Fort Townsend State Park, Nature reserve in Jefferson County, United States.

Fort Townsend State Park is a nature reserve on Port Townsend Bay with dense forests, hiking trails, and waterfront access. The landscape features old-growth trees like Douglas firs and western hemlocks that create a woodland environment.

The military established Fort Townsend in 1856 as a protective post for settlers in the Puget Sound region until 1895. After the fort closed, the land eventually became a protected nature reserve.

The park occupies about a third of the original Fort Townsend, built in 1856 with timber cut from the surrounding forest and garrisoned by Company 1 of the 4th U.S. Infantry. Only one building survives, erected during World War II when the Navy used the site to defuse enemy mines and torpedoes.

The park is accessible year-round with camping areas, facilities, and trails of varying difficulty. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather and wear sturdy footwear, as paths can become muddy.

Only one building from the fort era survives: a structure the U.S. Navy erected during World War II to defuse enemy mines and torpedoes. A single information board marks the old Fort Townsend site; no other fortification remnants remain.