Bay View State Park is a picturesque camping park located on the shores of Padilla Bay in Mount Vernon, Washington. It offers stunning views of the San Juan Islands on clear days, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers and photographers. The park spans 25 acres with 1,285 feet of saltwater shoreline, providing ample opportunities for beach exploration, bird watching, and water activities like boating, kayaking, and swimming. Visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape, which includes the Olympic Mountains to the west and Mt. Rainier to the south on clear days.
The park has a rich history, having been the home of Pat-Teh-Us, a Noo-Wha-Ah Indian chief and signer of the Point Elliot Treaty. The original portion of the park was donated to the state in 1925 by the Skagit County Agricultural Association.
Bay View State Park is also close to the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which offers educational opportunities and insights into marine life and ecosystems.