Special day celebrates the National Park System’s 102nd birthday
OLYMPIA – Aug. 8, 2018 – To celebrate the National Park System’s 102nd birthday, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is offering free entrance to state parks on Saturday, Aug. 25. Day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass to visit state parks by vehicle.
“The National Park Service is celebrating its birthday this year as ‘something new for 102,’” said Don Hoch, Director of Washington State Parks. “We think that’s a great idea, and we encourage visitors to take advantage of the free day by visiting a park they’ve never been to before or by trying a new activity at a favorite park.”
State Parks free days are in keeping with 2011 legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs $30 annually or $10 for a one-day visit. The pass is required for vehicle access to state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Discover Pass legislation directed State Parks to designate up to 12 free days when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required on WDFW and DNR lands.
While Washington State Parks and the National Park Service are different entities, the two agencies share a rich tradition of stewarding the lands they manage. Many state parks are located within an hour’s drive of Washington’s national parks:
Washington state park
| National park | Travel time by car |
Battle Ground Lake State Park
| Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
| 35 minutes
|
Fort Townsend Historical State Park
| Olympic National Park
| 1 hour
|
Bogachiel State Park
| Olympic National Park
| 43 minutes
|
Lime Kiln Point State Park
| San Juan Island National Historical Park
| 16 minutes
|
Rockport State Park
| North Cascades National Park
| 32 minutes
|
Rasar State Park
| North Cascades National Park
| 40 minutes
|
Fort Ebey State Park
Fort Casey Historical State Park
| Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve
| 10 minutes
|
Federation Forest State Park
| Mount Rainier National Park
| 40 minutes
|
| Nisqually State Park | Mount Rainier National Park | 36 minutes |
Nolte State Park
| Mount Rainier National Park
| 1 hour
|
In addition, many Washington state parks are within the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail:
- Beacon Rock State Park
- Columbia Hills State Park
- Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
- Lyons Ferry State Park
- Palouse Falls State Park
- Steamboat Rock State Park
- Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park
- Yakima Sportsman State Park
To find a Washington state park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/281/Parks
Three more State Parks free days are available in 2018:
- Saturday, Sept. 22 — National Public Lands Day
- Sunday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
- Friday, Nov. 23 — Autumn free day
The Discover Pass provides daytime access to parks. Overnight visitors in state parks are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations; day access is included in the overnight fee. For information about Discover Pass, visit www.DiscoverPass.wa.gov.
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About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at http://adventureawaits.com/
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W.
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388