Worth Leaving Town For: Barnum Point County Park

Even though it's one of the most beautiful places in Washington, it's easy to forget about Camano Island. You can count the restaurants on one hand, and while the housing prices aren't outrageous, residents are miles from grocery stores and the nearest post office.

The parks are the real draw, and I was excited to read about their newest one, which is so new that it's not on Google Maps under its official name yet. Look for Barnum Point Preserve at the end of Sunshine boulevard. I arrived at dawn and didn't notice the helpful map of the trail system at the end of the parking lot.

Even this map is out of date! Here's the most current one // Christopher Bragg

It'd been raining for hours, but the trails are well-maintained and mud wasn't an issue at all.

Easy to walk, even when wet // Christopher Bragg

The Barnum and Holly Loop Trails take you deep into the woods without much of a view out until you arrive at a large clearing. From there, find the Cove Trail and follow it to the western portion of the beach. Much of the view there is dominated by the houses on East Driftwood Shores Road.

A very exclusive neighborhood with water views from two sides of every house // Christopher Bragg

During high tide, you can't get very far down the beach from here, but following other trails, you can get to the larger section of the beach at the northwest corner of the park. Follow the Cove Trail to this clearing, which would be an ideal spot for a picnic.

Lots of grass with a view, plus very productive apple and pear trees // Christopher Bragg

This is a good time to mention that there are no garbage cans in the park—you're expected to pack everything out that you bring in. While you're there, please also obey all posted signs warning you to stay on the trails. Some are there to protect the vegetation areas, while others are to stop you from falling from a dangerous height as you make your way to the Beach Trail.

The fence along the Bluff Trail stops you from tumbling down this // Christopher Bragg

With nearly a mile of beach during low tide, it's possible the parking lot won't be big enough for the crowds next summer. Plan to leave early if you're going when the weather is nice, and have a backup plan like Cama Beach State Park or Camano Island State Park. Barnum Point is free, so it may prove to be more popular than the other two, which require a Discover Pass.

Camano Island is a bit of a drive, but an extra ten minutes each way on Marine Drive is worth it. I'll take scenery over the stress of I-5 any day. Make a full morning of it and you might find that a beach you've never heard of before is your new favorite.