Reviews of Moran State Park (Tourist Attraction)

Gang Shu

Great outlook

jackson anyasi

one of my favorite state park ... lately one has to plan early to stay overnight, usually a season earlier

RobB Edtech

Panoramic Vistas, stunning beauty

Sage Pauli

There is NO privacy even though when reserving a site online they tell you that the sites are private. No one seemed to have any respect for quiet hours or fellow campers. Was there even a camp host or just a trailer set up to make it seem like there is? The trails were nice and so was the rest of the island. Would never camp here again.

meggin braden

Love all the hiking trails

Barbara Chidinma Nzegwu

beautiful. several hikes, trails, waterfalls etc. lots of people camping. beware of white people that think they own state parks.

Barbara Tyson

Loved the hiking trail with multiple waterfalls below Mountain Lake. Mossy, cool, 100+foot tall western red cedars. A couple of cozy and scenic campgrounds. The drive up Mt Constitution is worth doing!! Well maintained gravel road good for any car. The tower at the top is an awesome place for photos of the surrounding islands, from its vantage point 2,407 feet above the sea.

rod mason

The hikes in the deep forest and the views over Puget Sound are amazing.

Jeremy Coriell

Beautiful hikes and lake to paddle on.

Lindsay Thomson

Great park with an easy hike around the lake

Brian Garrett

We drove up here on a beautiful spring morning. The weather was nice and sunny (a must for the view!) and what a view it is. From the observatory it is almost a 360 degree view of the San Juan Islands, Canada, Olympics, and Mt. Baker. Going up here is a must if you can catch a nice clear day. Be prepared, it is windy and chilly so bring a coat. A good set of binoculars is also a must!

george spees

Great spot good trails, great fishing

Karl

Great place to go when visiting Orcas Island. Definitely do a hike up to the top of Mt. Constitution as the views are great and if starting from the midpoint it's not very difficult. They have a truck with treats and a souvenir shop at the top as well.

country soul

Absolutely gorgeous!

Lorie Grecia

Love the trialsall over the park, they have some awesome view from cascade falls to the tower in Mt. Constitution. very challenging but rewarding hike

martin gaertner

Did the orcas island marathon and had lots of fun

Declan Durcan

Beautiful hike through the forest to the Cascade falls

Duncan taylor

2019 The camping at Moran State Park is fantastic. And will soon be even better, glamping. New canvas tents for rent with cots will soon be available at the southern camp site. Also the toilets have been upgraded with a coin operated shower in one of the new stalls. The best part for my early April trip was that the bathrooms are heated. Reservations required for the southern campsite. However it is on the opposite site of the lake from the visitor center and boat rental, at least a good hours walk around the lake. The mid and northern campsites are in an easy walking distance to the rental center. The park has a fantastic trail system linking all the points of interest in the park. Trials for horseback riding and bike use are clearly marked and enforced, hikers are welcome on all trails, but be aware of who you may share the trail with. Historic Mt. Constitution is a great 1/2 day trip offering a 360 degree view of the puget sound. Note: Washington state parks require the Washington Discovery pass for free entry and use. One day passes are available, all fees go to the park system for maintenance and improvements. Discovery passes are available on line and are mailed to you. Expected turn a round is 14 days. You can print out a temp. pass good for the 14 days from date of purchase, but remember that it expires at 14+1. The campsite form you get when booking a campsite also acts as your pass in the park for that day valid till 11:00am the next day (checkout). Most state parks have electronic payment stations installed at popular sites. And the campsite notice boards all remind you about how and were to pay. ($99 fine) National Forest passes DO NOT APPLY to Washington state parks. So plan ahead. Discovery passes are $30 annually, And good for one vehicle at a time.

rob weakly

went on a short hike to the falls. It is a beautiful space and you can be as adventurous as you like.

Penny Lafave-Jensen

A must see in the San Juan's. Absolutely beautiful. Moran's park is a peaceful ride up there mountain. At the top is a resort worth staying at. The staff is friendly accommodations are some of the finest.

Marcus Padilla

What a beautiful place! Unfortunately the weather was terrible for us when we went, but it was still a great time. Great place to camp, hike, bike, or just drive to the top and enjoy the views. Highly recommend coming here if you’re going to visit Orcas.

