Moran State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Moran State Park is located on Orcas Island, one of the San Juan Islands in the state of Washington.
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Summary
It covers over 5,000 acres of land, including forests, lakes, and peaks, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities and nature lovers.
One of the main attractions of Moran State Park is the Mount Constitution Observation Tower, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding islands and mountains. Visitors can hike or drive to the tower, which is the highest point in the San Juan Islands. Other popular activities in the park include fishing, swimming, boating, and camping.
The park also has several miles of hiking and biking trails, including the Cascade Lake Trail, which circles the lake and offers beautiful views of the surrounding forest. Hikers can also explore the park's old-growth forests, waterfalls, and wildlife, including deer, bald eagles, and otters.
Interesting facts about Moran State Park include that it was donated to the state in 1921 by Robert Moran, a former Seattle mayor and shipbuilder. Moran built a summer retreat on the island and wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the area. The park also contains the largest stand of Pacific yew trees in the country, which are used to make the cancer drug Taxol.
The best time of year to visit Moran State Park is in the summer months, when the weather is mild and the park is in full bloom. However, visitors can also enjoy the park in the spring and fall, when the crowds are smaller and the foliage is changing. Winter visitors can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the park's trails.
Overall, Moran State Park offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy, making it a must-visit destination in the state of Washington.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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