Dosewallips State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dosewallips State Park |
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Salt marsh shoreline
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 Dosewallips State Park
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Jefferson, Washington, United States |
| Area | 1,064 acres (4.31 km2) |
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Established | 1954 |
| Operator | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission |
| Website | Dosewallips State Park |
Dosewallips State Park is a cool outdoor spot in Washington. It's located where the Dosewallips River flows into Hood Canal. This park is huge, covering over 1,000 acres! It has both freshwater riverbanks and saltwater shorelines. You can do many fun things here, like camping, hiking, and even looking for shellfish.
Park History
Dosewallips State Park became a park in stages. Land was bought four times between 1954 and 1972. The park's flat areas used to be home to old farms. This area was known as Dose Meadows. You can still see old railroad beds in the park's southeast side. These tracks were used long ago to move timber. Logs were hauled from the mountains by train. Then they were put into the water. From there, they floated to ships and mills.
Amazing Wildlife and Nature
Dosewallips State Park is a great place to see nature. The Dosewallips River is important for fish. Four types of wild salmon use the river. Steelhead fish also come here to lay their eggs. In winter, a herd of elk makes the park their home.
The beach at the park is also special. It's known for having many kinds of shellfish. You can find Manila littleneck clams here. Native littleneck clams and oysters are also common. Other clams like butter clams and horse clams live here too. You might even spot cockles and geoducks.
Fun Activities to Do
Dosewallips State Park offers many ways to enjoy the outdoors. You can have a picnic with your family or friends. Camping is a popular activity here. There are also trails for hiking and exploring. If you like being on the water, you can go boating. Fishing is another great option in the river or canal. On warm days, you can go swimming. For those who love underwater adventures, scuba diving is available. You can also try harvesting shellfish from the beach.