Karl Hindle

The view from the top is simply breathtaking and worth the visit to Orcas all of itself.

Gia Rassier

We spent two nights here in late July and had an awesome stay! The way the campsites are tiered allows for a sense of seclusion even with neighbors on all sides. Cell service is minimal at best in the campground and if reception is a must, you may need to drive into the nearby town. Bathrooms were clean and have coin-operated showers. Campground is within short walking distance of Cascade Lake, where boat rentals and a snack shop are nearby. We also enjoyed our hike to Mt. Constitution via the Cascade Lake Trailhead. Overall, five stars from us!

Phoebe Mays

It was AMAZING! I’ve been camping

Dave Ott

Just beautiful.

Kevin Clark

Incredible views from on top of the hill.

Eric Werttemberger

This place is a real gem. Plenty of things to do for pretty much any activity level. Go to the top of the mountain for a killer view on a clear day. We hit the mountain and also did a 3 mile walk around the lake.

Kim Fackrell

This is one of my favorite places on our beautiful planet! The views never cease to amaze me. Come for a hike, picnic, camping, swimming or rent a canoe. This park has it all.

Rob Combs

Gorgeous location! Only drawback was the head park ranger on a power trip about parking, the other rangers and staff were wonderful.

Michael Lowe

If you like nature, this is a great place to visit.

Herb Mason

Beautiful state park on Orcas island!

Susan Wood

Swim. Kayak. Hike. Fun.

Teresja Nelson

Beautiful place to visit with lots to do and see. There are campgrounds, beaches, lakes, hiking trails, scenic drives, historical landmarks, and plenty of peace and quiet if you know where to go. Watch out for the deer, though. They have no fear and will raid your campsite for food-- even things you would never expect them to eat. They also browse right by the road. If you're camping, many of the campsites book very early, so pay attention for when they come open--they fill up fast.

Robert Bear

Moran State Park is a must visit when on Orcas Island. Great views from Mt Constitution with only a short walk from the parking area. There are also a few beautiful waterfalls shortly after the turnoff up to the top of the mountain. Many beautiful hiking trails for hiking enthusiast.

Andy Geshwiler

Beautiful! What a gem!

Cynthia Mum

What an incredible view! Climb the castle tower and bring your camera.

Terri Bass

You feel like you're standing on top of the world!!!

Geoff Cain

Top notch place to go camping. Gorgeous! Get the south lake campsites.

Matt Daines

The view was awesome!

Nate Meier

Fun park to escape typical day and enjoy the outdoors.

Joloy77

Fun state park with lots to do! Check out the tower at the top of the mountain.

Cliff Morham

Fantastic views from top of the tower!

Aaron Watts

Absolute favorite place, beyond words

Nate Gordon

One of the most magical places you will ever visit. Moran State Park is a great place to fish, hike, go mountain biking, go kayaking, relax and enjoy the outdoors. There are numerous trails. A number of lakes. Don't forget to visit the tower on the top of Mt Constitution and take in an incredible view.

Tami S.

Absolutely beautiful. Forest of large evergreen trees, ferns and foliage. Stunning water views and lots of birds singing. It was very peaceful and serene. I highly recommend it.

Mayhem

The hiking paths are well maintained, and easy to traverse for all ages. The peaceful lake hikes were my favorite, but the view from lookout tower is one of a kind.

Meredith Farmer

Tent camped at the park then kayaked on the lake in the morning. Great as always!

John Hronek

Great hiking in the forest. Walked the trail around Mountain Lake. An easy hike but more like 5 miles than the stated 3.9!

Angela Musumeci

Discovery pass is required. Beautiful views and roads that are well maintained and easy to drive. Definitely reserve yor return ferry as it is extremely busy in the afternoons and evenings.

Timothy Owens

Nice windy drive to the top. Short walk to the tower with amazing views. If you're on the island you should go. Closes at dusk.

Andy Derscheid

It's beautiful and peaceful here, and there's lots to do on the island. Only reason I wouldn't give it five stars is that the campsites are pretty close to each other, and I always seem to end up next to the loud and inconsiderate campers. Also be aware, the yellow jackets are bad, so bring traps. Additionally, a ton of raccoons come out at night and they get into EVERYTHING.

