Saltwater

Located halfway between Tacoma and Seattle just two miles from I-5 lies Saltwater State Park, a peaceful slice of nature in the heart of an urban landscape. City dwellers come to explore tide pools along sandy beaches, hike through shaded trails, and enjoy views of the Puget Sound and Maury Island across the strait. Along McSorley Creek lies plenty of full-service campsites where families can enjoy the perfect weekend getaway filled with beachcombing discoveries, peaceful walks through the woods, and vibrant sunsets over the San Juans. This park is also a favorite among scuba divers—it’s the only Washington state park with an underwater artificial reef, offering certified divers a chance to explore the vibrant marine life hidden beneath the surface. During Saltwater State Park’s dedication in 1926, officials from Seattle and Tacoma symbolically buried a hatchet under a newly planted hawthorn tree to mark the end of a long-standing rivalry between the two cities.