Belfair State Park is situated on the shoreline of Hood Canal, which is a branch of the Puget Sound. It is a smaller park, but no less majestic made up of about 94 acres and over 3,000 feet of shoreline. Located in Mason County, Washington, this state park is a great place to visit and camp in your RV. You'll be able to enjoy activities like fishing and kite-flying and everything in between.
The shoreline views of Belfair State Park are beautiful, and you may be able to enjoy the salmon run, depending on the time of year you visit. This is the annual trek of salmon where they swim upstream and spawn, eventually ending their life cycle. Avid anglers can embrace the opportunity to take part in either freshwater or saltwater fishing. Water sports can also be enjoyed, from kayaking to windsurfing. Seafood enthusiasts can take part in clamming, crabbing, or even oyster harvesting.
You can park your RV rental at Belfair State Park and then begin exploring, or you can rent one of their cabins, which holds up to five people. There are also three different loops that provide RV campsites, some of which offer full hookups. You can play various sports at the park on its grassy field or volleyball fields. Horseshoe pits are also present for campers to enjoy. Trails are plentiful in the area for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. The park is open year-round, but the peak season lasts from mid-May through the summer until mid-September.
Belfair State Park is located between Belfair and Tahuya, Washington, just over an hour from the state's largest city -- Seattle. The park is easy to access for both cars and RVs, with a location off of North Shore Road, which runs roughly parallel to Hood Canal. WA-3 also runs close to the park, so no matter which direction you're coming from, you'll have wide, paved roads on which to maneuver your rig.
The park entrances are located off WA-300 (North Shore Road), and due to the park's petite size, you'll be able to find the main points of interest within minutes of entering. There are several roads that cut through the park, including three loops where the campsites are located. The Main and Beach Loops remain open year-round, while the Tree Loop, with its almost 60 campsites, closes outside of peak times. You may want to bring your bikes along in the motorhome, so you don't have to deconstruct camp every time you want to go somewhere. The park is also fairly easy to walk, and there are a few hiking trails that double as shortcuts.
There are six different parking lots available in the park, and the nearby Tahuya Multiple Use Area has parking for trails, horseback riding, and biking. It is important to note that only one car is allowed at each camping site, and all other vehicles will need to park in overflow parking lots.
Belfair State Park features 90 standard campsites and 41 sites with full hookups. However, access to water, electricity, and sewage depends on your site. The campground is divided into three loops. The Main Loop and Beach Loop are open for reservations year-round and can fit RVs and trailers up to 60 feet long. The Tree Loop is open from May to September and can only accommodate small vehicles that are 18 feet long or under. All sites are paved and feature a picnic table and fire ring.
Pets are allowed to camp with you as long as they stay on leashes within the park. There are three restrooms and eight showers, several with ADA access. Throughout the park are picnic tables and grills. Generator use is allowed from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Depending on when you travel, there are set lengths of stay. You can stay for 10 consecutive days between April and September, or up to 20 days from October through March. Reservations are recommended during the peak season and can be made up to nine months in advance.
There is one boat-in site that is open on a first-come, first-served basis, but it is a bit difficult to access. You can only get to this campsite by boat as it is located along the Cascadia Marine Trail. If you are up for the challenge and enjoy aquatic adventures, you’ll be welcomed at the site by a picnic table and fire ring.
Picnicking is a wonderful activity to enjoy at Belfair State Park all year round. With 130 picnic tables to choose from, you can enjoy a relaxing meal under the majestic shade of trees or overlooking waterfront views of Plum Point. After your serene lunch, the whole family can try kite flying or enjoy a game of badminton or horseshoes. You can also take the kids to the nearby playground to let them get out some energy before turning in for the night.
If you're visiting during the winter months, make sure to pack your snow gear in your RV as the nearby mountain ranges can get large amounts of snow. In Belfair State Park, you can experience motorized and non-motorized snow-related activities. Different areas are designated for motorized vehicles, such as snowmobiles, to allow for a high-speed adventure. Other areas are designated for non-motorized activities, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even dog sledding.