Sue Frause

A wonderful state park, whether you're overnight camping/glamping, or taking in the view from Mt. Constitution.

Yuji Reinecke

Good but they should also battery charging

Esther Ansari

Beautiful drive up to Mt. Constitution and scenery.

Michael Bloedel

This park was very beautiful. The drive through was teeming with wildlife. We stopped counting the deer there were so many. The views on the drive up to mount constitutional were breathtaking! And the tower on top was an unexpected treat! Spectacular views from the summit. 100% would recommend to anyone who wants a great state park experience.

Anna Kopponová

Beautiful place to spend time!

zachary inks

Stunning veiws and hiking trails.

Jared Simpson

The Mt.constitution hike has some incredible views.

Sadeeq Simmons

Well maintained and great infrastructure. If you pick right you can have a fairly private site, or a site right on the water.

Taylor Pemberton

The lakes are great but the trails and summit views are absolutely awesome. The camp grounds are nice and the views can be great from the campsite. The beach and swimming area is nice as well. A good place to paddle board and swim if you like cold water. Mt. Constitution peak is a must see and you can drive all the way up there! Super beautiful!

manuel marshall I

This park was exceptionally beautiful from the beginning when you drive through the white Arch. Being surrounded by beautiful trees you get exceptional views while passing by nice freshwater lakes and streams, on both sides as you drive up to the top of the mountain to get to the tall historical site where the Tower is. Climbing up to the top of the tower you have history lessons on each floor with pictures and descriptions on how and when this Tower was built in what it was for. One floor even explains about the time the tower was in bad condition and had to be restored in strengthen. Most important is the view that you get at the top 360° glass encased room to view the islands all around as well as the forest beautiful beautiful beautiful.

Frank McFarland

Had a beautiful hike with my dear wife to Cascade Lake and then on to Cascade Falls. Definitely plan to come back and xanp next time.

Captain Cake

It sucks. Please don't visit! ;)

MARY JANE Kearney

Loved camping here! Our site was so peaceful,the sound of water and just lovely.

Joshua Merry

Fun, beautiful and a wide variety of activities and terrain. I want to go back and do more and explore more. Mountain biking looks amazing.

Jerry Crawley

Outstanding. We'll be back.

Marion Higgins

Amazing hikes and Mount Constitution is a must go to

Kristina

Had a blast here. Not a far walk to mount constitution once you park. The view was amazing and it was fun to climb mount constitution

Steven Geis

Many hiking trails and the highest point on Orcas Island. Great views, excellent camp sites but make sure you pack your rain coat! Roads are steep so use lower gears and watch for bicycles!

Daniel Nowell

Gorgeous park with multiple lakes, all with their own unique atmosphere and enough elevation change across the whole park to span different ecological environments. That fact that it's all on an island in the San Juan archipelago makes it even more impressive. Love this place ❤️!

Jennifer Wilkins

It's the best

Brian Hettinger

Awesome little easy hike around the lake. Brought the dog and baby and had a blast.

G D Minter

Great view lots of areas to hike

Aidan Letter-Hart

Beautiful a must see on Orcas

Green Eye's

Great place for family fun dates.

Kathie Larrabee Loudon

Nice park. Easy access to all amenities. Couple of big lakes. Beautiful views everywhere.

Lolo Duni

It's my to go place when I need a a little good drive❤❤

Alex Waldron

This place is incredible. Recommend to anyone who enjoys being in nature.

Charles Hoover

This is a good state park with some hiking and lakes. It's on Orcas Island which makes it even more fun. The camp sites are really close to one another but the facilities are very clean and up to date.

L B

Very clean state park. Their lots are an okay size and easy to work with to fit and pitch up your tent. Our lot was able to fit two tents, that were both six people tents. The trails aren’t far by vehicle. And this state park is Also near the lake, so that’s a plus. Lots of trials to see and lots of things to see and enjoy if your the outdoor nature type or kind or person that enjoys the outdoors and just likes being outdoors.

Fernando Orendain

Great views of the islands on mt constitution tower

ApexJonin

So much stuff to do in such a gorgeous part of the region. Great for family vacations.

sean o' rawe

Great place to go hiking, camping and exploring.

