Things to See and Do ~ Hood Canal and South Puget Sound Travel

Things to See and Do

(Shelton, Union, Agate)

Phillips Lake County Park

Phillips Lake Loop, east of State Route 3, near Hartstene Island. Enjoy a lakeside picnic at this small park next to the boat launch.

Shorecrest (Jacoby) County Park

120 East Shorecrest Parkway, across the water from Shelton
The 2.8-acre park on Hammersley Inlet serves as a launch site for the Cascadia Marine Trail. Amenities include a small boat launch and picnic area. Open year-round. To get there, take Agate Road south off of State Route 3 just north of Shelton. Go left on Crestview Drive, left on Parkway Boulevard, then right on Crescent Drive.

Mason County Recreation Area (MCRA)

2100 East Johns Prairie Road, Shelton
This expansive 40-acre recreation area is open early spring through October. Several busy baseball/softball fields are available for use by reservation. Test your swing in the batting cages, or bring the family for a picnic or afternoon at the ball game. A seasonal concession stand serves snacks and drinks.

Mason County Skate Park

110 Wallace Kneeland Boulevard, Shelton
Ramp up the action and test your skills at this recreational skateboard park! Open year round.

Walker Park

2400 SE Walker Park Road, Shelton
Five wooded acres provide a tempting setting for a day in the outdoors. Add in beach access, a covered picnic shelter, barbecue grills, a children's play area and restrooms, and you have the perfect setting for a family outing or a gathering with the whole scout troop. This park is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail system. Open March - October. To get there, take Fairmount Avenue off of State Route 3. Drive 1.4 miles to the park (Fairmount turns into Walker Park Road).

Union Community Park

61 East Port Townsend Street, Union
Great for a picnic or a family reunion, this upland community park covers nearly 2 acres, including play structures, a basketball court, a sports field, covered picnic tables, and restrooms. To get there, turn off McReavy Road onto 5th Street, go left on Port Townsend Street, and the park is on the left.

Kneeland Park

State Route 3 & Turner Avenue, Shelton

Kids of all ages will just love the huge and imaginative wooden play structure that sits at the center of this four acre park in downtown Shelton. Lush green grass, shaded picnic tables and restrooms complete this picture perfect picnic spot.

See also:
West Mason Day Parks
North Mason Day Parks
State Parks in Mason County

Schafer State Park

Nestled in the southwest corner of Mason County, beautiful Schafer State Park spans 119 acres on the banks of the gentle East Fork of the Satsop River. Steelhead, trout and salmon fishing opportunities abound. Wading and swimming in the shallow waters are popular in the warmer months. Nature trails, horseshoe pits and picnic facilities surrounded by lush forest make the a perfect site for family gatherings. The campground is open during fishing season (late April through early October), while the day use area is open year-round.

To get there, drive 12 miles north from Elma on the East Satsop Road. Or, take a 10-mile scenic drive to the park starting from the Brady exit off of U.S. Highway 12.

Click here for more information on this State Park, including campground reservations.

Twanoh State Park

Twanoh, a Skokomish word meaning "gathering place", is still home to much of the marine life that made the area attractive for the native Twana people. Twanoh State Park sits on one of the warmest saltwater beaches in the state, and has become known for its enhanced oyster beds whose bounty makes for excellent beachside barbeques.

Visitors flock to the park to enjoy picnics, shallow water play, swimming, water skiing, and other outdoor activities. The boat launch at Twanoh State Park remains busy throughout the summer. Picnickers can pick up food, drinking water and supplies at stores and delis just minutes away in either direction on Highway 106.

In the fall, watch the salmon migrate home starting at the mouth of Twanoh Creek at Hood Canal and upstream through the campground and surrounding forestland.

Click here for more information on this park, including reservations.

Jarrell Cove State Park

This 43-acre marine camping park is hidden away at the northwest end of Hartstene Island, just 16 miles northwest of Shelton.

Densely forested with easy access to the clear waters of Puget Sound, Jarrell Cove State Park offers excellent opportunities for beach exploration, boating, swimming and fishing. Tent and trailer sites are available near the 650-foot dock, or visitors can camp on the rolling grass. Satellite parks nearby include Hartstene Island, McMicken Island, Stretch Point and Hope Island State Parks. All but Hartstene Island are accessible only by boat.

Click here for additional information on this park, including reservations.

Potlatch State Park

potlatch-state-park-scenic Potlatch State Park sits on the banks of the Hood Canal where the Skokomish Indian Tribe historically set their winter villages. Today, nearly 10,000 feet of shoreline and abundant wildlife make Potlatch State Park a great recreation destination. Activities include hiking, camping, fishing, shellfishing, birdwatching and sea kayaking. The amphitheater hosts summer interpretive shows, and an active Junior Ranger program helps kids learn about nature and history of the surrounding area. The park is also known among scuba divers for its easy access and gentle descent to view Hood Canal marine life.

potlatch-state-park-bike Just 3 miles south of Hoodsport on US Highway 101, the park is open year-round for camping and day use. A number of small restaurants and shops are nearby.