State Parks urges people to recreate responsibly this Fourth of July
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife.
Parks sees a dramatic increase in visitation during Independence Day celebrations, particularly on its beaches. The increase in traffic also increases the amount of trash left behind. Last year, volunteers collected more than 111,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during Parks’ annual July 5 beach cleanup. That’s equivalent to the combined weight of about seven…
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12/21/2021
Book a Washington State Parks Retreat Center for youth groups, schools, families, businesses and other groupsOLYMPIA – Dec. 21, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced the reopening of park retreat centers beginning in spring 2022. On Jan. 3 at 7 a.m., parks will begin accepting retreat center reservations for the 2022 Memorial Day weekend and beyond. The retreat centers have been closed since March of 2020 due to COVID-19. Facilities officially reopen on May 27, 2022. All 2022 reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservation requests will be… Read more
12/13/2021
OLYMPIA – Dec. 13, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special commission meeting on Tues., Dec. 14. The purpose of this special meeting is for the Commission to establish the qualifications for the initial screening of applicants for the State Parks director position and to delegate authority or take other actions in the discretion of the Commission for the director recruitment and hiring process. The special meeting begins at 5 p.m. and will be conducted remotely. The public can view the meeting by using one of the following: WebEx: https://watech.webex.… Read more
12/13/2021
Long-term contract with concessionaire Argosy Cruises comes to an endOLYMPIA – Dec. 13, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced that Tillicum Excursion at Blake Island Marine State Park will close. Argosy Cruises, the concessionaire that operated Tillicum Excursion (formerly known as Tillicum Village) made the difficult decision to opt out of their long-standing contract with Parks due to challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.“We are sad to end Tillicum Excursion as we always saw huge opportunity in our operation on Blake Island,” said Molly Schlobohm,… Read more
12/06/2021
Parks host hikes, snowshoe excursions, bike rides and more on New Year's Day! OLYMPIA – Dec. 6, 2021 - Washington State Parks invites the public to take a First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2022. At least 42 state parks have scheduled staff-led hikes, self-guided hikes, dog strolls, cross-country ski trips and more for New Year's Day. State parks in every part of Washington will host free, family-friendly activities. Jan. 1 marks the first free day of 2022. Visitors won't need a Discover Pass to park on state recreation lands. First Day Hikes will range in difficulty from paved, flat ADA-accessible… Read more
12/01/2021
Deception Pass Park Foundation and Washington State Parks offer fun activities to ring in the new yearOLYMPIA – Dec. 1, 2021 – The Deception Pass Park Foundation and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invite the public to ring in the new year with an extra special New Year's weekend experience at Deception Pass State Park.On Dec. 31, the West Beach parking lot will be open for a campout. Interpretive staff will host family-friendly activities, programs and s'mores making. Campout spots are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Registration closes on Dec. 26. The… Read more
11/30/2021
OLYMPIA – Nov. 30, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a planning meeting in-person on Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Wednesday, Dec. 8 in Kalama. Agenda items include year-end review, division highlights and 2022 priorities. The public may attend the meeting, but no public comment will be taken. Attendance is limited to in-person only. No virtual access will be available. The commission will not make any decisions at the planning meeting.WHATCommission planning meetingWHOWashington State Parks and Recreation CommissionWHEN9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 7 9 a.m. to 11:… Read more
11/29/2021
Shoppers can conveniently explore merchandise on the new siteOLYMPIA – Nov. 29, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission launched a new online store that provides customers with an improved experience when shopping for popular products. The store features fan-favorite items including icon prints of each state park, Winter Recreation scarves, 2022 Parks calendars, guidebooks, Discover Passes and e-gift cards. “We are excited to give state park enthusiasts a more streamlined way to shop for products,” said Stephanie McDermott, brand and creative marketing manager. “This… Read more
11/16/2021
State Parks follows the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association in pledging to protect natural areasOLYMPIA – Nov. 16, 2021 – As the snow begins to build in the Washington Cascades range, the State Parks Winter Recreation Program joins members of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association and the snowmobile community nationwide in promoting responsible snowmobile etiquette. The national “Take the Pledge” campaign aims to protect riding areas and trail systems for current and future generations. The campaign also reminds motorized recreationists to respect the… Read more
11/10/2021
New Discover Pass free days honor Indigenous people, Black history, mental health.OLYMPIA – Nov. 10, 2021 – Washington State Parks has designated the free days in 2022 when visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at state parks and on recreation lands managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).In 2022, the Discover Pass free days are: Saturday, Jan. 1 – New Year's DayMonday, Jan. 17 – Martin Luther King DayWednesday, March 9 - Billy Frank Jr.'s birthday Saturday, March 19 – Washington State Parks' birthdayFriday,… Read more
11/09/2021
OLYMPIA – Nov. 9, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Thursday, Nov. 18, in Vancouver. Commission action items include authorizing the transfer of the Lake Newport property in Pend Oreille County for local park purposes and authorizing the sale of the Auburn State Park Property in King County.In addition, the commission will hear updates and reports from park staff about financial matters and the preliminary recommendations on land classifications and long-term park boundaries.A work session is scheduled the day… Read more