John Sundheim

Great Trails with lakes and waterfalls.

Elizabeth Prout

Beautiful 360 views of the San Juan Islands

Karlie Hippman

Lovely state park with a variety of hiking trails. We've have been here in multiple seasons and it's never too busy.

Elizabeth Douglass

We love Moran and have been camping here for about 10 years. We enjoy the fresh water lake, multiple hiking trails and proximity to many adventures. Taking the ferry boat starts the fun. Children enjoy the wild life that visits our camping site. Some sites are more private than others. There are two main camping areas- North end, which is bigger, a bit busy and noisy but easy walking to the lake and Midway. Smaller, quiter and a bit more private.

Nikunj Gala

Beautiful and quiet state park on Orcas Island. Mt Constitution has amazing views of Mt Baker, Cascades and Canada on clear days.

Susan Angel

Dramatic views

Antonino Schepis

Amazing park. We spent three days camping at north end portion. The camping was very good and quite. Only one shower for bathroom and quarter are needed. We had great time at the lake beach close by and visited the summit. Ideal for children but also a lot of activities for adult.

Ray Glaze

Beautiful scenery, lovely outdoor experience. Good spot to hike

Raphael Puletz

Beautiful landscapes and lakes. Bike trails are great

Dawn Woods

Loved camping here! Our site was peaceful, the sound of water and just lovely.

Coral Pink

Very beautiful park.. if you love hiking, you have to come here.

John Bunt

Had a great time there with the kids. Rented a boat and rowed around the lake. The kids swam in the designated area. Had a picnic lunch there at the tables and ice cream from the shop there. Parking was easy for $10, they take cash or check. It got busy so glad we arrived early. They have a dock to fish off of.

Stephen Block

Hit up camp site 52

Samuel Rickert

We hiked to see Rustic falls. Great place!

Julie Kennedy Windermere

Lots of great hiking trails, great scenery and wildlife.

Kathryn DiFoxfire Wilson

Our family of three stayed at the Mountain lake campground in April, 2019 during Spring Break. We arrived in the park after dark on a Tuesday. The only difficulty we had was finding our campsite in the dark and rain. It was not very crowded as it was still early in the season. The site next to us had a small trailer (less than 15 feet long, and they must have arrived in daylight as it would have been next to impossible to navigate around the trees in the dark without hitting them, especially if they followed the one way signs. Even with just our Toyota truck which is about 20 feet long from bumper to bumper, it was difficult to back in unless we went the wrong way around the loop. We stayed just a couple of nights. View from campsite was beautiful. We drove up to Mt. Constitution then hiked down to Twin Lakes and back up: VERY STEEP trail (1300 elevation change in 1.3 miles from top to bottom with very little flat). The view from the observation tower at the top was amazing, even on a cloudy day. Almost 360 degree view of the San Juans. Showers at the South Campground were nice and hot (3 minutes for two quarters). Husband hiked around South Campground Lake while my son and I did a trail ride; he said it was pretty easy except for the steep hill at the end of the loop. Park was clean, including the bathrooms.

Fluttergirl B

Great hikes from easy to complicated best views in the sound only island with a mountain on it.

Kristy Lewis

Lovely & enchanting park! Easy to difficult trails for all levels. Beautiful prestine lakes. A must see when visiting Orcas Island. Be sure to check out the stunning views from both summits!! $10 fee (per car) that can be paid by cash at park booths or by phone (before losing cell range).

Jon Anderson

My Constitution has a beautiful 360° view. Falls were beautiful. Great hiking!

Kyle Riffle

Take out a kayak! The staff is super friendly, and they serve local ice cream. Canoes, paddle boats and other watercraft are also available for rent, or you can swim at the swim beach!

Karen Cloud

Great state park offering camping with showers, 5 freshwater lakes, Mt. Constitution with stunning views. Stop at Cascade Lake for kayak, boat rental and a small swimming beach. Ice cream and gift shop. Many awesome hiking trails and beautiful coniferous forests.

RJ Clines

Very beautiful nature walks. Great views of Mt. Baker and the sea.

Dan Billick, LMT

Gorgeous weather. Drive up to Mt. Constitution for views of all the mountains.

