BAY VIEW STATE PARK
Bay View State Park is a 25-acre camping park with 1,285 feet of saltwater shoreline on Padilla Bay. Over 11,000 acres of Padilla Bay are designated as National Estuarine Sanctuary. Breazeale Padilla Bay Interpretive Center is located a half mile north of the park. The park offers views of the San Juan Islands fronting Padilla Bay, one of 15 existing national marine estuaries. On clear days, park users see the Olympic Mountains to the west and Mt. Rainier to the south.
Bay View State Park was the home of Pat-Teh-Us, a Noo-Wha-Ah Indian chief and signer of the Point Elliot Treaty. The town was named by William J. Mckenna, who plotted the original townsite in 1884. The original portion of the park was donated to the state in 1925 by the Skagit County Agricultural Association with the understanding that it would become a state park. Additional parcels were acquired up until 1968. The park site, formerly a baseball field and racetrack, derives its name from the community of Bay View.
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the
Discover Pass web page.
The park has tent spaces, utility spaces, cabins, dump station, restroom and showers. The campground is divided into three areas.
Sites T1 to T9 the view sites provide the best opportunity to view Padilla Bay and are also utility sites.
Sites T10 to T30 the utility sites face a 1.5-acre grassy section, which provides space for kids to play safely and for parents to keep an eye on them.
Sites 31 to 76 the standard campsites provide a parking place, stove, picnic table and space to pitch a tent.
The park provides one group camp for tents only.
1. Bay View State Park offers a saltwater beach for swimming.
2. The park's 1, 285 feet of shoreline is perfect for swimmers and sunbathers alike.
3. Lifeguards are not provided at the park; swim with caution.
4. Low tide reveals expansive mudflats which can be dangerous to cross when wet or returning tides begin.
5. Swimming areas aren't roped off so keep an eye on children near water edges.
6. The best time to swim is during high tide due to deeper waters.
7. Water shoes recommended as shorelines may have shells and rocks.
The park is on Padilla Bay with a public watercraft launch three blocks from the park. Be advised Padilla Bay is heavily influenced by tidal action. The bay becomes a large mud flat during low tides.
Skagit County Parks provides a boat launch eight miles west of the park, just off Hwy. 20 under the Swinomish Channel. The launch is useable under various tide conditions.
Enjoy fishing in the Padilla Bay, known for its Dungeness crab and clam populations. Salmon is also a common catch. The park offers both saltwater and freshwater options with opportunities to fish from shore or by boat. A variety of species including flounder, perch, cod are available as well.
Bay View State Park is located near Anacortes, Bellingham and Burlington
The beach shelter capacity is 175 people. It provides a view of Padilla Bay, large barbecues and ADA access, but no electricity. Rental fees vary depending on size of the group.
The park also provides sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables available first-come, first-served.
1. Padilla Bay Shore Trail: This 2.25-mile trail offers stunning views of the bay and is perfect for bird watching, with a variety of species often spotted along the route.
2. Breazeale Interpretive Center Trails: A network of short trails around this educational center provides opportunities to learn about local flora and fauna while enjoying gentle walks suitable for all ages.
3. Upland Forest Loop Trail: An easy-to-moderate difficulty level loop that takes hikers through lush forested areas within the park, offering glimpses into Washington's diverse ecosystem.
4. Beach Access Pathway: Short but scenic pathway leading directly from camping grounds to beach area; ideal for those looking forward to spending time by water or picnicking on sand dunes overlooking beautiful sunsets over Puget Sound waters.
5. Bay View State Park Campground Paths: These are not official hiking trails but provide pleasant walking routes throughout campgrounds connecting various amenities like picnic spots, restrooms etc., also providing access points towards other major trails in park.
6. Picnic Area Nature Walks: Small nature walk paths scattered across multiple picnic sites inside state park allowing visitors chance at leisurely strolls amidst greenery after their meals.
7. Wildlife Observation Routes: Unmarked yet popular among regular visitors these informal pathways lead you closer towards habitats frequented by native wildlife including deer, raccoons & numerous birds making them great choice if interested in animal spotting during your hikes.
Birding enthusiasts can spot a variety of species including Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers. Other common sightings include Western Sandpipers, Dunlins and Black-bellied Plovers during migration season. The park's diverse habitats attract different bird types throughout the year.
The beach area is good for swimming, but no lifeguards are on-site. On windy days, with appropriate tides, sailboarding is becoming more popular. Crabbing and clamming are best at other locations along Padilla Bay or Bellingham Bay.
Located seven miles west of Burlington, Wash., and 14 miles east of Anacortes, Wash. in Skagit County.
From I-5 north or south:Take exit #230. Follow Hwy. 20 seven miles west to Bay View-Edison Rd. Signs will alert you to a right turn. Turn right onto Bay View-Edison Rd. Park is four miles north of Hwy. 20.