacific coast to the Cascade peaks. Whether you’re camping under old-growth forests, hiking scenic trails, or discovering local history, we’re highlighting the places where people connect with the state’s incredible natural and cultural heritage—all year long.