State Parks and National Parks

Fort Worden State Park

Fort Worden was built at the turn of the century for the Coast Artillery Corps along a peninsula just north of Port Townsend.

It was decommissioned in 1953, but its Victorian barracks and officers' quarters remain, converted into overnight vacation and conference facilities that are furnished in period style.

Visitors to Fort Worden State Park come for many reasons. The 434-acre park includes two miles of sand beach, with a boat launch in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Anglers work the strait for salmon.

An artificial reef just offshore provides excellent viewing for scuba divers, and a marine science center in the park offers exhibits and a touch tank.

Ten miles of paved roads run throughout the park, enjoyed by cyclists, runners and motorists. Where the road drops to the beach, there is a campground with 50 full-hookup and 30 sites with water and electricity are located in the upper campground.

A restaurant in the park serves all meals.

More than six miles of hiking trails weave through woodlands and fields. Behind the barracks, one trail climbs to the upper hill, where former gun batteries now serve as sightseeing platforms. The San Juan Islands beckon from afar.

A centennial garden planted in 1989 boasts 100 varieties of rhododendron.

The park is also home to Centrum, a nationally-known not-for-profit arts and education foundation. Concerts and performances are scheduled year-round.

The park also has two historical museums, the Coast Artillery Museum and the Commanding Officer's Quarters Museum, and a natural history museum and a marine science center.

While day use is free, a fee is charged for overnight stays.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Washington