Twanoh

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Exciting news!   Twanoh State Park is getting some much-needed improvements! Starting July 5, 2023, DOT will close SR106 for several weeks to work on road improvements and starting August 1, 2023, multiple park shoreline restoration projects will begin. What does this mean for you?

  • Camping will remain open until July 5, 2023.
  • Reservations will NOT BE ACCEPTED for dates after July 4th for the 2023 summer season.
  • Campground will be closed effective July 5, 2023.
  • Large Day Use Area will remain closed during duration of work.
  • Intermittent closures of other day use lots including the boat launch can be expected.

You won't have to stick your little toe into the water at Twanoh State Park; the water is so nice, you can probably dunk yourself all at once. Known for its warm saltwater swimming, scenic beauty and abundant shellfish, Twanoh has been a plum getaway spot since 1923, when it became a state park.

The park has the feel of an old-time camping resort but with modern amenities. Floatie-clad toddlers splash in the swim area with parents nearby. Kayakers and paddlers share space with seals, and boaters motor out in search of the perfect crabbing or fishing spot. At low tide, oyster shuckers emerge, carrying pails and hand tools. Buy a shellfish license and join them or walk down the beach watching for orange sea stars, purple crabs and other intertidal creatures.

Need a break from the beach? The park's southern half contains a hiking trail through a green forest of moss-draped trees that filter sunlight. The trail runs along a creek that is filled with Chum salmon in fall.

As a park, Twanoh came of age during the Great Depression, and New Deal history fans will find a significant, intact grouping of Civilian Conservation Corps buildings. The rustic architecture made famous by the National Park Service in the 1930s is visible in the large covered kitchen shelters and several of the park's structures.

As the day winds down, it may be a good time to check out the badminton area, horseshoe pits and volleyball court. Or grill up that seafood, tuck the kids into their sleeping bags and kick back for some quiet campfire time.

Park features

Twanoh State Park is a 188-acre, marine camping park with 3,167 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal in South Puget Sound.

Automated pay station: This park is equipped with an automated pay station for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass and boat launch permit.


  1. Activities
  2. Boating
  3. Camping
  4. History
  5. Maps

ADA amenities/facilities

  • Campground

Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities.

Picnic & day-use facilities
The park offers two kitchen shelters with electricity and water, plus 125 uncovered picnic tables. One kitchen shelter can accommodate up to 150 people and is reservable Mondays through Thursdays from May 15 to September 15 and every day the rest of the year by calling 360-275-2222. The other kitchen shelter accommodates up to 40 people and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Activities

Trails

  • 2.5 miles of hiking trails

Water activities & features

  • 100 feet of dock
  • 200 feet of moorage
  • Boating
  • Crabbing
  • Fishing (saltwater)
  • Oyster harvesting
  • Personal watercraft use
  • Swimming
  • Watercraft launch
  • Waterskiing

Other activities & features

  • Badminton area
  • Beach exploration
  • Bird watching
  • Fire circles (20)
  • Horseshoe pit
  • Volleyball field
  • Tennis court
  • Wildlife viewing

Interpretive opportunities

A plaque stands along the road in nearby Union. It commemorates Captain George Vancouver, the first European to sail into Hood Canal in search of the Northwest Passage.

Additional information

  • Campers and day-users must bring their own play equipment, balls, racquets, horse shoes, etc.
  • Oyster season is open year round. Oysters must be shelled on the beach. A shellfish license is required to shuck oysters or to crab. This license is sold anywhere fishing licenses are sold. Please check Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing publications for daily limits and information. Regulations are available wherever fishing licenses are sold. Anyone over 14 years of age needs a shellfish license to harvest oysters. The daily limit is 18 oysters.
  • A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
  • Gathering firewood is prohibited, but firewood is sold at the park.
  • Printable park brochure (PDF).