Wildfire season is here and impacting several parks, so make sure you’re in the know before you go. Before you head to a park, please check its page or head to our alerts page for closures, alerts and other important information to make sure you have a fun, safe and informed trip.
State Parks Commission to meet virtually
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission meeting virtually on Aug. 27
Commission meeting agenda items include an approval of the 2026 regular commission meeting schedule, approval of the Commission’s priorities for the 2025-27 biennium, approval of the agency’s request legislation for the 2026 Legislative Session, a presentation about the upcoming launch of the Scenic Bikeways Program and a financial update.
View the full agenda and presentation materials here.
This is an online meeting, and all…
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06/15/2022
Friends of the Columbia Gorge held neighboring property until Parks could buy the land OLYMPIA – June 15, 2022 – Washington State Parks, with critical assistance from Friends of the Columbia Gorge, purchased a tract of land next to Beacon Rock State Park. That land will be used to create safe, accessible pedestrian crossings, a new entrance and egress and additional parking. Currently, State Route 14 runs through the busy, popular park, which offers hiking, boating, climbing, birding, conservation and equestrian activities on both sides of the highway. This poses safety hazards for drivers… Read more
06/07/2022
Free performances celebrate diverse culturesOLYMPIA – June 7, 2022 – The Washington State Parks' Folk and Traditional Arts Program will reprise two of its beloved concert series this summer at Deception Pass and Cape Disappointment state parks. The program also added a third series at Lake Wenatchee State Park, expanding free access to diverse musical traditions in Central Washington. Performance schedules are as follows: WAIKIKI BEACH CONCERT SERIESLocation: Cape Disappointment State Park Time: All concerts are 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.Enjoy performances from a wide variety of musical backgrounds and… Read more
05/31/2022
No Discover Pass is required to park on those three daysOLYMPIA – May 31, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites visitors to enjoy a state park on Saturday, June 11 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, Sunday, June 12 in recognition of Free Fishing Day and Sunday, June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Visitors are not required to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits to a Washington state park or on lands managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on these dates. Juneteenth… Read more
05/31/2022
OLYMPIA – May 31, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special meeting on Wed., June 1. The purpose of this special meeting is for the Commission to hold an executive session with the agency's assigned legal counsel to discuss potential litigation pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). The public may attend the meetings remotely online – except for the executive sessions. Members of the public may also physically attend at the Washington State Parks and Recreation HQ, 1111 Israel Rd, Olympia, WA 98504 - Moran Conference Room. The commissioners will be attending… Read more
05/12/2022
Forest thinning project will reduce wildfire risk to Roslyn, Cle-ElumOLYMPIA – May 12, 2022 – Washington State Parks will begin work to thin approximately 90 acres on the Bullfrog State Park Property near Cle Elum this month. The hired contractor will remove smaller, weaker and less fire tolerant trees to reduce fuel loads and promote fire tolerant species. The project will return the forest to historic site conditions and improve the health of remaining trees by reducing competition. More information on this project is available at Forest Practices Permit #2707135, on the Washington… Read more
05/11/2022
OLYMPIA – May 11, 2022 – Recreational boating is a popular pastime in Washington. In fact, several hundred thousand Washington residents own at least one canoe, kayak, rowboat, personal watercraft, stand up paddleboard, drift boat, runabout, sailboat, motor yacht or other recreational vessel. Boats and boaters are everywhere! Boating, however, is not without risk. The chilly waters of the Pacific Northwest can be unforgiving, and safety must be on the minds of everyone who plays in and around Washington waterways. The Washington State Parks Boating Program, in partnership with the Seattle… Read more
05/10/2022
More than 400 new adventure packs and Discover passes at library systems statewide will help communities in need explore state parks and other public landsOLYMPIA – May 10, 2022 – Check Out Washington has expanded once more with new adventure packs, a new partnership and additional funding. The popular interagency program allows local library card holders to check out adventure packs, including special Discover Passes, for a week at a time. The expansion prioritizes communities where health disparity data indicate higher need for free access to recreation opportunities.The Washington State… Read more
05/03/2022
OLYMPIA – May 3, 2022 – On May 1, Washington State Parks began managing more than 15 recreation sites owned by Avista Utilities. The properties sit around the Spokane River, Nine Mile Dam, Lake Spokane and Long Lake Dam.According to a new five-year agreement, State Parks will operate the Avista sites as part of Riverside State Park. The land parcels, which total 2,000 acres, include six trailheads, two water access sites, two overlooks,10 boat-in campsites and one picnic area on Lake Spokane.The trailheads are:Klondike RocksMuley CanyonSouth ShoreDevil's GapLong Lake TDGNorth ShoreThe boat-… Read more
04/29/2022
Boaters should check project schedule before planning overnight tripsOLYMPIA – April 29, 2022 – Washington State Parks will begin contracted mooring buoy repair work in the San Juan Islands beginning Monday, May 2 and on the eastern Olympic Peninsula beginning Wednesday, June 1. The agency will repair 82 buoys that are currently unsatisfactory and unusable. The months-long maintenance project will service salvageable state-owned, public mooring buoys to ensure they are in top condition for boaters.Repair work will begin at the following locations on the following dates:May 2-5:San Juan… Read more
04/12/2022
Planners will discuss facility improvements at Blake Island Marine State ParkOLYMPIA – April 20, 2022 – Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting on Bainbridge Island to learn more about planned facility improvements at neighboring Blake Island Marine State Park. The in-person meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 28 at Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave. North (Driving directions.) Participants can also join the meeting on-line at the following link: https://bit.ly/3vwfLnhVirtual… Read more