The park was named after Charles Larrabee, who donated the initial 20 acres of land.
The Chuckanut Formation visible in the park contains fossilized palm fronds and other tropical flora dating back 50 million years.
The park serves as the southern terminus for the Pacific Northwest Trail, which stretches 1,200 miles to Glacier National Park.
It is home to diverse intertidal marine life, including sea stars, anemones, and crabs, visible during low tide.
The park was a significant source of coal mining activity in the late 19th century; relics can occasionally be spotted by hikers.
Larrabee State Park is Washington's oldest state park, established in 1915, and spans 2,748 acres along the Samish Bay. The park features 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound and encompasses the inland Fragrance and Lost Lakes. It is situated along the scenic Chuckanut Drive, a historic road carved into the cliffside. The landscape consists of sandstone tide pools, forested foothills, and sedimentary rock formations. Visitors have access to two freshwater lakes suitable for non-motorized boating and fishing. The park offers 50 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that connect to the expansive Chuckanut Mountain trail network. Geological features include exposures of the Chuckanut Formation, which contains Eocene-aged fossils. Camping facilities include 51 standard sites, 26 partial-hookup sites, and group camps.
The rocky beach area at low tide looking toward the San Juan Islands.
Check the tide charts before visiting, as the best tide pooling occurs during minus tides.
Pack layers, as temperatures drop significantly when the wind blows off the Puget Sound.
Arrive early on summer weekends as the parking lots fill to capacity by midday.
Attempting to harvest shellfish without checking current Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biotoxin safety closures.
Some campsites and trails may be closed during the winter season or following severe storms.
Stay on marked trails to protect sensitive sandstone formations and remove all trash to practice Leave No Trace principles.
