FORT CASEY STATE PARK
Fort Casey State Park is a 467-acre marine camping park with a lighthouse and sweeping views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A coast artillery post features two 10-inch and two 3-inch historic guns on display. The park features 10,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound Admiralty Inlet, and includes Keystone Spit, a two-mile-plus stretch of land separating Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake. The park is the site of Admiralty Head Lighthouse. A coast artillery post features four historic guns on display. The park offers spectacular views of Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
In 1858, the U.S. government purchased ten acres of land costing $400 for the construction of Admiralty Head Lighthouse. In 1890, the army took over the premises. It named its garrison "Fort Casey" in honor of Brigadier General Thomas Lincoln Casey, the last U.S. Army chief of engineers. At that time, Fort Casey, in union with Fort Worden and Fort Flagler, was said to comprise a "triangle of fire" guarding the entrance to Puget Sound.
When the fort was constructed, the old lighthouse had to be moved. A new lighthouse was built on the present site in 1903. Today the Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey serves as a historic landmark and interpretive center. The park was incorporated into Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve in 1980.
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 offers 35 standard tent sites, one restroom and one shower. Maximum site length is 40 feet (may have limited availability). Campsites are located next to the Keystone Ferry terminal. All are first-come, first-served.
More about park hours 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.
The park has two saltwater boat ramps.
A daily watercraft launching permit and a trailer dumping permit is available at the park.Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.
Fort Casey State Park is located near Camano Island, Mount Vernon and Oak Harbor
The park offers 68 unsheltered picnic tables. Picnic sites are first-come, first-served.
Bicycling is permitted on the park's paved roads, but be aware there are no dedicated bike trails.
The terrain can be hilly and challenging for some riders; caution should always prevail.
Riders must share the road with vehicles as traffic within this area may increase during peak times.
Helmets are required by law in Washington State - safety first!
Ensure your bicycle has proper lighting if you plan to ride after dusk due to limited visibility conditions.
Please respect pedestrian areas where bicycles might not be allowed or could pose a risk.
Remember that wildlife encounters while biking can occur so proceed with care and awareness at all times.
1. Admiralty Head Lighthouse Trail: This easy, 0.5-mile trail leads to the historic lighthouse and offers stunning views of Puget Sound.
2. Bluff Trail: A moderate difficulty level hike that stretches for about a mile along the park's western edge with breathtaking ocean vistas.
3. Keystone Spit Beach Walk: An approximately two miles long beach walk offering beautiful coastal scenery and bird-watching opportunities on both sides of the spit.
4. Fort Casey Parade Ground Loop: Easy half-a-mile loop around historical military structures including gun batteries, bunkers, and barracks; interpretive signs provide information about their history.
5. Campground Pathway Trails: These are short trails connecting different campgrounds within Fort Casey State Park providing access to amenities like restrooms or picnic areas from various camping spots.
6. Battery Way & Battery Moore Hiking Route: Short but steep hikes leading up to old artillery placements where you can explore remnants of World War II era fortifications while enjoying panoramic sea views.
7. Coupeville Ferry Terminal Access Trail: It is an accessible paved path which connects ferry terminal parking lot directly with main part of state park allowing visitors arriving by boat quick entry into heartland area without need for additional transportation means.
8. Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Connector: Longest hiking route in this list stretching over five miles one way through diverse landscapes such as prairies, forests before ending at neighboring Ebey's landing reserve known for its rich cultural heritage sites dating back centuries ago.
Historic Gun Battery Guided Tours at Fort Casey: Tours of the historic gun batteries at Fort Casey are open to all park visitors starting Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 7. Conducted by volunteers from the Fort Casey Volunteer Battalion, the 45 minute tours begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be lengthened if requested or upon participant interest. Tours start at the kiosk between Battery Worth and the parking lot. For more information, call (360) 678-4519.
An interpretive center in the lighthouse is open seasonally. Tours can be arranged by contacting lighthouse staff at (360) 240-5584.
Birding enthusiasts can spot species like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and various waterfowl. The park is home to diverse birdlife including songbirds during migration seasons. Other common sightings include owls and woodpeckers in the forested areas of the park.
Located three miles south of Coupeville, Wash., on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound in Island County.
From I-5 north:Take the Anacortes/Whidbey Island exit (#230), and drive to the Whidbey Island turnoff. From there, proceed south on Hwy. 20 to Coupeville. Follow the signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. The park entrance sign is between the ferry terminal parking lot and the Camp Casey barracks in the 25 MPH zone.
From the Mukilteo Ferry terminal at Clinton:Take Hwy. 525 following signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. Pass the Keystone Ferry parking lot, and take first entrance to the left.
From the south:Follow signs to the Keystone Ferry terminal. Pass ferry parking lot, and take first entrance to the left.