Manchester State Park features a beach, sand dunes, and flat grasslands, with nearly 18,000 feet of ocean frontage. The beach line curves gently to form a "catch basin" for sea debris, which accounts for the volume of driftwood found here. Five miles of gentle, sandy beach stretches southward towards the Point Arena Lighthouse.

One of the main attractions is the excellent steelhead fishing in the park’s two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek.  Please check with the Department of Fish and Game for seasonal closures and restrictions at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations.

The park features a variety of coastal wildflowers, including sea pinks, poppies, lupines, baby blue eyes and blue irises. The park provides habitat for tundra swans. The San Andreas Fault runs into the sea at the park.


Manchester State Park

Set on the shore of Rich Passage, Manchester State Park makes the perfect getaway for day-trippers or Puget Sound campers on a Kitsap Peninsula road trip.

Military and maritime buffs will find intrigue at Manchester. The park is known for the large brick structure that was once a torpedo warehouse and an adjacent concrete casemate that once housed firing triggers and cables to the underwater torpedoes. The term "torpedo" was used to describe underwater mines in the early 20th century, when the fort was built to protect the shipyards at Bremerton. Middle Point, as the fort was called, stocked an underwater mine field during World War II.

These days, the former torpedo warehouse, with its stone fireplace, weathered beamed ceiling and windowless arches, has become a coveted wedding venue, reunion site and picnic spot against a forested backdrop of maple and Douglas-fir.

Located near Port Orchard, Manchester includes 2 miles of hiking trails, but the park's main attraction is its 3,400 feet of saltwater shoreline. Kayaking, swimming and diving (bring your own gear) allow visitors to take full advantage of this classic beach park with a view of Bainbridge Island on a clear day.

State Parks Tagged With: Port Orchard