Field Guide Blog | Washington State Parks

A woman stands on a platform in a forest, checking equipment.

A conversation with Parks Natural Resources Manager, Andrea Thorpe, PhD

Whenever we have a question about the non-human life in our parks, we ping our Natural Resources Manager, Dr. Andrea Thorpe. She recently sat down to answer questions about herself, her job and advice for women and girls seeking STEM careers.

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Fall foliage with red maple and yellow cottonwood trees among evergreen trees with a mountain and sunrise glow in the background.

Fall colors, cozy cabins! Book your North/Central Cascades road trip now.

An elephant seal mother and pup rest on a grass lawn with a fence and water behind them.

Tips for handling wildlife encounters: Lions, and Orcas and Bears. Oh my!

A dog stands on its hind legs along a breakwater to see another dog as three owners have them on leash.

Why and how to pick up dog doo on trails

Pink and orange reflection of sunrise on a snowy mountain slope

Ready for winter? Here are a few tips to keep it merry and bright

A man and a boy sit on the trail in an old-growth forest looking up at a big tree.

What is leave no trace, and why we should all do it

Two women, one in blue and one in orange, hike in the forest wearing backpacks.

The “10 Essentials” to take on every outdoor adventure

Two people walk along boardwalk at Deception Pass

What you need to know before visiting a Washington state park for the first time

Yellow larches and evergreen trees in a valley with a small lake

Where to "larch march" this fall

Camper peaks out of a green tent at a camping spot

Try backpacking at a state park

A crumpled door of an old Weyerhauser work truck that was mangled in the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Be a park S.T.E.W.A.R.D.

BIrds eye view of a pair of hiking boots worn by a person standing on a grassy field next to some small white flowers with yellow centers

Where to splurge vs. skimp on gear

Cambodian dancers perform at Saltwater State Park

Celebrating Mien and Cambodian culture

A view over rocks at the sandy beach with seaweed at the water's edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca with a blue sky and treed hillside to the left.

Fort Worden finds lead to “mammoth” discoveries, “wooly” situations

Gravestones behind an old iron fence covered in ivy

Headstone of infant returned

Outdoor wedding at Fort Worden State Park in front of a madrona tree and castle.

Park proposals and marriages

A park aide job paved the way to a brilliant career