Bay View State Park

Bay View State Park is a 25-acre coastal park in Skagit County situated along Padilla Bay with roughly 1 km of shoreline. It provides three separate camping areas with 76 sites total, some offering utility hookups and views across the water to the San Juan Islands and Olympic Mountains.

The area was originally home to Pat-Teh-Us, a Noo-Wha-Ah Indian chief, before William J. McKenna founded a town here in 1884. McKenna later donated the land in 1925 to establish it as a park.

The park sits adjacent to the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, where visitors encounter educational displays and exhibits focused on tidal marshes and marine habitats. This connection shapes how people experience the shoreline and understand the bay's ecological importance.

The park is most accessible during higher water levels, though visitors interested in tidal flats can explore them when water recedes. Check local tide conditions before your visit and bring sturdy footwear if you plan to walk along the exposed shoreline areas.

At low tide, Padilla Bay transforms into extensive mud flats that create unusual conditions for observing marine life in their natural habitats. This tidal shift means the same shoreline looks completely different depending on when you visit, offering a dynamic landscape experience.

Location: Washington

Inception: 1925

Website: https://parks.wa.gov/473/Bay-View

GPS coordinates: 48.48930,-122.48200

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:06