Birch Bay State Park - Washington
If you are looking for a quick getaway and don’t have much time to plan, Birch Bay State Park is a fantastic choice. The park includes day use facilities as well as a campground with access to Birch Bay, a cove which at low tide becomes a wide mudflat. The bay is full of shellfish which can be harvested in season and also creates an opportunity for the sun to warm the water which is great for swimming.
Located North of Seattle, South of Canada, on the Puget Sound between Bellingham and Blaine. This park was easy to get to from Seattle (only 90 minutes for us).
If you need supplies The Beachwood Grocery and Deli is a small grocery and laundromat located right next to the park and BONUS they sell firewood. The town of Birch Bay, Washington is also located less than a mile from the Park and has fantastic breweries and restaurants to choose from. We ate at CJ’s and were treated to a fantastic menu as well as an amazing water view.
Within the park each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring. Bathrooms are easy to find, were clean and included a shower. Most of the sites also have room to park a small boat. Sites in Campground B on the North side have elevated water views.
The day use area had both wooded areas and beach front areas which were equally expansive and generous. Bathrooms were clean, plentiful and easy to find. The beach areas made parking and set up for the day easy. During our visit most people were crabbing and enjoying the views of the North Cascade Mountains and Canadian Gulf Islands. The bay is a popular destination for hard shell clamming and is abundant in Dungeness crab. Harvest season normally begins mid-August (don’t forget you need a license, link below.)
Our Take: The campground was extremely clean and well maintained. We stayed in site #65. It was by far the most exposed and smallest of the spots in the campground but we still felt comfortable and had a nice time. There are hand dryers in the bathroom which are used throughout the evening. If you’re sensitive to noise steer clear of a spot close to the bathrooms.
Fire Ring: Yes, cleaned regularly. No wood for sale onsite, but available at nearby store.
Ranger Station: Yes
Trash on site: Yes, but no recycling
Water on site: Yes
Links: Birch Bay State Park, Printable Park Brochure, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
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