TWANOH STATE PARK
Twanoh State Park is a 182-acre marine, camping park with 3,167 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal. The name of the park derives from the Native American Twana tribes, better known as the Skokomish, who made their home in the area. The park is situated on one of the warmest saltwater beaches in the state. This is because Hood Canal is one of the warmest saltwater bodies in Puget Sound. The park offers access to one of the warmest saltwater beaches in the state. Wading, swimming and oyster and crab harvesting are immensely popular.
Park hours/updates:
The park is open year round for camping, with limited water supply in the winter.
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Camping:Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.Check-out time, 1 p.m.Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
The soil in the park is "glacial till," an unlayered sediment which was deposited by glaciers over most of western Washington. Twanoh Park is on Hood Canal, which is actually a "canal" in name only. Hood Canal is (in reality) a "fjord," a long narrow body of water open to the ocean and bordered at one end by steep cliffs or hills.
"Twanoh" is a Native American word for "gathering place." The Skokomish Indians, a Twana tribe, made their home along Hood Canal because of its abundant wildlife. Because of this abundance, the Twana were among the few hunting/gathering societies of the world that produced wealth beyond their needs. The basis of their economy was salmon.
The park area was logged extensively during the 1890s. Scars still show in some cedar stumps from "spring boards," accessories to an early logging technique.
Most of the park buildings were built during the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Most of the CCC structures still stand as a monument to the hard work and craftsmanship provided to this country by the men of the CCC. The buildings are made of brick, stone, and round logs. Most are still used extensively today.
The area was a private resort for many years before becoming a state park.
A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to Washington state parks for day use. For more information about the Discover Pass and exemptions, please visit the
Discover Pass web page.
The park has 25 tent spaces, 22 full hookup spaces, six restrooms and one shower. Maximum site length is 35 feet (may have limited availability). Gathering firewood is not allowed, but packaged firewood is available for purchase from the campground host or local stores. All campsites are first-come, first-served.
Group Accommodations: The park offers a group camp that accommodates up to 50 people. Facilities include a picnic shelter, water tap and vault toilet. The dirt road up to the group camp is steep and windy, so vehicle access is restricted to non-RV-type vehicles. Rental fees vary with size of the group. For reservations, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Check-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Available in the park Available in the area? Camping? Pay phone? Fire wood? Auto repair? Airport? Boat rental? Camping? Diesel? Fishing/hunting? Gasoline? Gifts? Golf? Groceries? Hardware? Hospital? Marine supplies? Overnight Accommodations? Pay phone? Postal service? Propane? Recreational equipment? White gas? Wood? Swimming
Fast food and camping accessories are available at local stores along SR 106 and in the nearby towns of Belfair and Shelton.