Anderson Lake State Park

Nice hiking trails no lake access due to toxic algae

Great trail system in quiet, expansive woods. These are my favorite trails in the Port Townsend area. Discover pass required.

The lake has very toxic algae in it, do not let your dog drink the water or swim in it.

The entrance was a little difficult to find from the road, but once we turned in, it was a nice, clear drive with well-marked parking for horse trailers closer to the road and cars deeper in, on the north side of the lake.

A discover pass or day pass is required for parking. Unfortunately, there is a possibility of toxic algae right now, so there is no lake access.

The trails are clear, but not paved, so hiking up the hills and gaining elevation is not recommended for those with mobility issues. Near the entrance, however, there are flat trails that may be more accessible.

I was disappointed with the provided map that may need to be updated and trail markings that are so worn they were not useful. That wide, it is a great park for some light-to-moderate hiking, even though we accidentally turned onto a different trail and ended up taking the higher route around the lake instead of meeting back up with the one we started on to just head back down the way we came 😂

As for wildlife, there were some red squirrels and a lot of small birds near the clearing of the grave site.

As for plants, if you take the elevated trail that goes along the east side of the lake, you will be surrounded by what feels like an infinite fern forest, which I personally loved.

The rock is also super cool to see. If you want to go to the rock sanctuary, it is not in the park, but there is a trail leading to it. I suggest you study a satellite image and get your bearings beforehand or go to the entrance for that trailhead.

Lovely park. Sadly a toxic algae makes the lake dangerous for people and pets. Trails are very nice.