Three of the most beautiful state parks on the West Coast sit within a few miles of each other at the entrance to Puget Sound.

They were built more than a century ago as military installations to guard against foreign invasion, but were never needed. Today, they deliver something much more valuable to the public: Amazing access to the Salish Sea.

This is the so-called “Triangle of Fire,” an RVer’s dream destination. On Whidbey Island, you have Fort Casey Historical State Park. About four miles across the water in Port Townsend sits Fort Worden Historical State Park and another five miles away on Marrowstone Island sits Fort Flagler Historical State Park.

Each offers excellent camping opportunities with ocean views, a bit of history, and lots of hiking trails. You can explore each park in one tour, or visit them individually -- just don’t miss the experience of staying in these beautiful Washington state parks.

Fort Casey

You can’t beat the views from Fort Casey. Situated on the western shore of Whidbey Island, Fort Casey has a broad sunset view of Admiralty Inlet and the constant ebb and flow of tides rushing through these turbulent waters on the Salish Sea.

Fort Casey was completed in 1901, designed to repel  invading battleships. Its guns were never fired in battle; instead Fort Casey played a bigger role as a place to train soldiers during two world wars.

Today, Fort Casey stands as a sprawling state park with a beachside campground and boat launch. A steady stream of ferries chugs past on the Port Townsend--Coupeville run, adding to the gorgeous panorama from the bluffs on Whidbey Island.

In addition to the views, camping and recreation, Fort Casey offers Admiralty Head Lighthouse to tour. If you visit in July, you’ll find us serving as interpretive hosts at the beautiful structure, completed in 1903. Stop by and say howdy!

Fort Worden

Of the three parks in this triangle tour, Fort Worden might be the most well-rounded. It offers camping on the beach and in the forest, excellent hiking and easy access to Port Townsend, a wonderful destination on its own.

Many of the fort’s buildings have been repurposed to house travelers, conferences and businesses. Fans of military history shouldn’t miss the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum and the Commanding Officers Quarters, where we volunteered last fall. The park will also host the Thing Festival, an eclectic gathering of music and art on Aug. 25-27 this year.

And Fort Worden also offers a bit of history for movie fans. It was the primary location for “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982), featuring up-and-coming stars Richard Gere and Debra Winger.

Artillery Hill just north of the fort’s many buildings, offers several gorgeous vantage points overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca, hiking trails and old gun batteries to explore.

Fort Flagler

The third stop on this triangle tour is also the most remote, sitting just five miles from Fort Worden across the water on Marrowstone Island, but 19 miles away from Port Townsend by road.

Like Fort Casey and Fort Worden, Fort Flagler offers lots of bluff-side gun batteries to explore. It features the longest beach in this trio of parks, with 19,100 feet of shoreline. The seaside views are lovely, and Fort Flagler also offers commanding views of the Cascades, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

Fort Flagler is the biggest of the three parks with 1,451 acres to explore, with miles of trails for hiking and biking. When Fort Casey and Fort Worden campgrounds are full, you might have a better chance of finding a place at Fort Flagler, which has sites on the beach and in the forested upper campground.

While Port Townsend is a bit of a drive, the charming communities of Chimacum and Port Hadlock are nearby for shopping needs.

---

---