Fort Flagler State Park Park

Address: Marrowstone Island, Nordland, WA (Fort Flagler State Park)

Website: https://parks.state.wa.us/506/Fort-Flagler

Hours: Daily 6am-sunset

Admission: Discover Pass required ($10/day or $30 annual); camping fees vary

Fort Flagler State Park is a Washington State park on Marrowstone Island at the entrance to Admiralty Inlet, near Port Townsend. The site occupies the grounds of a former coastal artillery fort with preserved batteries and military structures.

The park’s main attractions are the preserved concrete gun batteries and magazines, historic barracks and parade ground, plus shoreline camping and miles of saltwater frontage for beach access and tidepooling. Interpretive signage explains the fort’s role within Puget Sound’s defenses.

Constructed as a coastal defense installation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the fort later passed to state control and was converted to park use while retaining many original structures. Military facilities remain prominent landscape features.

Situated on Marrowstone Island on the northeast side of Puget Sound, the park is adjacent to Admiralty Inlet and is near the town of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula side of the inlet.

• Triangle of coastal forts: Part of a coastal defense network that included Fort Worden and Fort Casey; the three forts guarded Admiralty Inlet into Puget Sound.
• Recreation and history: Park offers shoreline access on saltwater, with public campsites, trails and interpretive signs about the fort’s military history.

What to See#

• Concrete gun batteries: Several preserved concrete coastal-artillery gun batteries and associated magazines that remain visible on the park grounds.
• Historic buildings and parade ground: Historic barracks, officers’ quarters and a parade ground retained from the fort’s period of military use; many buildings are repurposed for park visitor services.

Fort Flagler is on Marrowstone Island, just across from Port Townsend. From Port Townsend take WA-116 north across the Marrowstone Point causeway; follow local signs to Fort Flagler State Park. The park is about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Port Townsend and roughly 1.5-2 hours from Seattle (including the ferry). Parking is available at the main lot near Battery Kinzie; trailheads and campsites are a short walk from the lot.

• Arrive at low tide to explore the tidal flats and find old concrete foundations revealed by the receding water.
• Park at the main lot near Battery Kinzie for the easiest access to the central fortifications and the short walking circuit.
• Bring binoculars in spring and fall for migrating raptors that ride the Strait of Juan de Fuca winds.
• If camping, reserve sites in advance through Washington State Parks; primitive sites fill on summer weekends.