Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet in the park as a symbol of an end to their mutual competition. The park offers beautiful views and wildlife-watching opportunities. The park features tide pools and marine life, including salmon spawning in McSorley Creek. There is an underwater artificial reef for scuba divers. The park is on the flight path of Sea-Tac International Airport.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 8 a.m. to dusk.Winter: Closed Dec. 15, reopens April 1 (day-use area is open year round.)

Camping:Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.Check-out time, 1 p.m. Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Wildlife Mammals Birds Fish & Sea Life? Foxes? Squirrels? Crows or Ravens? Doves or Pigeons? Ducks? Eagles? Gulls? Hawks? Herons? Hummingbirds? Ospreys? Owls? Quail? Woodpeckers? Clams? Crabs? Mussels? Octopuses? Oysters? Sea Birds? Sea Cucumbers? Seals? Shellfish? Squid? Starfish? Whales? Eel? Perch? Salmon? Shark? Trout

Environmental Features Physical Features Plant Life ? Cedar? Douglas Fir? Hemlock? Spruce? Alder? Ash? Birch? Oak? Poplar? Rhododendron? Rose? Berries? Ferns? Moss or Lichens? Seaweed

The park dedication in 1926 included a peace effort to stop the bad feelings between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The park is located halfway between the two cities, and a hatchet is symbolically buried under a rock somewhere in the park. Much of the park we see today was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s.

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 50 tent spaces, one dump station, four restrooms (one ADA) and two showers (both ADA). All standard sites are in McSorley gulch, next to the creek. Sites have no hook-ups. Maximum site length is 60 feet (may have limited availability). The park is in the flight path of Seatac Airport and, during certain hours, planes land or take off over the park every 15 minutes. All campsites are first-come, first-served.

Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.

Services/Supplies Available in the area ? Auto repair? Airport? Boat rental? Camping? Diesel? Fishing/hunting? Gasoline? Gifts? Golf? Groceries? Hardware? Hospital? Marine supplies? Postal service? Propane? Recreational equipment? White gas? Wood? Swimming

An cafe and expresso stand available in the park. Most services are available within a few miles of the park.