Camano Island  overnight regulars and crabbers will shift from first-come, first-served camping.

OLYMPIA – April 3, 2019 – Starting this season, campers wishing to stay overnight at Camano Island State Park will need to make reservations using the new  Washington State Parks reservation system, (https://washington.goingtocamp.com/home).  

Reservations for the park’s 77 campsites may be made up to nine months in advance. Campsites operate year round, but are reservable between May 15 and Sept. 15. Sites without an incoming reservation may be available first-come, first-served in high season, one night at a time.

In January, 2019, campsites and roofed accommodations at Camano Island went online for the first time. Prior to this year, sites were first-come, first-served. Guests made reservations for the park’s five cabins by calling the park. The new reservation system expands the number of reservable campsites all over the state and provides campers a user-friendly experience with greater ease in finding and securing campsites.  

This transition year poses a change for many visitors - and for crabbers in particular. According to Cama Beach Program Specialist Deb Bell, the Saratoga Passage is known for its crabbing, and crabbers flock to the park between July 4 and Labor Day from all over Washington.

“They show up on a Wednesday or Thursday, stay for the weekend and crab,” said Bell.

Park staff wants visitors accustomed to the old system to be prepared so they don’t show up and find no available sites, especially on busy and holiday weekends. Staff are working to spread the word, hanging fliers in local establishments and posting alerts on the park’s webpage and on social media.  

“Campers have self-registered in the past, and we want to let them know they need to make reservations this year,” said Bell.

About Camano Island State Park

Camano Island State Park is a 244-acre camping park with 6,700 feet of rocky shoreline and beach located an hour from Seattle on beautiful Camano Island. The park offers stellar crabbing, boating and saltwater fishing. It provides a mellow, less bustling, but equally friendly alternative to its busier neighbor, Cama Beach State Park. http://parks.state.wa.us/484/Camano-Island

News media contacts:

Deb Bell, Program Specialist, Cama Beach Historical State Park, (360) 387-1550
Meryl Lipman, Communications Consultant, (360) 902-8557

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About Washington State Parks

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.

News release number: 19-015