Mystery Bay State Park, a Washington State Park located nearby Camano Island, Port Townsend and Bothell

MYSTERY BAY STATE PARK

MYSTERY BAY STATE PARK
10541 Flagler Road
Nordland, Washington 98358

This 10-acre marine park is reachable by car or boat. The park features 685 feet of saltwater shoreline on Mystery Bay and offers a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. This 10-acre marine park features 685 feet of saltwater shoreline and offers a spectacular view of the Olympic Mountains. This park is of primary interest to boaters, although it is reachable by car or boat.

Park hours/updates:

The park is open year round for day use only.

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nature of the Area

Wildlife Mammals Birds Fish & Sea Life. Deer or Elk. Otters. Rabbits. Doves or Pigeons. Eagles. Gulls. Wrens. Clams. Crabs. Oysters. Sea Birds. Seals. Shellfish. Starfish. Perch

Environmental Features Physical Features Plant Life . Cedar. Douglas Fir. Berries. Seaweed

History of the Area

The name "Mystery Bay" derives from smuggling activity on the island during Prohibition days. Transporting booze from Canada was a profitable and somewhat honored occupation in the remote waters of northwest Washington. Sequestered between Marrowstone and Indian Islands, Kilisut Harbor was one refuge used by smugglers to evade Coast Guard vessels. Smugglers' boats were easily hidden in the overhanging trees at a small bay near the end of the harbor. Smugglers' regular disappearance here was categorized by the Coast Guard as "mysterious," hence the name of the bay.

Camping

The park has no camping.

Boating

The park offers one single-lane launch ramp, which drops gently down the beach north of the floats.

A daily permit is available for watercraft launching, vehicle parking and trailer dumping at the park for $5.Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

The park also provides 683 feet of moorage and a boater pump-out station.

Moorage fees are charged year-round for mooring at docks, floats and buoys from 1 p.m. to 8 a.m.:

-Daily moorage fee is 50 cents per foot, with a minimum of $10.

-Moorage buoys, $10 a night.

-Annual moorage permit fee is $3.50 per foot, with a minimum of $50.

Moorage permits are available at parks offering moorage. For information, call (360) 902-8844. Telephone Device for the Deaf, (360) 664-3133.

Located on the west side of Marrowstone Island off the Olympic Peninsula in Jefferson County.

By car from Hadlock:Drive one mile south on Oak Bay Road turn left onto SR 116 and continue eight miles, crossing bridge, skirting Indian Island, and crossing a spit to Marrowstone Island. The road name changes to Flagler Road. Drive approximately six miles and turn left into park.

By car from Seattle or Edmonds:Take the Kingston Ferry or Bainbridge Ferry and follow signs to the Hood Canal Bridge. Cross over and drive five miles, then turn right onto easily-missed Highway 19 (Beaver Valley Road). Travel 10 miles, turn right onto Chimacum-Center Road. At the four-way stop in Port Hadlock, turn right onto Oak Bay Road. Drive approximately one mile and turn left onto SR 116. Drive approximately eight miles, turn left into the park.

By boat:Boat access is the channel through Kilisut Harbor. The narrow channel makes an S-curve at the entrance. Any deviation from the center of the channel can lead to grounding. Mystery Bay is on east side of harbor, two miles south of entrance.