The park is named after Dr. Stephen Penrose, a former president of Whitman College.
The shoreline is part of the Cascadia Marine Trail, a water trail designed for human-powered watercraft.
Mayo Cove serves as a protected anchorage for boaters due to its geographic orientation.
The area contains remnant native oyster beds which were historically significant to the local ecosystem.
Tide pools at the park contain diverse intertidal life including sea stars, anemones, and crabs.
Penrose Point State Park occupies 278 acres on the shores of Carr Inlet in Puget Sound. The park features over two miles of saltwater frontage, including sandy beaches and rocky shoreline. It provides 82 standard campsites and two marine-only campsites accessible by boat. Visitors utilize the park for year-round camping, saltwater fishing, swimming, and kayaking. Two miles of hiking trails wind through second-growth forests and coastal bluffs. The park's boat launch provides access for motorboats and non-motorized craft into the sheltered waters of Mayo Cove. Interpretive displays along the trails highlight the native flora and regional ecology of the Key Peninsula.
The view from the bluffs looking across Mayo Cove toward the Olympic Mountains.
Check tide charts before visiting to ensure access to the rocky intertidal zones and sandy beaches.
Water shoes are recommended for beach walking due to gravel and barnacle-covered rocks.
Reserve campsites well in advance, especially for summer weekends.
Do not attempt to collect shellfish without verifying the Washington Department of Health biotoxin map for seasonal closures.
Campsites are available year-round, though some loops may experience seasonal closures during winter.
Pack out all trash; maintain noise levels during quiet hours in the campground; keep pets on a leash at all times.
