Blake Island Marine State Park: A Puget Sound Escape
Discover natural beauty and cultural history on this Puget Sound island, a serene escape with stunning views and miles of shoreline to explore.
Blake Island Marine State Park, a 475-acre island in Puget Sound, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural history [6, 13]. Accessible only by boat, it's a serene escape with miles of shoreline, hiking trails, and stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline [12, 13]. The island is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Seattle and holds a rich history of indigenous presence [3, 13, 16, 24].
A brief summary to Blake Island Marine State Park
- Manchester, Washington, 98353, US
- +1360-731-8330
- Visit website
Local tips
- Pack a picnic lunch and drinks, as food services on the island may be limited [25].
- Bring layers of clothing, as the weather on the island can change quickly [22].
- Check the Washington State Parks website for information on camping reservations and any park alerts [9].
- Consider bringing binoculars for wildlife viewing and to better enjoy the views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle skyline [9, 18].
- A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state parks; purchase one online or at various retailers [18].
Getting There
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Private Boat
Blake Island Marine State Park is accessible by private boat. From Seattle, head west across Puget Sound [6, 18]. The island is located north of Vashon Island, south of Bainbridge Island, and east of Manchester [6]. The park offers moorage docks and buoys, available on a first-come, first-served basis [9, 18]. Nightly moorage fees are $23 for a buoy and $1 per vessel foot for the dock [9]. Be aware that boats larger than 45 feet are not permitted to moor at buoys and must use the dock [9].
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Public Transport & Ferry
While there is no direct public transportation to Blake Island, you can take a Kitsap Transit ferry from Pier 50 in Seattle to the Southworth Ferry Dock [11, 14]. Ferries run approximately every 4 hours, with a journey time of about 26 minutes [11]. Tickets range from $2-$12 [11]. From the Southworth Ferry Dock, accessing Blake Island requires a private boat or water taxi service, which would need to be arranged separately. **Note:** *As of December 2021, Argosy Cruises has ended its Tillicum Excursion to Blake Island [3, 4, 10]. Please check with local tour operators for any potential future services.*
Discover more about Blake Island Marine State Park
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