Salt Creek Recreation Area facts for kids
Salt Creek Recreation Area is a cool 196-acre park located about 15 miles west of Port Angeles, Washington. It's near a small town called Joyce, Washington, right off Highway 101. This park used to be a secret military base during World War II, called Camp Hayden. Today, it's a fantastic place for camping, exploring nature, and having fun outdoors!
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Salt Creek Recreation Area: A Park with a Past
From Military Camp to Park
Before it became a park, Salt Creek Recreation Area was a very important military base during World War II. It was first set up in 1941 as the Striped Peak Military Reservation. Later, in 1942, it was renamed Camp Hayden, and then in 1944, it became Fort Hayden.
What Was Camp Hayden?
Camp Hayden was named after Brigadier General John Louis Hayden. He was a commander of the defenses around Puget Sound. The camp was built between 1942 and 1945. Its main job was to protect the coast from enemy attacks during the war. After the war ended, the government sold the land, and it was turned into the park we know today.
Powerful Guns of the Past
Even now, you can still see parts of the old fort. There are two big concrete shelters, called casemates, where huge 16-inch guns used to be. These guns, called 16-inch Mark 2 guns, could shoot a one-ton (that's 2,000 pounds!) projectile about 28 miles away! They were connected by a large underground bunker where ammunition was stored.
The camp also had another area, Battery 249, with two smaller 6-inch guns. These guns also had a bunker. This bunker held more ammunition and special equipment to help aim the guns, called fire control equipment.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Today, Salt Creek Recreation Area is a popular spot for outdoor adventures. You can find many camping spots here. Most of them have amazing views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the mountains all year long.
The park lets you explore Tongue Point and Striped Peak. You can also enjoy sandy beaches, beautiful forests, and rocky cliffs. There are several trails for hiking and exploring.
The recreation area has lots of fun facilities too. You can play baseball on the field, shoot hoops on the basketball court, or have a picnic in the shelter. There's also a playground for younger kids and horseshoe pits. Every year in mid-September, the park hosts the Salt Creek Invitational. This is a big cross country running event for high school teams from all over western Washington.
You'll find incredible views everywhere at Salt Creek. From the top of Striped Peak, you can see Crescent Bay, the Strait, and even Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Images for kids
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View of Beach Area.
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16 inch gun casemate, front view, where the gun was mounted. Note the red-colored projectiles.
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Back view of a casemate.
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View of ocean from near campground.