Erik Bailey

What a great place to go camping. I'll bring the kids next time. Boat rentals, a play structure, a easy relatively flat hike around the lake and then ice cream at the end. There's also fishing as well! I rented at the Midway camp group and it was clean and the bathroom was nice, and firewood was 5$.

Daniel Walker

Such a beautiful park! Watch it for the dear, they look cute and friendly, but they've lost all fear of humans and will get into your food and trash as soon as you turn around.

LJ Colorado

Beautiful! A must for anyone visiting Orcas Island. Mt. Constitution is amazing!

Vivek Sharma

Has it all for a great family trip

Tucker Simmons

Best views in the San Juans at the top of Mount Constitution

Ken Hoekema

What an amazing state park. I've visited many times over the years and the park has changed very little. That is OK with me! Mt Constitution is a must to visit for the view of the islands and Mt Baker.

Drago Norka

Go to the tower, take in the views, excellent by far.

Angie Senner Barrick

Gorgeous park with multiple summit to conquer, lakes to admire, birds to sing you asking your journey... Wherever it takes you.

Greg Sanders

Well maintained, large state park surrounded by water, hiking, and quaint little towns. I stayed in the North end camp sites. The walk in sites are a little uneven, especially site 72, something to think about if you have a large tent or more than one. The educational information at some of the day use areas is well presented and helps you appreciate the area a little more. Perfect base camp for a week of outdoor activities and island hopping.

Mike Schmidt

We hiked up from Rosario Resort and then took the loop around the lagoon west of Cascade Lake. What a lovely area and hike. Clean air, water, trees, moss, lake water and creeks - all there! In addition we saw a variety of water fowl, squirrels, deer, rabbits, hawks/eagles, and even some trout! What a great legacy and gift Robert Moran left for the people of Washington!

Christopher Douglas

Very nice state park. A state pass is required. There are multiple camping areas with various levels of utilities. It is highly recommended that you make online reservations months in advance.Many types of trails for hiking, biking, and horse riding. There are a couple of easy to access lakes which are stocked with trout and have boats, kayaks, paddle boards, etc available for rental. Anyone can drive, bike, or hike to the view point at he top of Mt. Constitution. The camp sites can be quite noisy, especially the tenting sites. People are often up late, deer wander into tent site throughout the night and get into things (just like raccoons would). Late nights and early mornings sound like an old fashioned military encampment with snoring arising from every direction. Tenting sites have shared water about every 100 yards and latrines with showers ($1.00 / bring quarters) for about every 20 campsites. If you found this review to be helpful please consider giving a thumbs-up.

Matt Shrader

Very large state park. On a clear day you can see Canada and Bellingham at the same time.

Gregg Wieland

What a great place to camp. One of the best camping spots I have ever stayed at. I would highly recommend this state park. Nice lake for water activities. The views from Mt Constitution are amazing!!!

Kristian Koeppen

One of my favorite state parks anywhere. This park has everything from multiple crystal clear lakes to hiking trails to one of the best views in Washington. When you visit make sure to check out the observation tower at the top of Mount Constition, if it's a clear day you can see all the way from Vancouver to Mt Ranier. The camp sites are well maintained and are all close to hiking trails and the lakes. This park definitely does not disappoint.

Rich Blank

Great views!

Linda Brown

Something for every family member. Thanks Mr. Moran for your visionary action to bless others.

Trevor Waite

Amazing place to visit especially in the spring or off season because there are fewer people. We hardly saw anyone during our bike ride to Mt. Pickett

robin luongo

Beautiful park with a recreational lake, insane views of the archipelago, and awesome trails for hikers and mountain bikers.

Chris Huchel

Hiked the loop around Mountain Lake. Exactly 2 hours ;-) This is a beautiful park! I felt so good while on the trail here.

Mandie Holmes

This park is a hidden gem in the Pacific North West. The only thing possibly keeping it from being overrun with guests is the ferry logistics getting to Orcas Island. Featuring miles of single track trails for hiking, biking (winter, spring only), and running. The park has multiple fresh water lakes, extensive camping options (cabins and tent sites), and the crown jewel of course is the drive up to Mt Constitution. The views from the trails and the observation tower are absolutely stunning. If you can make it to Orcas Island, do not miss this beautiful park.

