Manchester State Park

A former torpedo warehouse, built in 1901, still stands in the park. It was later an officer’s club, a barracks and a mess hall, and is now a picnic shelter in the day-use area. The small concrete building east of the torpedo warehouse was originally used as a mining casement, and later for coal storage.

Approach: Easy gravel and sand below the low bank.
Location: Manchester Park is on the western side of Rich Passage, directly across from the southwestern shore of Bainbridge Island. Sites are in the wooded area above the lawn between the day-use restrooms and wooden picnic shelters.
Hazards: Watch for ferries. Exposed mud flats at low tides.
Sites: 2
Water: Available in the day use area
Sanitation: Day-use toilets and showers ($0.50/3 min, tokens available at the camp store), closed in winter
Overflow: In the rest of the campground
Fires: No open fires allowed.
Extras: Picnic shelters, volleyball court and interpretive nature trail
Fees: $12/night for up to 6 in site
Special Considerations: Fragile environment. Avoid further erosion of the bank above the beach by using trail from beach to grass area to access sites.
Natural History: A U.S. Coast Artillery harbor defense installation was constructed on the property at the turn of the century for the protection of Bremerton. During World War II, the property was a naval fuel supply depot and fire-fighting station.
Max People:
Max Nights:
Reservations: No
Latitude: 47.5785
Longitude: -122.549716
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4 thoughts on “Manchester State Park

  1. You have wrong information…
    Showers are $ .50 for 3-min hot water (tokens must be purchased at the camp store)
    Marine Sites are $12 a night (but no fires allowed at marine sites)
    Must notify park office prior to dusk for restrooms to be kept unlocked in Day Use Area

  2. Thank you Tim, that is excellent information and we will endeavor to update our database. Sincerely, Andree

  3. From Susan:
    It is 3 NM from Blake to Manchester State Park; Guidebook, page 49, states 4.6NM
    I liked the privacy and coziness of the CMT sites here, especially after the “kid chaos” at Blake Island.
    Picnic shelter (old torpedo warehouse) is closed due to Covid
    Pro-tip: you can charge your power bank and/or electronics with the outlet in the bathroom or the picnic shelter just to the west of the CMT sites!
    Very quiet after 9 pm and pleasant in the morning
    I stopped at Fort Ward across the channel on my way out the next morning but it wasn’t clear exactly where the CMT site is. I think the carsonite signage is gone?… I did see a Kitsap Pen Water Trails sign so that’s probably the spot.

    1. If you measure straight as the crow flies, then yes, about three miles.
      However, that puts you in the middle of the waters of Rich Passage, south end of Bainbridge and north of Blake. Very bad idea.
      This area is a very busy marine traffic area, with freighters, state ferry, tugs, power boats and yes, 1,200-foot aircraft carriers. In addtion, there is a lot of current that runs through Rich Passage, so it’s wise to avoid them and the tide rips. I live on Rich Passage, right near the park, paddle this area on a regular basis and see all the traffic out there.
      Paddlers should stick to the shore from Manchester SP, paddle along the shore to the settlement of Manchester, continue a bit south and make the shorter crossing away from all that traffic.
      So, the distance is what the book says.

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