Fort Townsend Historical State Park
Port Townsend, WA
Fort Townsend Historical State Park sits on the calmer, more sheltered water of Port Townsend Bay, a quieter alternative to Fort Worden a few miles north. The fort dates to 1856 and later served as a WWII munitions defusing station, reached today by a few miles of easy forested trail down to the gravel beach.
Real and pleasant, a legitimately quiet alternative to Fort Worden, though it's a secondary stop rather than a destination on its own.
How we score beachesSkip Fort Worden's crowds on a busy summer weekend and come here instead. Same bay, same history angle, a fraction of the people.
A Discover Pass is required for day use. The park is open 8am to dusk year round.
Sheltered water makes this comfortable for wading most of the summer. The forest trails are pleasant in any season.
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