Saltwater

Saltwater State Park is a 137-acre marine park located on Puget Sound in Des Moines, Washington, approximately 15 miles south of Seattle. Established in the 1960s and significantly developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the park features a rocky beach, forested uplands, and underwater park area popular with scuba divers. The park provides beach access, camping, picnicking, and marine recreation opportunities for the densely populated central Puget Sound region. Its location between Seattle and Tacoma makes it one of the most heavily used state parks in Washington, serving both local communities and visitors seeking beach access.

The park's marine and terrestrial habitats support diverse wildlife adapted to the urban coastal environment. Harbor seals, sea lions, and occasionally orcas can be observed in Puget Sound waters, while the intertidal zone hosts abundant marine life including sea stars, anemones, crabs, and various shellfish. Great blue herons and belted kingfishers fish along the shore, while bald eagles and osprey hunt over the water. The forested uplands provide habitat for black-tailed deer, raccoons, Douglas squirrels, and various songbirds including chickadees, juncos, and thrushes. The underwater park area features rockfish, lingcod, octopus, and diverse invertebrate communities that attract scuba divers. Waterfowl including scoters, goldeneyes, and loons are common during winter months.

The park's vegetation includes second-growth forest dominated by Douglas fir, western red cedar, and bigleaf maple, with an understory of sword ferns, salal, and Oregon grape. Red alder and Pacific madrone grow on the steep slopes descending to the beach, while shoreline areas feature salt-tolerant plants adapted to spray and occasional inundation. The forest understory has been impacted by invasive species including English ivy and Himalayan blackberry, which park managers work to control. Intertidal and subtidal zones support kelp forests, eelgrass patches, and various marine algae providing habitat and food for marine organisms. The urban setting and heavy use impact natural vegetation, requiring active management to maintain native plant communities and prevent erosion on the steep slopes.

Saltwater State Park sits on glacially sculpted terrain created by the Vashon Glaciation, which retreated from the Puget Sound region approximately 15,000 years ago. The park features steep bluffs composed of glacial till, sand, and clay deposits that descend to the rocky beach and Puget Sound shoreline. McSorley Creek flows through a ravine in the park, creating a small delta where it enters the Sound. The beach consists of gravel and cobbles with rocky outcrops, created by wave action sorting glacial deposits and exposing more resistant materials. Ongoing erosion processes continually reshape the bluffs and beach, requiring management attention to protect infrastructure and maintain access. The underwater topography features rocky reefs and sandy areas that create diverse marine habitats.

The park experiences a mild maritime climate moderated by Puget Sound's waters, with wet, mild winters and warm, relatively dry summers. Average annual precipitation is approximately 35-40 inches, concentrated in the October through March period. Winter temperatures typically range from the mid-30s to mid-40s Fahrenheit, while summer temperatures average in the 70s with occasional periods in the 80s. The marine environment creates microclimates with fog common during summer mornings and moderate temperatures year-round. Storms can bring strong winds and high waves, particularly during fall and winter. The moderate climate allows year-round use, though summer remains the peak season for beach activities and camping.

The Puget Sound shoreline has been home to Coast Salish peoples, particularly the Duwamish and other Lushootseed-speaking groups, for thousands of years. These indigenous communities relied on the Sound's rich marine resources including salmon, shellfish, and marine mammals, using traditional fishing and gathering practices. European-American settlement in the late 1800s brought logging, agriculture, and eventually suburban development to the region. The area that became Saltwater State Park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s as part of New Deal programs creating jobs and public recreation facilities during the Great Depression. CCC crews built roads, trails, picnic shelters, and beach access structures, many of which remain in use today.

Saltwater State Park was acquired by Washington State Parks in the early 1960s, building on improvements made by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The park was developed to serve the growing population of the Seattle-Tacoma region, providing beach access and camping in an increasingly urbanized area. In 1970, Washington's first underwater park was established here, protecting marine habitat and creating a destination for scuba divers. Over subsequent decades, the park has been improved with facility upgrades, habitat restoration, and expansion of recreation opportunities. The park remains one of the state's most heavily used parks, requiring active management to balance intensive recreation with natural resource protection. Its proximity to major population centers makes it a vital public resource.

The park features trails connecting the upland facilities to the beach, descending through forested slopes to the shoreline. The sandy and rocky beach stretches for approximately 1,500 feet along Puget Sound, offering opportunities for beachcombing, swimming, and tide pool exploration. The underwater park encompasses a 40-acre marine area with rocky reefs, kelp beds, and artificial structures that attract diverse marine life and scuba divers year-round. The main beach area includes picnic facilities, restrooms, and open lawn areas for family gatherings. McSorley Creek provides a scenic stream feature, and the park's forest trails offer respite from beach activities. The park hosts special events and interpretive programs during summer months.

Saltwater State Park is located on Marine View Drive in Des Moines, easily accessible from Interstate 5 and State Route 509. The park offers 50 campsites including standard sites and utility hookups, along with group camping areas and a youth camp. Day-use facilities include picnic areas, picnic shelters available for reservation, modern restrooms with showers, and a large parking area. The park operates year-round with reservations strongly recommended for camping during summer months. Beach access requires descending steep paths, with limited accessibility for those with mobility challenges. The nearby city of Des Moines provides all services, while the park's location makes it easily accessible for day trips from Seattle, Tacoma, and surrounding communities.

Saltwater State Park plays a vital role in conserving Puget Sound shoreline and marine habitat in one of Washington's most urbanized regions. The underwater park protects important marine ecosystems including rocky reefs and kelp forests that support diverse fish and invertebrate communities. Management challenges include controlling erosion on steep bluffs, managing invasive plant species, and mitigating impacts from heavy visitor use including beach trampling and disturbance to marine life. Water quality monitoring and marine debris cleanup are ongoing priorities given the urban setting and pollution from surrounding development. The park participates in Puget Sound ecosystem recovery efforts, including eelgrass restoration and monitoring of marine species. Educational programs focus on marine ecology, tide pool etiquette, and responsible beach recreation. The park demonstrates the importance of protecting accessible natural areas within urban environments, providing ecosystem services, recreation opportunities, and connections to nature for communities increasingly disconnected from natural landscapes.