The shoreline at this park gives a great view while hiking.
Occupying Admiralty Head on the east side of Admiralty Inlet, Fort Casey was once part of the national defense system protecting the country’s coasts and waterways. Along with Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island and Fort Worden on the Quimper Peninsula, Fort Casey was part of the “Triangle of Fire,” designed to protect the entrance to Puget Sound. First constructed in the 1890s and once containing state of the art technology, after World War II the fort became obsolete.
Much of the fortifications were acquired by Washington State Parks while the former barracks and officers houses was acquired by Seattle Pacific University. In the late 1980s, the adjacent Keystone Spit was added to the state park. This magnificent stretch of fragile coastline was threatened with housing developments, but thanks to dedicated conservationists and enlightened public officials it was protected.
From the large day use parking area begin exploring. Just to the north is the elegant 1903-built Admiralty Head Lighthouse. It houses historical displays and is regularly open to the public. You are free to roam west and south too exploring the fort’s batteries. Have fun walking through, on, and around them but keep children close by as there aren’t too many railings and a fall can be less than pretty.
East of the parking area a couple of trails traverse woods and lead to the picnic area. From here you can cross the park road and take another trail past two of the quieter batteries and work your way back to the main installation. Be sure to also explore the trails leading off the bluffs and to the shoreline.
There’s additional public shoreline at the Keystone Spit—a part of the state park but separated from the main section by the Washington State Ferry dock. Enjoy more than 1.5 miles of uncrowded beach walking on the spit. On the spit’s north side is Crockett Lake, a large estuarine lake that offers some of the best birdwatching on Whidbey Island. If you check it out, please tread lightly and give all wildlife plenty of space.
Try out this hike
Location: Whidbey Island
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Distance: 1.8 miles of trails
Elevation gain: Up to 90 feet
Contact: Washington State Parks
Notes: Discover Pass required; dogs allowed on leash
Directions: From Mukilteo take ferry to Clinton on Whidbey Island. Then continue north on SR 525 for 22.0 miles. Turn left onto SR 20 and proceed for 3.4 miles passing the Coupeville-Keystone Ferry. Continue on S. Engle Road for 0.4 mile and turn left into Fort Casey Historical State Park.
About the author
Craig Romano, is an award winning author of more than twenty hiking guidebooks, including Urban Trails Everett (Mountaineers Books) which includes detailed descriptions on this hike and many others on Whidbey and Camano Islands.
