The East Searchlight Trail is a .59-mile trail in Fort Flagler State Park. This trail intersects with the Lagoon Trail, leading hikers to the historic Searchlight #16 and a sweeping view of Admiralty Inlet from a high bluff. This Lock-n-Lock container is located at the end of the trail near the viewpoint overlooking the water. Do not go beyond the fence!
Searchlights were common devices in the very early years of defense. Four searchlight facilities were constructed on the bluffs at Fort Flagler in 1911. Searchlights were initially used to detect foreign vessels trying to penetrate our defenses under cover of darkness and later to spot enemy aircraft. The lights had a range of up to six miles.
Searchlights #13 and #16 are the only searchlight positions in the Puget Sound defenses that housed the power plant within the shelter. They were kept inside during the day, and then rolled out on tracks at night. Deterioration of the bluff has taken away the end of the tracks and the searchlight’s operating locations.
A Fort Flagler trail brochure mentions that Searchlight #16 is the least-visited area of the park. To that I would add, not if you’re a geocacher!
Fort Flagler Park Hours
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk