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.
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OLYMPIA – July 6, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Thursday, July 14 at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge in Anacortes.
Commission action items include 2023-25 state grant applications and approval of the 2023-25 operating and capital budgets.
In addition, the commission will hear updates and reports from agency staff and MS2000.
Park planners will discuss impacts of renovation, expansion on roads and traffic
OLYMPIA – Jan. 3, 2022 – Washington State Parks invites the public to attend a virtual public meeting to learn about plans for the expansion of Kopachuck State Park, including potential impacts on traffic and county roads.
WHEN:
6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11
WHERE:
https://bit.ly/3yyIZ5T.
OLYMPIA – Oct. 05, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold special commission meeting on Wed., Oct. 6. The purpose of this October 6 special meeting is for the commission to receive and evaluate complaints brought against a public officer or employee, to determine if the commission needs to prescribe additional measures and for the executive committee to seek additional directions or delegations from the commission as needed.
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold in-person-only planning meetings on Dec. 10 and 11 at its headquarters in Tumwater.
Commission planning meeting agenda items for Dec. 10 include a 2024 review presented by Commission Chair Sophia Danenberg, highlights from each Parks division presented by the agency’s Executive Leadership team and budget and priorities planning.
OLYMPIA – Celebrate the new year with Washington State Parks during our annual First Day Hikes events on Jan. 1, 2025.
More than 30 state parks will host staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe excursions, trail rides, polar plunges, scavenger hunts and more on New Year’s Day.
The 130-mile Columbia Plateau State Park Trail weaves together a diverse parade of landscapes filled with stories of land and people along the route of the abandoned Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway. The trail stretches through a swath of today’s eastern Washington, from ponderosa pine forests near Spokane across the volcanic “scablands” and into the deep canyon of the Snake River.
Saddlebag Island Marine State Park lies on the western side of Padilla Bay in a chain of four small islands extending southeast from the corner of Guemes Island. It shares an unusual geologic history with Hope Island, another Washington Marine State Park about ten miles south, and Cypress Island, a Natural Resources Conservation Area six miles west.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a virtual work session on March 19.
Commission meeting agenda items include an update on the agency’s Climate and Sustainability Program activities, an update on State-Tribal Recreation Impacts Initiative and efforts to adopt a charter for the initiative in June 2025, a legislative update, a financial update and general updates from State Parks staff.
On the surface, Fort Townsend is a classic state with beach access along Port Townsend Bay. But a closer look reveals a hidden history. Built in 1856, Fort Townsend operated as a U.S. Army site on and off until a fire destroyed its barracks in 1895. The small camping park south of Port Townsend is unique among Washington's coastal forts because it has all but returned to nature.
OLYMPIA – Jan. 24, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is looking for two new volunteers to serve on the Boating Program Advisory Council (BPAC). The new members of the committee must have experience relevant to the program – one position requires a public health and injury prevention background and will serve as the injury prevention specialist. The other position requires a background in recreational boating education.
Washington’s largest state park envelops the summit and slopes of 5,887-foot Mount Spokane. The park’s roads, trails and ski runs provide access to a wide variety of habitats, from old growth forests to the splintered rock fields and meadows at the mountain’s peak. The summit features the historic Vista House, built as an emergency relief project in 1933 using blocks of the mountain’s native granite.
Our long-distance trails are an exciting way for walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians to explore the beauty of Washington. While recreating on a long-distance trail requires a little more preparation, the opportunities are endless. These trails cover hundreds of miles, cross historic train trestles, take you through forests and sagebrush steppe and beyond. Make sure you bring your map and plenty of water because your next adventure awaits.
In 2014, the Bridle Trails Park Foundation began conversations with Washington State Parks about funding the design and construction of an environmental education building in the park. 2022 brought the formal presentation of a dedicated indoor educational program space for members of the community to experience the park regardless of weather or physical abilities, as well as an indoor park office where the Park Ranger can connect with visitors.
SPOKANE — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is asking the public to weigh in on two potential scenarios for the future of Mount Spokane State Park.
This feedback will help inform the development of the new 20-year master plan for the park. The planning effort has been underway since early 2024 and will result in a clear vision, timeline and prioritized list of maintenance and improvement projects.
CAMANO ISLAND — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is excited to support the Cama Beach Quilters in hosting their 15th annual quilt show.
This year, the quilt show is moving from Cama Beach Historical State Park to the Camano Commons Marketplace at Terry’s Corner to accommodate more people with improved parking and space for vendors. The new location is also much flatter and more navigable for eventgoers with limited mobility.
OLYMPIA — Operations of the Lifelong Learning Center campus at Fort Worden Historical State Park (Fort Worden) is returning to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) in early October. While Fort Worden is a state park, a large part of the campus has primarily been co-managed by the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (FWPDA) for more than a decade.
Parks' Folk & Traditional Arts Program (FTAP) hosts a full lineup of summer concerts and festivals in parks across western and central Washington. The outdoor concert schedule includes long-standing favorites like the American Roots concerts at Deception Pass and a new music series at Lincoln Rock. In addition to several established international festivals, the program welcomes a new event honoring African culture, this September.
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.
OLYMPIA – Sept. 13, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular hybrid commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Gladish Community Center in Pullman.
Commission action items include approval of the submittal of the 2023 supplemental operating and capital budget requests to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and approval of the 2023 regular commission meeting schedule.
In addition, the commission will hear updates and reports from agency staff.
State Parks closes parts of Bowman Bay to protect the new pup
OLYMPIA – Feb. 4, 2022 – Washington State Parks announces the birth of a new northern elephant seal at Deception Pass State Park.
The birth took place on Jan. 31 at Bowman Bay in the park. The pup's mother is one of a small family of elephant seals that visits Whidbey and Fidalgo islands frequently and is well known to residents. This is her first pup.
Long-term contract with concessionaire Argosy Cruises comes to an end
OLYMPIA – 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.
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.
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.
WHAT
Commission planning meeting
Shoppers can conveniently explore merchandise on the new site
OLYMPIA – 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.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks Recreation Commission has approved changes to camping stay limits in state parks.
The update limits maximum stay lengths to no more than 10 nights in one park within a 30-day period. Total nights stayed cannot exceed 90 nights per calendar year in all state parks. Camping stay limits are outlined in Section 7 of WAC 352-32-030.