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Scenic Beach State Park
Don't forget to pack a picnic for your date at Scenic Beach. This Hood Canal state park was recently named "Best Romantic Spot" by area residents.
Is your dog the love of your life these days, or does Fido tend to get lost in the chaos of family life? Either way, your pooch will be thrilled to walk with you on the shore. Scenic Beach is dog friendly, just don't forget the leash.
A short drive from Bremerton, Scenic Beach State Park is the quintessential out-in-the-country neighborhood park. Its beaches and shaded picnic areas are a mecca for locals, while the park is also a popular wedding site and camping park for out-of-towners.
This picturesque little park, with its views of Mount Olympus hovering over the toothy Olympic mountain range, welcomes everyone. Groomed trails provide access to the historic Emel House, a pretty gazebo and a country garden, all of which add to the charm of Scenic Beach.
Park features
Scenic Beach State Park is a 121-acre camping park with 1,500 feet of saltwater beachfront on Hood Canal. The restored 1912 Emel House, plus a gazebo and stellar views have made it a popular wedding venue. The park is known for its wild, native rhododendrons in spring.
Automated pay stations: This park is equipped with automated pay stations for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass and boat launch permit.
ada amenities/facilities
- Picnic area
- Restroom
Use our interactive ADA recreation map to search for other state parks with ADA amenities and facilities
Picnic & day-use facilities
The vintage Emel House, built in 1911, is a charming day-use facility ideal for weddings, reunions and company events. A gazebo near the house is the ideal spot to take in the beautiful sunsets off the Hood Canal. For more information on the Emel house click on Rent a Place The park offers one kitchen shelter with electricity, plus six sheltered and 60 unsheltered picnic tables. The kitchen shelter holds 75 guests and provides one large BBQ brazier and two electrical outlets. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Activities
Water activities
- Boating
- Crabbing
- Diving
- Fishing (saltwater)
- Personal watercraft use
- Swimming
Other activities & features
- Beach exploration
- Bird watching
- Fire circles (2)
- Horseshoe pits (2)
- Volleyball fields (2)
- Wildlife viewing
Additional information
- The sport clam and oyster fishing season at Scenic Beach State Park will be closed until further notice. Surveys done by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission indicate that shellfish populations have declined.
- Metal detecting requires registration and is allowed in designated park areas. Metal detecting information click here Metal Detecting Information
- All professional filming and photography require a permit. Permits take up to 60 days to process. Click here for more information Film and Photography Permit Information
- A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
- Printable park brochure (PDF).
Boating features
A watercraft launch is 0.5 mile east of the park and is administered by the Department of Fish and Game. A sticker is required for launching. Dock and moorage are available at Seabeck, 1 mile east of the park.
Campsite information
The park has 50 standard campsites, two hiker/biker sites, one dump station, two restrooms (both ADA) and four showers. Eighteen pull-through sites accommodate 32-foot camping units (no hookups). Bicycles may be ridden only on pavement, and riders must use caution in this hilly campground with blind curves.
- Sites 1-25 are open year round: sites 26-50 are open for peak season
- Sites 26-50 are closed from 16 Sept - 14 May
- Reservation peak season: 15 May - 15 Sept
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time is 1 p.m.
Group accommodations
The park provides a group camp that accommodates 20 to 40 people. It is situated above Hood Canal, in a wooded, primitive setting. Facilities include a vault toilet and fire pit. Fees vary with size of the group.
Reservations & fees
Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.
Historical information
Scenic Beach State Park is within the traditional territory of the Southern Coast Salish peoples, including speakers of the Northern Lushootseed, Southern Lushootseed and Twana Indian language dialects.
The first homesteader settled a land claim on what is now Scenic Beach State Park in 1882. Charles R. Hall and his family acquired the land in 1903; within a decade, he built a small house that was later moved from Hood Canal to the bluff. Joseph Emel bought the land in the early 20th Century. In 1923, he expanded and remodeled the original house into a charming bungalow. The Emel House still stands in its original location. As part of a trend that combined increased auto ownership and improved roads with access to nature and inexpensive outdoor recreation, the area was operated as an auto, or tourist camp from the 1930s until 1959. The first parcel of Scenic Beach was acquired by Washington State Parks in 1963 and opened to the public in 1975.