Home › Washington › Port Townsend › Fort Townsend Historical State Park
Fort Townsend Historical State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 467 Google reviews · Running trail in Port Townsend, Washington · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Fort Townsend Historical State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Formerly the site of 3 different U.S. army forts, this park offers camping, hiking & a long beach.
What runners say about Fort Townsend Historical State Park
“Super clean and nestled in the trees and near the bay.”
“an easy enough hill to manage for all age groups to get down to the beautiful waterfront .”
“Very quiet and peaceful location.”
Very green park with lots of trails. There are only 2 things left from fort days which is an old cemetery and a torpedo tower that is located in the group campsite. The majority of the park has returned to it's natural roots. There is a barn in the park that can be reserved for any number of things.
Loved this camp ground! We were in a great location by the bathroom and water. The way the campgrounds are placed felt private with the tall trees. There were people near us but it didn't feel like it. We went on the botany walk that's a little over a mile.
I loved this place... it has great spots for picnics..... an easy enough hill to manage for all age groups to get down to the beautiful waterfront ... with great views of the paper mill, Port Townsend... if you love walking through trails it seems to have them everywhere....
This place isn't as big as ft worden or fort flagler. It has its charms though. Most of it is very thick kind spooky forest. There's a campground. Only open in the warm season. RV spots. So e very nice trails. One that goes down to a beach. Best when visited at low tide. The views at the beach are outstanding.
Trail conditions & character
“an easy enough hill to manage for all age groups to get down to the beautiful waterfront .”
“Where we were located there were a couple of vault toilets at one end and down the hill near the day use area there were men/women restrooms with flushing toilets and sinks.”
“Where we were located there were a couple of vault toilets at one end and down the hill near the day use area there were men/women restrooms with flushing toilets and sinks.”
“Oh yeah about a mile from the gate towards the highway there is a little pull off parking area.”
“The majority of the park has returned to it's natural roots.”
“It has designated camping areas where you can park the car and set up your tent, every two or three camping areas has their water fountains to drink or to wash your things.”
Plan your run at Fort Townsend Historical State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websiteparks.wa.gov
- Phone(360) 385-3595
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Running trails near Port Townsend
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Milo-Curry Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 32 reviews
Bishop Park Trails - Logan Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews
Cape George Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 16 reviews
Kah Tai
4.1 ★★★★☆ 107 reviews
Community park featuring wetlands & a lagoon with ducks, plus walking trails & picnic areas.
Anderson Lake State Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 168 reviews
Lakeside day park offers 410 wooded & wetland acres with hiking & biking trails plus bird-watching.