Contributor’s note: We’re spending time this summer focusing on the great outdoors: namely, some of the noteworthy campgrounds and trails found in the Evergreen State. Most of the campgrounds will be within a reasonable driving distance from the Plateau and the same goes for trails. This series will extend into August and, hopefully, provide encouragement to get on the road and enjoy life outside – whether pitching a tent or “glamping” in a luxurious motor home, whether walking a paved pathway or mountain trail.
This series began with a look at Dosewallips State Park, sitting along Hood Canal. Week 2 told of a local, less-used and unpaved section of the Foothills Trail, a stretch running between Wilkeson and Carbonado. Today, we return to camping with a report on Manchester State Park.
All campgrounds and trails were visited recently by the author, his wife and two dogs. They aren’t exactly “roughing it” these days, having long ago abandoned a tent for a travel trailer.
If you’re a history buff, Manchester State Park might hold a special place in your heart. And if you’re at all interested in military history, this place is a must-see.
First, a few basic bits of information: this park of 111 acres has a great mix, with both forests and 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline (separated, in places, by just a few steps). Sitting on Rich Passage, a noteworthy branch of Puget Sound, the park provides plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails, exploration of a rocky beach and stunning views that take in Bainbridge Island, the Cascades and ferry traffic passing by on the way to and from Seattle.
While the individual campsites aren’t always the best the state system has to offer, they’re certainly passable. Some are standard sites and great for tent campers and others feature partial hookups. There are restrooms available with showers and a “group camp” area can accommodate up to a dozen recreational vehicles.
Manchester isn’t just a state park, though. It’s also open for day-use visitors with areas available for rent, suitable for group activities.
But let’s get to the interesting stuff…
FASCINATING HISTORY
Today’s Manchester State Park sits on land that was, in 1899, developed as a military reservation designed for the protection of Puget Sound.
It was not long after the Civil War that the federal government became concerned about the nation’s defense capabilities. An ambitious report eventually recommended construction of fortifications at 29 sites, with Puget Sound on the list.
The Manchester site, known then as Middle Point, was among the three locations chosen to serve as a line of defense, prohibiting enemy forces from invading the shipyards at Bremerton. Middle Point’s mission was to operate a minefield in Rich Passage, using underwater mines (then referred to as “torpedoes). A gun battery also was built to defend the buildings but changes were made and the anticipated rapid-fire guns never were installed.
Middle Point’s moment in military history was short-lived. In 1910 the mine operation was moved across Rich Passage to Fort Ward on Bainbridge Island.
A couple of buildings from 1900 are still standing and a large structure, not far from the water’s edge, is used today for formal and informal events. Visitors wander freely through the building which has no doors or windows.
Of course, the history of the site is much deeper and richer than that, prior to U.S. interests. For thousands of years the area was of prime importance for the Coast Salish people, whose descendants include present members of the Suquamish Tribe. The Treaty of Point Elliott changed all that in 1855 when the land was ceded to the U.S government.
Thoughts of acquiring the property for park use go back as far as the late 1920s. Negotiations, however, didn’t begin until the ‘60s (the site was decommissioned in 1958) and the state’s Parks and Recreation Commission purchased the land from the federal government in 1970. The park was dedicated in July 1981.
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
Manchester State Park is near Port Orchard, not too far from the Plateau. To get there, head to Tacoma, cross the Narrows Bridge and travel state Route 16 into Kitsap County. Once near Port Orchard there are a couple of options.
Information can be found at https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/manchester-state-park
Day-use visitors must have a Discover Pass; a one-day pass is $10 and an annual pass runs $30, but those fees will soon increase.