The nearby waterways at Belfair State Park allow up-close observation of the salmon run, where salmon spawning occurs. This is true in both Big Mission Creek and Little Mission Creek. If you can, park the travel trailer at Belfair during the off-season, as this annual event occurs during the fall months in the Pacific Northwest. Salmon swim upriver before spawning in the creeks. Shortly after they spawn, the Pacific salmon almost always die, usually from exhaustion and not eating, which makes it a beautiful but sad sight to see.
The birders in your group will be pleased with all the bird watching opportunities available in and around Belfair State Park. After you've parked the Sprinter and set up camp, you can begin your search for the hundreds of unique species that call the park home. Due to its location near both freshwater and saltwater, you'll find a wide variety of ducks, birds of prey, and songbirds living in harmony. Keep your eyes peeled for European starling, red-tailed hawks, and horned grebe as you wander around the park. For more birding opportunities, head about ten miles east of the park to access the Theler Wetlands -- a protected area with great birding trails.
If you'd like to get out of the RV for a night or two, consider renting one of the park's eight cabins. Four of the cabins are located near the main campground, and the other four sit in the day-use area. All cabins can sleep up to five guests and are equipped with modern conveniences like heat, bunk beds, queen-sized futons, and a table with chairs (guests will need to bring their own bedding). Cabin dwellers will also find a picnic table and fire ring outside, and restrooms with showers are located nearby. Some cabins are ADA-accessible, air-conditioned, or pet-friendly, so be sure to look for these things when booking. The cabins are available year-round, and reservations can be made up to nine months in advance.
If the campground at Belfair State Park was full, you won't have to drive far to find a place to park the RV for the night. There are a few other state parks in the surrounding area, along with numerous private RV parks with top-notch facilities.
Both Illahee State Park and Manchester State Park are just over 30 minutes from Belfair but differ greatly in terms of amenities. Illahee State Park is great for those looking to get away from the crowds and offers 23 basic sites for rigs under 40 feet. Manchester State Park, on the other hand, is equipped with 50 RV-friendly sites, some of which offer water and electric hookups.
If you're in search of full hookups, look into some of the private RV parks that are located around the Belfair area.
There are plenty of places to hike and bike around Belfair State Park, from the park itself to nearby parks. These trails vary in length and difficulty, but you'll still want to be prepared. There is the three-mile trek labeled the Hood Canal, and the Theler Wetlands Trails is an easier hike that is accessible during all seasons. If you brought your 4x4, there is the Tahuya 4x4 Trail, which is six miles long and accessible all year round, allowing you to have an adventure as you take in the beautiful scenery.
Bring your fishing gear in your camper when you come to Belfair State Park and get ready to enjoy the shoreline where you can partake in a variety of water activities. Anglers can enjoy both freshwater and saltwater fishing, along with clamming, crabbing, and oyster harvesting -- yum! A recreational license is needed for fishing or harvesting shellfish. In addition, state fishing licenses are also needed if you fish in the freshwater areas of Big Mission Creek and Little Mission Creek. If you fish or go crabbing in the surrounding saltwater, you need a state saltwater license. Once you have your paperwork in order, you are welcome to spend your days casting your line along the majestic banks of the water.
Make sure to pack your kayak or canoe in your RV, because the Hood Canal is a great place to enjoy a few hours. The major waterway is the Big Mission Creek, with smaller branches of the Little Mission Creek feeding up into the park. Spend some time paddling and taking in the scenic views of the Pacific Northwest. You can follow the Cascadia Marine Trail that runs through the park, or paddle wherever the wind takes you. If kayaking isn't your sport, you can also enjoy windsurfing and boating. In addition to being able to launch your boat at Belfair State Park, there is the nearby Trails End Lake Public Boat Launch that you can utilize.
During the peak summer months, Belfair State Park offers a number of ranger-led programs that are popular for both the young and the young at heart. These programs are family-friendly and could include a variety of activities, from guided hikes and animal talks to junior ranger programs and scavenger hunts. If you're looking for a great way to get the kids out of the Airstream and more interested in nature, or if you just want to learn more about the park and the surrounding area, talk to a park ranger to see which programs are available during your stay.
