Mason County: A Recreation Magnet
With 961 square miles of land (275 of which are in national park or forest), and 900 miles of shoreline, Mason County represents an outdoor playground for nearly every imaginable activity. Blessed with dramatic scenery, the county’s topography is marked by hills, rivers, lakes, green valleys, and thick forests. Altitude ranges from sea level to the snow fields of Mt. Washington, at 6,255 feet.
Whether it’s for hiking, biking, camping, climbing, boating, golf, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, or attending any of dozens of fairs, festivals or cultural events, Mason County draws thousands of visitors every year.
Along South Hood Canal many campgrounds, motels and resorts remain near capacity all summer long, with local small grocery and convenience stores often selling out of provisions over the busy summer weekends. Ports, marinas and state parks swell with summer guests, an increase rippling out to the shops, motels and restaurants of Shelton’s brick-and-stone historic downtown.