By Tim Clinton
You never know what you are going to find at Saltwater State Park, located within the City of Des Moines in the state of Washington.
Yes, there’s plenty of salt water.
You can find it crashing against the rocks, or lapping peacefully on the sand below the wall.
There’s lots of seagulls and a few crows, but if you’re lucky you can also find a blue heron sneaking up on one of the tiny fish that swim just off shore.
Or some of the creatures swimming just a little farther out are not tiny at all.
Sea lions often poke their heads out of the water to look around, and in recent weeks in October of 2025 playful porpoises have jumped and swam by real quick.
They arch their backs as they come up out of the water and blow air and water out of their spouts making hissing sounds.
Two appeared the first week and five could be seen coming up at once the next before vanishing under the waves.
And what’s flying overhead may not be a bird, but a drone looking down from just above the tree tops on the crest of the bluff.
Or it could be one of the many jets that parade by just up the hill from the park on their way to Sea-Tac International Airport.
Sailboats often cruise by on Puget Sound coming or going from the Des Moines Marina to the north, and if you stay long enough you could see a freighter, or a tug pulling a barge.
The ships create the largest waves that later splash in, disturbing the normally peaceful rhythm on nice days
Among the things you know you are going to find are a freshwater creek, a fire pit encircled by rocks and a bench, a restroom, a covered picnic area, open picnic tables and benches to sit on and look out over the water toward Maury and Vashon Islands and the Olympic Mountains beyond, or at the sunset if you are there at the right time of day.
A paved walking trail takes you to all of these and works its way through a grassy area, with a rock wall trying to protect it all from the onslaught of high tides and waves but obviously having failed in spots.
Washed out areas creating holes in the concrete are marked off by yellow tape and a large portion of the path starting before the covered picnic shelter is currently marked off as closed for walkers’ safety.
The sign is largely ignored, however, and people including many with dogs stroll on by and avoid the washed out sides of the path or go through the grass.
The bluff above is cut into by the canyon created by McSorley Creek, where the parking lot and a concession stand and another restroom are. More picnic sites are also located here.
A trail goes up the creek where a 30 site campground is located. It is open from May 15 to Sept. 15 with reservations. Campers without a reservation may stay only one night at a time.
Saltwater State Park is on a 137 acre site with 1,445 feet of shoreline.
Hiking trails are on top of the bluff, where another picnic area is located, and on the north and south rims of the canyon.
Call (253) 661-4956 for more information on the park that is open at 8 a.m. daily all year long and closes at dusk.
Reservations to camp can be made online or by calling (888) 226-7688.
The general Washington State Parks number is (360) 902-8844.
How to get there:
Take the Kent-Des Moines Road exit from Interstate 5 and go west (left northbound and right southbound) through the light on Pacific Highway and down the hill toward Des Moines.
Keep going until you come to Marine View Drive (Highway 509) at the bottom of the hill as you enter the downtown waterfront area.
Turn left at the light and watch for the Saltwater State Park signs to your right. Turn at 8th Place So.
A booth offers day use tickets for $10 per vehicle or a $30 Discover Pass that gets you into any state park in Washington for a year.
Saltwater State Park is located at 25205 8th Place So. in Des Moines with a zip code of 98198.
Photo by Tim Clinton
Saltwater State Park offers views of sunsets over Puget Sound and Maury and Vashon Islands.
Rays of the sun come down through an opening in the clouds.
Northwest Vistas 