Old Fort Townsend State Park

Initially beginning its life as a U.S. Army base, Old Fort Townsend State Park remained an active location for the United States Government until a fire destroyed the barracks in 1895. Nowadays, these structures have been all but swallowed up by the surrounding landscape. 

Still available to see are the original torpedo tower that existed during World War II, as well as several informative displays lining the former Officer's Row. When you couple the history contained here with all of the recreational opportunities, it's no wonder that Old Fort Townsend State Park tends to be so popular with locals.

There are six miles of soft trails here, many of which lead guests down to Port Townsend Bay. The scenery surrounds these trails is gorgeous, being mostly comprised of Douglas-firs, western hemlock, cedar, and several different species of understory fauna. You may also see some wildlife on the trails

Also included in the park is a self-guided interpretive trail that showcases tons of historical information regarding the park's origins, as well as a secondary program that is tied in with the national Junior Ranger program. For more information on both the trails and educational programs that occur on them, make sure to check out the Washington State Park's website. 

Feel free to bring your canine companion along for a walk here, as long as they remain on a leash, and you take care of anything they might leave behind. If you'd like to stay overnight, Old Fort Townsend State Park has 40 total sites that are available for reservation up to three months ahead of time. There are also four sites designed to either hike or bike into, all of which are first-come, first-serve. 

The 40 site campground also caters to recreational vehicles with a dump station and full water and electrical hookups. Taking your dog to these sites is fine, as long as you've got them on a sturdy leash. Many other public areas exist here, including a children's play area and two tennis courts. These areas, as well as all indoor areas contained within Old Fort Townsend State Park, are strictly off-limits to pets.