A great variety of trails in this state park!   

Al Emerson Nature Trail is good for families with interpretive signs about the plants and trees.

West Rim Trail was my favorite with water views along the ridge.

Loop Trail is a longer forest hike.    There were a few muddy spots and puddles.    This trail can also be broken up into shorter portions.    Part of the Loop Trail goes between campsites #39 and #40.   Look toward the water to see an eagle’s nest.   There are a pair of eagles with some eaglets in the nest.    They are sensitive to noise, so soft voices in that area are appreciated.

Beach Trail is a walk on the rocky beach.    Tide charts for Camano Island can be found at https://www.tidetime.org/north-america/united-states/camano.htm    The North Beach area has eroding bluffs with trees clinging to the hillside.     

From the large parking lot near the boat launch, we headed north along the beach, and then followed the Loop Trail clockwise back to the start.

Access. Paved road and parking lot.

Conditions. No issues with any of the trails.

Fauna. Orcas in the Saratoga Passage. Bald eagles, incl a nest.

Crowds. Couple of people, mostly around the day use and camping areas, but the place felt empty, perhaps due to the large number of parking spots and picnic tables.

This is a lovely short hike. It is mostly in the trees with some up and down and some stairs. The beach is rocky with great views across to Whidbey Island. We ran into a bit of mud in the forested sections, and it hadn't rained in about a week.

There is parking for about 3 or 4 cars right at the hairpin turn where the trail begins. We parked down at the day use area and the walk up to the hairpin turn is steep. There is excellent signage along the trail, but we found the map from Washington State Parks helpful.

As we were driving from our campsite at Bayview SP to Camano Island, we saw thousands of snow geese flying above us coming from the waters of the bay at the end of the Rawlins Road. We watched and followed their path as they landed in a field along the Dry Slough Road. We were treated with many sights and sounds as an eagle flew toward them at 2 different times causing awesome flights and sound. At Camano Island SP, 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. There was evidence of recent clearing of trees along the trail.  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. Park workers were cutting up the trees which had fallen from the recent storm and high tides along the beach. There was evidence of heavy storm damage.

It was a wonderful day to walk on the beach and take in the great views and listen to the varied sounds of a beach.