Camano Island Washington Tourism

Camano Island is a rural landscape blessed with all that the unspoiled Northwest offers. With 52 miles of picturesque shoreline, views of Mt. Baker to the north, Olympic Mountains to the west, and vistas of the Cascade Mountain ranges to the east, Camano Island is ideal for those who desire relaxed visits.

The island has an abundance of natural splendor with twelve state and county parks and a large hiking trail system. With the clear air and pristine waters of Puget Sound this is an ideal place to walk the beach gathering shells and driftwood, or just enjoy the wind ruffling your hair, not thinking about the cares in the rest of the world.

Camano Island’s rolling green pastures and moderate weather encourage abundant wildlife. Many species of animals - particularly birds - nest on the island. Eagles, hawks, shorebirds, snow geese, heron, and trumpeter swans all choose their paths to include stops on Camano Island.

A perfect base camp for daily sojourns, many visitors find the island’s appeal to be it’s unspoiled natural scenery coupled with unusual accessibility for an island. No waiting in line for expensive ferries, you just drive across a bridge to access the island. Situated about 60 miles north of Seattle and about 60 miles south of Canada, Camano’s close proximity to all points northwest make it an ideal jump off point for Stateside and Canadian travelers. Within one half to two hours drive are Deception Pass, Chuckanut Drive, Skagit Valley’s Tulip festival, Vancouver, B.C., the North Cascades Highway, and Mount Baker.

Camano Island hosts a thriving arts community, a spectacular State Park, world class Bed and Breakfast accommodations, public golf, and wide open spaces. The Center for Wooden Boats and the State of Washington manage Cama Beach which is home to some of the last remaining old growth cedar. The island is also home to a premier coffee roasting house, rural pastures containing a world-class Alpaca breeding farm, an ostrich farm, orchid growers, fruit orchards, and a herb garden complete with a working miniature railroad.

Camano Island’s newest State Park, Cama Beach, opened in June of 2008. Built in the 1930’s as a fishing resort, it has been completely restored. Thirty-six cabins line the waterfront on one of Puget Sound’s most pristine beaches. The Center for Wooden Boats is a 32-year-old Seattle-based non-profit organization that has been in operation at Cama Beach for several years. Their mission is to provide a gathering place where maritime history comes alive through direct experience and small craft heritage, and is enjoyed, preserved and passed along to future generations. Come experience Cama Beach State Park and take a step back in time.

A very popular destination on the island is the 134-acre Camano Island State Park. The park offers year-round saltwater fishing for salmon and bottom fish; excellent seasonal clamming; and eighty-eight wooded campsites. A three-mile, self-guided nature trail and a series of loop trails for hiking and beachcombing also compliment the park.

Additional features include an underwater park for scuba diving, a kitchen, excellent sandy bottomed boat launching, and picnic shelters. Many visitors have remarked that Camano Island is “truly one of the Northwest’s best kept secrets”. The innkeepers of the Camano Lodging Association invite you to “get in on our secret”. Come enjoy our quiet, relaxing island.

Camano Island Beach