Dosewallips State Park

Directions: From Shelton, follow US 101 north for 40 miles to state park entrance at milepost 307. Proceed to day use parking areas. 
Ownership: Washington State Parks
Trail Distance: 4.5 miles of trails 
Difficulty: easy hiking trails and short easy path to observation deck
Fees/Permits: Discover Pass
Notes: Kid-friendly, dogs on leash, restrooms, water, camping and picnicking areas available

Dosewallips State Park consists of more than 1000 acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Dosewallips River at its delta on Hood Canal. Seal are abundant and elk are prolific in the park. The bird watching is excellent due to the park’s varied habitats. Explore rich tidal wetlands on Hood Canal, riparian forest along the Dosewallips River, and quiet groves of mature upland forest.

Wander the park forested Maple Valley, Steam Donkey, Izett Grade, and Rhody Cutoff trails and watch for bald eagles—especially during salmon spawning, perched in trees along the Dosewallips River. Look too for golden crowned kinglets, Hutton’s vireos, rufous hummingbirds, yellow and orange crowned warblers, and various woodpeckers.

Follow the short and flat North Tidal Trail across salt marshes to an observation deck. Here look out to Hood Canal and nearby channels for bald eagles, great blue herons, horned and red-necked grebes, northern pintails, greater and lesser scaups, and scoters. During the winter trumpeter swans also frequent the area.