This is such a beautiful state park and a closer alternative to Deception Pass. Mountain views, beach access and a nice costal woodland can be had for a mere 3+ mile walk! We parked at the North Beach parking lot and took the Loop trail down to the South Beach and back up thru the woods to return. Catch the trail just a short way up the road from the parking lot and follow it along the bluff and down the short Marsh trail to the South Beach parking. This is a bigger parking lot with a boat launch and a large picnic area. We talked to someone who saw orcas here last week, but alas, we didn't see any. We did see a large seal or sea lion and a couple of eagles. To avoid wandering around thru the campground, walk up the road and find the Loop trail on your right. There are some nice peekaboo views of the Cascades here before heading into the woods. There is still some fall color from the bigleaf maples, but the leaves are dropping fast. Madrone trees are berried up nice too! With a 30$ Discover Pass you get a lot of bang for the buck, all year hiking, but IMHO best in the off season when it's quieter. 

Camped at one of the camp sites. Mosquitoes were bad both at our site and at the beach. I forgot bug spray so my souvenir was 10+ bites. 

The most direct trail down to the beach is closed right now so the alternative route is taking the road down. There are signs that say pedestrians in roadway but of course cars were zooming up and down the road so on the way back to our site, we took the trail that is open but is not the most direct way back up. It is steep in some parts but our toddler took their time and was able to walk holding an adult's hand. Trail well maintained. 

Saturday afternoon it was high tide but saw a few large jelly fish washed up on shore. Sunday morning went back to the beach around 6:30 and other than one person fishing, my dog and I were the only ones on the beach. Oh, other than a heron and a seal also fishing. It was low tide in the morning and the beach is very rocky and a bit difficult to walk all the way to the water since the rocks were slippery. 

Started from the trail across from the main bathrooms at the beach. Although we didn't find a trail map, the intersections are well signed. We stayed on the loop trail mostly. Then took a wrong turn that headed back to where we started. Not ready to head back yet, we continued north until the trail became a path beside the Lowell Point Road.

We were trying to walk to Cama Beach park but didn't want to walk along the road so we turned around at that point. Very pretty forest hike. Lots of benches along the path with views out to the water. Trails in good condition.

Saw many porpoises in Saratoga Bay.

We stopped by this park to try our luck at the Camano quest for orbs! We didn’t find one, but the walk was wonderful. We mainly did the east side of the loop trail and it was beautiful especially because the forest was blanketed with fog. Most of the people we saw on the trail were also looking for orbs. Great leisurely trail with beautiful foliage and doesn’t really matter if it’s raining because you’re pretty well covered. 

After eating lunch in the large parking lot near the boat launch, we hiked the Al Emerson Nature Trail which is a 1/2 mile loop through an old growth forest of grand fir, Doug fir, cedars and a few yew trees. There are 18 numbered interpretive signs along the way describing the various plants with words and pictures. Today there were no pamphlets available in the box at the TH.  Mr. Emerson was the first Ranger of Camano Island SP and from 1963 and 1973 when he retired he nearly single-handedly shaped his footprints in building this trail. There were several varieties of fungi seen. This Is only 1/2 mile flat loop, but the interpretive signs are well done and interesting and each time we have  meandered this trail  we have had special sightings. The first time we saw a pair of hairy woodpeckers feeding their young. Another time we saw a Pacific wren building a nest. Today the many fungi were fun to see!