Lake Isabella State Park Walk Conclusion November 19, 2025

Lake Isabella State Park is a day-use park in Mason County with large open fields and miles of easy hiking trails. The undeveloped state park has a small section of waterfront but there are no amenities, and the water access is very poor. With nearby access from both Shelton and Olympia, the park is popular for walkers looking to get somewhere different quickly. There are around 4 miles of trails and loop trips are possible. A public road cuts through the middle of the park so be sure to note that there are trails on both sides. One of the trails passes underneath the road in a tunnel. The pastures, orchards, and woods are part of an old farm homestead so there is a lot of history here. WA State Parks HOMEHistory1890: Albert Insel and his wife Mary Traeger Insel, originally from Germany, settled in Mason County on the shores of Lake Isabella.
(Source Washington State Park WEB site)

Scotch Broom is native to Europe and North Africa and is an aggressive, invasive evergreen shrub known for its bright yellow, pea-like flowers. Scotch Broom has the ability to form dense stands that outcompete native plants and is highly flammable. The plant spreads rapidly by seed, which can remain viable in the soil for many years.
Scotch Broom was introduced to the Pacific Northwest, including Washington State, in the mid-to-late 1800s as an ornamental plant and for erosion control. The plant spread rapidly, with widespread infestations west of the Cascade Mountains and in other parts of the state, including Kittitas and Klickitat counties. One way to control it without chemical means is to cut it down before it has the chance to develop seeds.