The best camping in Moran State Park, WA

In the middle of verdant Orcas Island, Moran State Park offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, from boating across Cascade Lake or Mountain Lake to climbing the 1930s-era watchtower at the top of 2,398-foot Mount Constitution (with front-row views of Mount Baker on the mainland) to forays out to the Salish Sea for low-tide exploration. Locals know that getting here is half the fun—watch for orcas in the summer months as you take the ferry from Anacortes to the island. After you’ve pitched your tent, take a hike to look for blacktail deer, river otters, and bald eagles, or kick back to fish for coastal cutthroat trout, kokanee, largemouth bass, and rainbow trout.

1. Best for RVs: Northend Campground has multiple spaces that will fit even the longest campers.
2. Best for boaters: Midway Campground has a boat ramp for easy accessibility.
3. Best for views: Southend Campground has views across the lake and up to Mount Constitution.

1. Campsite reservations can be made up to nine months in advance.
2. The Midway and Mountain Lake campgrounds are open November 1 to April 1 on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Twelve hiker-biker sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis year-round.
4. A site in the Southend Campground is reserved for ADA-permitted users (the campground also has an ADA-accessible bathroom).
5. A vacation house (for groups up to 8) can be reserved through the Washington State Park Reservation System.

Moran State Park is open year-round. Summer weekends are typically the most popular--anyone wanting to visit during these times are strongly encouraged to make reservations in advance. Forty-foot Cascade Falls is at its peak in the late spring (as is the fishing for the lake of the same name), while the mild autumns and winters of the San Juans offer plenty of rewards for campers seeking solitude. Mountain bikers should plan to visit between September 15 and May 15, when 25 miles of trails are open for that purpose. 

1. Orcas Island is only accessible via ferry from Anacortes (80 miles north of Seattle), which fills up fast during the summer. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for RVs over 22 feet in length. 
2. A snack bar and boat rentals (paddle boats and rowboats) are available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
3. Two-pole fishing is allowed in the park with a permit. 
4. While four of the park’s bathrooms have coin-operated showers, there are no electrical hookups available for RVs.