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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12/08/2022
OLYMPIA – December 8, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program, along with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) partners at the Snoqualmie Ranger District, are excited to announce a new winter Sno-Park and access area at exit 47 on I-90 West of the summit of Snoqualmie. Annette Lake Sno-Park provides access to ungroomed marked trails for snow shoeing and backcountry skiing, along with easy access for family fun in the snow. Plowed parking for 40+ vehicles, a toilet, and winter kiosk information board are now available, along with education and enforcement… Read more
12/01/2022
OLYMPIA – December 1, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a planning meeting in-person on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Camano Island. Agenda items include year-end review, division highlights and 2023 Commission 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.WHAT Commission planning meetingWHO Washington State Parks and Recreation CommissionWHEN 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.… Read more
11/23/2022
OLYMPIA – Nov. 23, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is set to begin construction on the Keystone Boat Launch at Fort Casey State Park. The project will be underway from Dec. 1 to Spring 2023. During the construction period, the boat ramp will experience intermittent partial and full closures. Visitors will be updated on upcoming closures through signage at the park and online. Boaters are also encouraged to call the park office at Fort Casey at (360) 678-4519 prior to arrival to check on the closure status of the ramp.The boat launch at Fort Casey is a high… Read more
11/22/2022
OLYMPIA – Nov. 22, 2022 – Washington State Parks will hold an in-person open house to update the public on the progress and status of ongoing master planning efforts at Westport Light State Park to consider a Scottish-style links golf course.The presentation will provide a summary of findings of the environmental and economic site analysis conducted, introduce the golf course conceptual design and discuss next steps in the planning process.The in-person only open house is scheduled to take place on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Ocosta Elementary School in Westport.Parks acquired a 300-… Read more
11/21/2022
OLYMPIA – November 21, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to nominate winter sports enthusiasts for the agency's snowmobile and non-motorized advisory committees. Four positions are available statewide to snowmobilers, and two are available statewide to individuals involved in non-motorized winter sports.Both committees are comprised of a combination of snowmobilers and individuals involved in non-motorized winter sports. The Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Association of… Read more
11/15/2022
OLYMPIA – November 15, 2022 - Washington State Parks is inviting the public to ring in the new year during its annual First Day Hikes event on Jan. 1, 2023. At least 40 state parks will host staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe excursions, bike rides and more on New Year's Day. The First Day Hikes will range in difficulty from paved, flat ADA-accessible trails to moderate hill climbs. A few parks will host more than one hike with options tailored to different interests and abilities. Additionally, some hikes will include fun educational talks where rangers will speak about the history… Read more
11/08/2022
OLYMPIA – Nov. 8, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Thursday, Nov. 17 at Campbell's Resort in Chelan.Commission action items include the proposed transfer of Riverside State Park – Sontag Park to Nine Mile Falls School District and the proposed transfer of portions of Nisqually State Park to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The commission will also hear updates and reports from agency staff. A work session is scheduled the day before the regular meeting, on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Work sessions… Read more
11/02/2022
No Discover Pass is required on 12 special days next yearOLYMPIA – Nov. 2, 2022 – The Washington State Discover Pass Program has designated the Discover Pass free days for 2023. On these days, visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at Washington state parks and on recreation lands managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).The 2023 Discover Pass free days are: Sunday, Jan. 1 – New Year's Day and First Day HikesMonday, Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. DayThursday, March 9 - Billy Frank Jr.'s birthday Sunday, March… Read more
10/27/2022
Clayton Beach access trail closes Nov. 1 until late spring of 2023OLYMPIA – Oct. 27, 2022 – Larrabee State Park is getting an exciting renovation this winter that will significantly improve safety and access to Clayton Beach. State Parks is building a new bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad track, which, supported by a new trail reconfiguration, will provide safe passage between this popular beach and the Lost Lake parking lot. Construction is set to begin Nov. 1. For public safety, park staff will close access between the parking lot and the beach on Nov. 1. The… Read more
10/13/2022
OLYMPIA – October 13, 2022 – Washington Sno-Park permits will go on sale starting Nov. 1. The State Parks Winter Recreation Program manages over 120 recreation sites, or Sno-Parks, across the state for recreators to enjoy during the winter season. Parking at these sites requires special permits. Seasonal or one-day Sno-Park permits can be purchased online or through a licensed vendor. Snowmobilers also must register their snowmobiles through the Washington Department of Licensing.In addition to the seasonal permit, a special groomed permit is required to park at several high-use Sno-Parks,… Read more