Moran State Park

About Moran State Park

Moran State Park is one of the largest U.S. parks and the second largest in Canada. One of the most famous features is a stone observation tower built in 1936 by the Civil Conservation Corps. The tower offers 360-degree views of Moran Island and surrounding islands, as well as the surrounding Canadian-American terrain, including the Olympic Mountains. Moran State Park houses two observation towers, one on the island and one at the park's entrance. Both towers offer a magnificent view of the beach, the lake, the surrounding island and even the mountain range.

The park also features a number of other attractions, including the Moran Island Museum, a Canadian-American History Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The park is open all year round for tents and day use, but the campsites are closed in winter and open in the summer months.

Mount Constitution is the highest point of the San Juan Islands at 2,409 feet, and the steep, winding road that leads there is worth a visit.

Moran State Park opened in 1921, when more than 2,700 acres were donated to the state as a park. In 1930, the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) established the first of its many national parks on the San Juan Islands. The builders used local materials to build many stone and wood shelters and many buildings in the park.

Boat rentals are offered from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day, and boat rentals are available on Memorial Weekend and Labor Day and Memorial Day Weekend.

For information on reservations for Campmoran cabins, call 360 - 902 - 8600 or email reservations @ campmoran.org. There is a medical clinic in Eastsound, open on weekdays, and there are medical clinics in East Sound, ideally located for meetings, workshops, retreats, etc.

The park has five different campsites, each within the park, from Camp Northendbe to Camp Eastsound and from campsite to campsite in East Sound. The park has two cabins, Camp North and Camp South, as well as the Campmoran Campground, the largest of its kind in the state.

Southend Camp is the most popular camp, with almost all places right on the shore, but several sites offer plenty of privacy. The other Midway locations are across the street and all offer beautiful views.

All camps are located in the same area of the park, south of the East Sound and east of the North Sound, so several of them offer a lot of privacy.

Camp Mountain Lake is located about one mile from Mount Constitution Rd and all areas have ADA compliant campsites and toilets. If you are cycling or walking, you will have great views of Mount Constitution and Mount St. John's Lake, as well as East Sound and North Sound.

The maximum length of each pitch is 45 feet, possibly due to limited availability, and certain areas and campsites do not fit larger campers or motorhomes. Check-in is at 13: 00 and check-out at 14: 30; quiet hours are 22: 00 - 06: 30. Motor-powered electric generators can be operated at any time of day or night, as long as you are at least 30 minutes from the campsite. You can also extend your stay by staying at Camp Mountain Lake, Camp St. John's Lake or Camp Mt. Constitution Lake.

The park has two boat ramps, and internal combustion engines are not allowed on any of the lakes, only at Camp St. John's Lake and Camp Mt.

The park offers a variety of camping facilities, such as campsites, cabins and pitches, as well as a number of picnic areas. Overturned - trailers, campfires, picnic tables and other camping facilities are available throughout the park.

Most of these facilities are served according to the "first come, first served" principle, but you can reserve a kitchen block near the lake. This includes a picnic area with picnic tables, picnic benches and picnic chairs, and a kitchen with a stove and hob.

The parking lot and accommodation are shared with swimmers, but fill up quickly if you register before 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month and on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

The ELC is also available for groups and families and in the kitchen of the house there is a short, self-guided nature trail that can be used during the day. We will soon install an interpretative exhibit on the observation tower on Mount Constitution, which tells the story of Moran State Park and its history as a national park. There is an annual summer camp for elementary and middle school students, which attracts several hundred students each year.

The cycle path is closed seasonally, but 11 miles are open year-round - and 25 miles are open to cycling from September 15 to May 15. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, canoe rentals are available, as well as kayaks and canoes from May to June.

The Cascade Lake is filled annually by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and is located five miles south of Eastsound. Species include breakneck trout, bluethroat, whitefish, salmon and other fish species, as well as a variety of birds and reptiles.

From Orcas Island, a ferry takes you to the entrance of Moran State Park on the west side of Cascade Lake. To leave the ferries, turn left and follow the signs for a short distance south of the park entrance and then right into the parking lot.