A wetland, a green lake behind it and a trail in the foreground.

Anderson Lake Entrance and Trail Renovations

Project summary

Anderson Lake State Park will close in early August for major renovations to its entrance, parking, facilities and trails. The closure is anticipated to last from August through November 2026. 

  • Location: Anderson Lake State Park
  • Estimated start date: Aug. 3, 2026
  • Estimated end date: Nov. 30, 2026
  • Budget: $707,000 to $864,000

This capital construction project bring several improvements to the park:

  • A new trail will replace an existing dirt trail, including paving and building boardwalks over wetland. This spur trail from the lake will connect the Olympic Discovery Trail, through a network of trails and backroads, from Port Townsend to the main trail that runs along the Northern Olympic Peninsula.
    • After construction, the ODT intersection at Anderson Lake will make the park a major trailhead for the ODT.
  • The park entrance road will be paved and include a bike path from the entrance to the parking lot, making Anderson Lake a hub for cyclists starting or continuing the ODT or other, longer trails.
  • The equestrian loading area and day-use parking lot will be improved.
  • The park’s wooden outhouse will be replaced by CXT vault toilets.

During construction, the park trail will be blocked off at all junctures with other community trails, so people will not be able to enter the park from those trails.

Anderson Lake is set on a lake in a beautiful wetland. This construction will give the park a new purpose and recreational focus – as a connector for the ODT and a draw for active recreationists visiting Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula and for locals looking to take a stroll or have a picnic.

Prescribed burn

As part of the project, State Parks will conduct a prescribed burn in a one-acre area of pasture to restore wetlands and native grasses, supporting pollinators and a healthy ecosystem.

This part of the project will be overseen by highly qualified firefighters with minimal smoke impacts. The burn will take place while the park is closed to the public.​​​​​​

Project history

This project has been in the works for several years and is part of the discussion of the larger continuity of the popular ODT, which runs from Port Townsend to La Push, through Sequim and Port Angeles. The Anderson Lake renovations will forward the long-term goal of making that trail contiguous.

The Anderson Lake project was funded for design in 2021-23 and has undergone a significant public process, including public meetings. Part of the construction was funded by a Recreation and Conservation Office grant in 2023 and must be completed by 2028. Though a small amount of construction was done last fall to replace 1,000 feet of unimproved trail, the park will enter its major construction phase this summer.

The project is funded through State Parks' Capital budget, a grant from the Washington Recreation Conservation Office and a $10,000 match from the Peninsula Trail Coalition.