Fort Ward State Park

About Fort Ward State Park

Fort Ward State Park is one of the oldest and largest state parks in the United States, covering a total area of 1.5 million hectares. The park is well designed for daily use and many structures within the park reflect the historical and military importance of this area.

Fort Ward is located in the Rich Passage, which overlooks the Olympic Mountains and various marine habitats. The park is 137 acres of dense forest and features a rocky beach in Puget Sound and is a popular destination for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and other recreational activities.

During World War II, the US Navy used a radio tower at Fort Ward in Rich Passage, south of the park, to send messages to the Navy Command at Pier 91 in Seattle. In the late 1940s, a coastal fortress was commissioned as a FortWard to protect the Bremerton Naval Shipyard from the threat of attacks by the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet.

During World War II, the Navy installed a submarine network in the Rich Passage and used the fort, which housed two rifle batteries. The Navy shut down Fort Ward in 1958 and State Parks bought Fort Ward in 1960.

The Rich Passage has a fast current when the tides change, and human-powered vessels can arrive at any time of the day or night, even in the early morning hours. There is no day pass in the park, but there is a boat ramp and camping sites are available depending on who comes first and is served first.

The waterway to the campsite leads over the parking lot of Fort Ward State Park and a small stream.

An annual pass can be purchased at the park office as long as employees are available, or you can purchase annual passes online at the Fort Ward State Park website. Overturned trailers, campers and other camping equipment such as tents are available in this park.

The lower picnic area in the Rich Passage is only accessible on foot, but the upper picnic areas are accessible by car. There are picnic tables and barbecues, which are served according to the motto "first come, first served." The picnic table and barbecue are also served up in the park, on the second level of the Rich Passageway.

The beach where you can go cycling, hiking and jogging, as well as picnic tables and barbecues in the Rich Passage.

The hotel is located at the intersection of Fletcher Bay Rd and Fort Ward State Park Road, just south of the parking lot. Turn left onto Fletcher Bay Rd, continue for approximately 2 miles to T-junction, then turn left and continue along Fletcher Bay Rd to the terminus on Fortard Rd.

The Linnwood Center leads from the parking lot of the hotel at the intersection of Fletcher Bay Rd and Fortard Rd to Fort Ward State Park.

The entrance to the park is on the right, but to get there, turn right onto Country Club Rd and turn left to find the upper picnic area. Turn right again onto Fort Ward Rd and then left onto Fortard Rd until you find the entrance to the park. Once you have reached this, get off at the Fort Ward boat ramp and turn right into the parking lot of the Linnwood Center.