Jarrell Cove State Park

Directions: From Shelton follow SR 3 east for 7.9 miles. Then turn right onto Pickering Road and continue for 3.3 miles. Bear left onto Harstine Bridge Road and come to a T-junction at .6 mile. Go left on North Island Drive for 3.3 miles and turn left onto Wingate Road. Continue 0.5 mile and turn left onto state park road. Drive to park’s day use area.

Ownership: Washington State Parks
Trail Distance: 1.0 mile of trails
Difficulty: easy
Fees/Permits: Discover Pass
Notes: Kid-friendly, dogs on leash, restrooms, water, camping and picnicking areas available.

Jarrell Cove State Park consists of forests and bluffs on a quiet cove on Harstine Island. The cove is not a prime destination for wintering migratory birds, but the park’s uplands provide excellent habitat for residential and migratory songbirds. An easy one mile trail loops the park’s periphery through quiet woods and along a bluff above the two slender finger inlets making up Jarrell Cove.

Admire stately madronas growing along the steep banks of the cove. Look for creepers, finches, flycatchers, nuthatches, towhees, and vireos in the forest. And definitely hike down to the docks for some great cove views—and the chance to perhaps spot goldeneyes, grebes, kingfishers, mergansers, loons, scaups, surf scoters, and various gulls. The park publishes a bird list brochure which can be downloaded from the state parks’ document center.