Saltwater State Park packs surprises

 

You never know what you're going to find at Saltwater State Park.

Yes, there's plenty of salt water.

You can find it crashing against the rocks, or lapping peacefully on the sand below the wall.

There's lots of seagulls and a few crows, but if you're lucky you can also find a blue heron sneaking up on one of the tiny fish that swim just off shore.

Or what's flying overhead might not be a bird at all, but a drone looking down from just above the tree tops on the crest of the bluff.

Or it could be one of the many jets that parade by just up the hill from the Des Moines, Wash. park on their way to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Among the things you know you are going to find are a freshwater creek, a restroom, a fire pit encircled by rocks, a covered picnic area, open picnic tables and benches to sit on and look out over the waters of Puget Sound toward Maury Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond -- or at the sunset if you are there at the right time of day.

A paved walking trail takes you to all of these and works its way through a grassy area, with a rock wall trying to protect it all from the onslaught of high tides and waves but obviously having failed in spots.

A couple of washed out areas creating holes in the concrete are marked off by yellow tape and off limits for walkers' safety.

The bluff above is cut into by a canyon at McSorley Creek, where the parking lot and a concession stand and another restroom are.  More picnic sites are also located here. 

A trail goes on up the creek where a 30-site campground is located.  The campground is open from May 15 to Sept. 15 with reservations.  Campers without a reservation may stay only one night at a time.

Saltwater State Park is on a 137-acre site with 1,445 feet of shoreline.

Hiking trails are on top of the bluff -- where another picnic shelter is located -- and on the north and south rims of the canyon.

Call (253) 661-4956 for more information on the park that is open at 8 a.m. daily all year long and closes at dusk.

Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

The general Washington state parks number is (360) 902-8844.

How to get there:

Take the Kent-Des Moines Road exit from Interstate 5 and go west (left northbound and right southbound) through the light on Pacific Highway and on down the hill toward Des Moines.

Keep going until you come to Marine View Drive (Highway 509) at the bottom of the hill as you enter the downtown waterfront area of Des Moines.

Turn left at the light and watch for the Saltwater State Park signs to your right.  Turn at 8th Place So.

A booth offers day use tickets for $10 per vehicle or a $30 Discover Pass that gets you into any Washington state park for a year.

Saltwater State Park is located at 25205 8th Place So. in Des Moines with a zip code of 98198.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.