🌤 Weather at Lilliwaup State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37–65 °F | 50–76 °F | 39–69 °F | 35–48 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Cushman Powerhouse #2, 7 mi away, elevation 21 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Lilliwaup State Park is an undeveloped clam and oyster beach on Hood Canal, right off Highway 101 at Lilliwaup, Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) lists it under this name among its shellfish beaches and sets the harvest seasons, and Washington State Parks built the stairs that lead down to the beach. It is not a developed park: WDFW lists the facilities as “None”, and Washington State Parks does not list Lilliwaup among the parks on its website.
Before you go, check whether the beach is open: as of October 2026, WDFW lists the clam, mussel and oyster seasons as closed for biotoxins until further notice.
Quick Facts
| State | Washington |
| Nearest City | Lilliwaup |
| Location | Hood Canal, off Highway 101, about four and a half miles north of Hoodsport |
| Facilities | None (WDFW) |
| Shellfish seasons | Closed for biotoxins by emergency rule until further notice (WDFW, as of October 2026) |
Before you harvest
You may harvest on this beach only when two conditions are met: the WDFW season must be open, and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) must have approved the beach. WDFW notes that the DOH information may be updated daily. Check both on the day of your trip:
- the WDFW page for Lilliwaup State Park for the current season
- the DOH shellfish safety map for biotoxin closures
- the WDFW shellfishing regulations for the current rules
What you will find. WDFW describes the beach as mostly rocky, with difficult digging. There are some butter clams, native littleneck clams and Manila clams, and WDFW calls it an excellent oyster beach.
Getting there and parking
From the south (Olympia, Shelton), drive north on Highway 101 along Hood Canal. Pass through Hoodsport and continue about four and a half miles to Lilliwaup. The beach is just off the highway on the right. Use the parking area (pullout) just northeast of the Lilliwaup Creek Bridge, where the stairs built by Washington State Parks lead down to the beach.
From the north (Port Angeles, Kingston), drive south on Highway 101 through Eldon and continue another six and a half miles. About half a mile north of Lilliwaup there is shoulder parking and an access trail. WDFW advises harvesters to use the stairs at the southern end of the beach instead, at the corner where the highway starts to curve around Lilliwaup Bay.
Parking is limited to the turnout just north of Lilliwaup Bay and the shoulder of Highway 101. WDFW shellfish information signs stand at the northern access trail and at the head of the stairs. There are no facilities at the beach; WDFW points to a store in Lilliwaup and public restrooms in Hoodsport.
Explore More Parks in Washington
Lilliwaup is a shellfish beach, not a park with campsites or restrooms. For a full day out, discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Washington guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this page described Lilliwaup as a day-use park with views, wildlife, Hood Canal facts, Discover Pass and camping tips, and distances to nearby sights that we could not confirm with any agency. For a while it also carried a name that we found on no agency page. In October 2026 we rewrote the page using information from WDFW and Washington State Parks.
Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Twanoh State Park (a short drive away) and Lake Cushman State Park (a short drive away).
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Lilliwaup State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 8 ft maximum leash required; pets must be under physical control
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted on designated swim beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are not allowed inside vacation houses but are permitted in designated pet-friendly cabins and yurts (e.g. Grayland Beach, Seaquest, Ike Kinswa — Cape Disappointment does NOT allow pets in its yurts), typically up to two pets, with a pet fee
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $15 per night pet fee in pet-friendly cabins/yurts
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Director-designated off-leash areas are exempt from the leash rule and are conspicuously posted
Are dogs allowed at Lilliwaup State Park?
Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.wa.gov. More: Washington state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Lilliwaup State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
