Manchester State Park

Description

This state park on Puget Sound at Rich Passage (directly across from Seattle) occupies a beach 75 meters/3,400 feet long and of a half-moon shape. The beachfront is in parts rocky, sandy, and gravelly, and is primarily enjoyed for its beachcombing possibilities, not for clamming or swimming. No lifeguards are present. Scuba diving is popular here, and there are restrooms and showers available. Campsite reservations are recommended. Camping facilities are limited during the winter. The park was a U.S. Coast Guard Artillery Harbor Defense Installation. During WWII it was converted to a Navy fuel supply depot and fire-fighting station. A former torpedo warehouse here is now used as a picnic shelter. Pets: Leashed pets are permitted. Reservations: Washington has a central telephone number for reservations: 800-452-5687 or 888-226-7688 (888-CAMPOUT). There is a nonrefundable fee for each reservation made. Reservations are accepted only between May 15 and September 15. Campsites are first-come, first-served the rest of the year.