Founded in 1921 and named after Robert Moran (Mayor of Seattle and Shipbuilder) Moran State Park is nestled within the heart of Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands. A ferry is needed to get to the island, but reservations can be made for foot, bike, or vehicle traffic from Anacortes, Washington. Once on the island, Orcas Road leads into Olga Road, which runs directly through the center of Moran Park, making it easy to find and almost impossible to get lost.
Though small in landmass (just over 5400 acres), what Moran lacks in size, it makes up for in sheer beauty. A modest amount of peaks and gorgeous lakes can be easily accessed from many of its steep and densely forested trails. Mountain Lake offers plenty of swimming, kayaking, and hiking options but has limited parking. Whereas Cascade Lake has much more parking but is often more populated - especially on the weekends.
Hiking trails can be easily found throughout the park, but for the best views, parking at Mountain Lake and taking the trails up toward the tallest peak of the San Juan Island - Mount Constitution - is one of the more popular and challenging hikes. At an elevation of 2400 feet Mount Constitution offers hikers a 360-degree view of the Puget Sound, and on a clear day Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park can both be seen in the distance. A lap around Mountain Lake or Cascade lake is fun and flowy for the trail runners out there and offers plenty of spots to hop in the crystal clear water for a swim.
Camping options are available for reservation online, but spots often fill up quickly in the busy seasons.
Though Moran State Park is small and restricted to Orcas Island, the amount of activities it offers visitors gives it the feel of being a much larger park. Because of its beauty, Moran State Park is a must for those visiting the San Juan Islands.
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