Karen Christian

Cascade Falls plus 3. Easy hikes and beautiful falls.

Laura S

Awesome Campground! The bathrooms even have a shower in them :-) great view the swimming is amazing. Will definitely be going back and bringing friends!

Tisha Shrestha

Camped here for a night! Hire a car and go around to see amazing views. You can find various activities to do around like a short hiking to the cascade falls, kayaking(rental avaiable), boating, fishing and swimming(in summer) in the nearby park.

Rhodes Hileman

Lovely lakes to swim in. Well designed and maintained campgrounds.

Mike Goodwin

If you're a big rig don't go there, access roads and campsites are not designed for rigs over 25 feet. Really enjoyed the ruralness, trails and spacing of campsites. Bring levelers. For $30 per night, facilities were clean and trails cleared after big windstorm and blowdowns. This is a MTB playland open during off season on most trails. Great stay!

Bandites gaming

Really fun park lots to do the tree and bridge to jump off is great!

David Felkner

Gorgeous Views!

pauline

This is a beautiful place and there is ice cream at the top of the mountain. What more could you want?

Janet Petty

Beautiful well maintained. Easy access to view areas.

Tola Marts

A huge park on Orcas with a number of trails both short and long to test any level of hiker. Water options down at the Cascade Lake, which is where the camping is, fewer up at Mountain Lake but a good hiking loop. The main draw is the road up to the summit and the killer views of the islands, the Salish Sea, and beyond. This park makes Orcas the best of the San Juans to visit if you're just going to do one!

Christopher Johnson

Beautiful place. Plan ahead with firewood and quarters for showers

Janette Green

Quite the drive up Mt. Constitution and grand view from the top.

Madalyn English

Beautiful state park! It was a wonderful area on the top of Mount Constitution, great museum and viewing area and gift shop. Wide paths and lots of tables. Super cool park.

Jon Miles

Our campsite (#52, I think) was great! Deer kept walking around on the nearby trails, and our dog loved it. The hiking trails were nice, too!

.. Greco

Beautiful, must see destination.

iamjtbe

So fun here. Lots to do.

Cindy Slimak

Beautiful public space. Lots of trails, wildlife, and greenery.

george h

Drive to top of mt Constitution. Looks like an excellent spot to camp down by the lake.

Matthew Saxe

Awesome park with services rough or glamping. Trails for all levels.

Tom Smith

Extreme beauty, from the serene lakes (brisk but swimmable) to the jaw-dropping views from Mt. Constitution. Nice variety of hiking trails. We only made day visits, but the campsites looked very popular.

Lisa Bee-Wilson

Beautiful hiking and excellent facilities! Sherrie the Ranger was super friendly, funny, and informative!

Tierra Trettevik

A must see in the PNW.

Logan Luft

Hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, swimming, camp fires, nature trails, Mt. Constitution and plenty more. There is no place like this. Reserving a campsite can be challenging because demand is VERY high. It’s one of the premier destinations in Washington. If you’re not able to reserve a campsite you can still enjoy the day at Cascade Lake. Just remember to bring your Discovery Parking Pass or you’ll need to pay for parking at the ranger station when you arrive.

Julia Rivera

Gorgeous park with wonderful hiking trails and lakes to enjoy!

Trevor Asay

Nice place. Great views if you have a few minutes before the ferry.

Lauren Moore

This is a stunning park to camp, walk and play. You cannot beat the views when you drive up to the top. The tower shows you all of the little islands you are looking at which is very neat to see. There is a new bathroom as well in the parking area. The camping is hard to beat when you can drive or cycle a short distance to Cascade Falls, walk to the lake, rent paddle boats, enjoy private campgrounds and flushing toilets. Was a wonderful experience.

Ryan Howard

One word...beautiful

Todd Fleischman

Great place to hike, one of a kind views.

Jana Meredith

Now that was one spectacular view. Wish were more signage saying what we were looking out towards.

Jeffrey Smith

A must visit site if you are going to Orcas. Great hiking and beautiful vistas of the sound especially on a clear day.

Lisa K

Hiked up to Mt. Constitution tower on a well cared for trail. The views were rewarding. They went on forever. What a treasure. We also rented kayaks. It was a beautiful day so it was quite busy but we got away from it all out on Cascade Lake.