Parks

Parks, Parks, and More Parks

Anderson Island is blessed to have a bunch of stellar parks, thanks to the great work of the Anderson Island Park & Recreation District. You will absolutely want to print out a copy of AIPRD’s comprehensive resource one-pager about all of the parks and the island.

The parks are full of opportunities for outdoor activities, including hiking, bird watching, wildlife, wildflowers, and swimming.

Andy's Park trailhead

This park has all sorts of interesting scenery and wildlife with 170 acres of estuary, tidelands, and forest.

  • Leashed dogs allowed
  • 2 mile flat loop trail
  • Parking
  • Portable toilet 
  • Kid friendly

There’s also a trail running off the back of the loop that comes out on the road just south of Andy’s Marine Park.

Approximately 1 mile, 50 feet down, to Carlson Bay with a beach and tidal inlet. The trail goes past some historical and quirky sites along the way.

  • No dogs allowed
  • 2 mile roundtrip, moderate trail
  • Parking
  • Portable toilets, composting toilet near beach 
  • Kid friendly

Also a Washington Water Trails campsite along the spit, only available to kayakers (or other non-motorized, beachable boats). Reservations can be made here.

Small, 15 acre park north of the Old Schoolhouse. Lush with native plants.

  • Leashed dogs allowed
  • .4 mile loop trail
  • Parking
  • Portable toilet across street
  • Kid friendly

This park loops around a peninsula and has spur trails all along the way that lead to gorgeous viewpoints, and some down to the water in Oro Bay.

  • No dogs allowed
  • 3 mile loop trail, with spurs
  • Parking
  • Portable toilets, composting toilet near far end of loop 
  • Kid friendly

Read here about the rich history and ecosystem of this park.

Small, 15 acre park north of the Old Schoolhouse. Lush with native plants.

  • Leashed dogs allowed
  • Walking and bike trails
  • 1 mile flat loop trail
  • Parking
  • Portable toilets
  • Kid friendly

If you want to swim, you come here, a seasonal park made for swimming, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are two separate swimming areas, to let the big kids jump from the double decker floating platform in one, and the little kids to go down the slide in the other.

  • Swimming areas
  • No dogs allowed
  • Lots of parking, but it gets really busy on weekends
  • Volleyball court
  • Public bathroom 
  • Kid friendly
Entrance to Lowell Johnson Park

We are thankful for the good people who donate land for parks to ensure we always have natural spaces on the island.

  • 5 wooded acres
  • No dogs, horses, or bikes allowed
  • Open area and picnic table
  • Parking
  • Portable toilet
  • Kid friendly

A trail off the east side of the park leads to Jane Cammon Park loop trail.

The Old Schoolhouse is currently a private fitness center, but it has an interesting history to check out, and the grounds around it are free for public use. That includes the sports court and playground.

  • Leashed dogs allowed
  • Parking
  • Tennis/pickle ball/basketball court
  • Portable toilet
  • Kid friendly with playground

Fun fact: there’s a protected bat breeding colony in the attic.

Tennis court at old schoolhouse

Ten acre wooded park on the shores of Florence Lake, with two rough trails to the water: one that’s for swimming and doesn’t allow dogs, the other allows dogs but not swimming.

  • 10 wooded acres
  • Swimming at end of 1/3 mile trail (no dogs)
  • Dogs allowed on dog trail only
  • Parking
  • Portable toilet

Keep in mind the trails are rough with steep slopes to the water. People only swimming on left trail, leashed dogs and dog swimming on right trail.

Located across from the Old Schoolhouse, this park has a short, loop trail that crosses Schoolhouse Creek, a restored salmon run. Much of the Park District’s salmon recovery efforts happen here.

  • .5 mile loop trail, steep
  • No dogs allowed
  • Portable toilet across street

Note one end of the trail has a steep elevation gain and drop.