We're updating our camping and moorage fees to continue providing great experiences for visitors amid inflation and rising costs. You will see a rate increase for camping stays booked for May 15 and beyond. Moorage fees will increase Jan. 1. Learn more here.
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The 56-mile Willapa Hills State Park Trail weaves together a landscape steeped in stories of the land and the people that have made their lives in the southwest corner of today’s Washington.
Harstine Island State Park offers many beautiful sights with thick underbrush and a variety of different tree species. The planned hike will take you from the main parking lot (P-3) to the first parking turn out (P-1) with 2 scout trails back to P-3.
OLYMPIA — Nisqually State Park will temporarily close beginning Jan. 27 for phased maintenance and construction work as park development continues. The park is expected to reopen to visitors in the fall.
Whether you are a seasoned birder of brand new to the scene, come join us for some FUN and times outdoors.
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.
Get ready for a weekend full of kite-flying fun on June 21st and 22nd, 2025 at the Birch Bay Kids Kite Festival! Bring the whole family and enjoy a vibrant celebration featuring kites soaring over the bay, crafts and a variety of family-friendly entertainment. The event is free to attend, though a Discover Pass is required for parking within Birch Bay State Park.
Beach with a view
Scenic Beach State Park is rooted in the era of automobile tourist camps that sprung up around Washington’s inland waterways in the 1920s as car ownership became widespread. Its location on the eastern shore of Hood Canal, with views across the water to the soaring peaks of the Olympic Mountains is highlighted in the spring and early summer with blooming native rhododendrons.
Portland-based artist Nina Vichayapai spent five weeks pulling inspiration from the sites, sounds and people of Deception Pass as State Parks' first-ever artist in residence.
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.
An Island In the Salish Sea
Blake Island Marine State Park, located in the heart of Puget Sound, has long been a desired getaway spot, now surrounded by the homes of millions of people.
Washingtonians generally experience shock each November as the weather turns cold and wet. But, being hardy souls, we often shift quickly to embrace winter and its opportunities for snow play. Then we set out on adventures like:
OLYMPIA – Oct. 6, 2021 – Today the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission received the voluntary resignation of Director Pete Mayer. Mayer's decision to resign is based on the best interest of his family and he steps down as director to pursue other opportunities closer to his new home. The commission appreciates Mayer's service to Parks and the citizens of Washington state. Mayer was initially appointed as director in March 2021.
Lime Kiln Point State Park provides an opportunity for park visitors to view orca whales from shore in an area with connections to the cultural stories of the picturesque San Juan Islands.
Suspect Terranes
The bedrock landscape of the San Juan Islands is made of assemblages of rocks called terranes that have been thrust over one another like a stack of cards by tectonic forces.
SPOKANE – This spring, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will complete a 340-acre forest health treatment in the area immediately north of Seven Mile Road in Riverside State Park.
This project will help reduce wildfire risk within the park and promote a healthy and resilient forest by reducing the amount of wildfire fuels. It will also remove unhealthy trees from the ecosystem.
A Spit of Land
The formation of a sand spit extending outward from a headland requires three things:
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.
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.
Stop by Olmstead Place Historical State Park on Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. to visit the cabin and Smith house.
Battle Ground Lake State Park is a forested camping park in the Cascade Mountain foothills; its proximity to Vancouver and Portland and its cool green lake make it a great escape from the bustle of city and suburbs.
Parks Inland Northwest and Blue Mountain Area Community Engagement Coordinator, Rex Schultz retired after a long, happy career in professional golf. Then he took a job as a park aide in eastern Washington. Now he has a new career and is having the time of his life. Read his story and consider becoming a park aide yourself!
Explore the flora and fauna of Nolte State Park on a ranger-led First Day Hike.
Break out the boat, paddleboard or kayak — Blake Island offers classic island recreation while still being close to Seattle.
Picture a green fairy forest of moss-covered rocks and cedar trees.
Matia island archipelago for its old-growth trees, rainforest vibe and dramatic cove with fantasy forest canopy and swirling sandstone formations. Picturing a green fairy forest covered with moss and cedar trees.
Located in the San Juan Islands, Matia Island Marine State Park is a secluded little island accessible only by boat.
Matia island archipelago for its old-growth trees, rainforest vibe and dramatic cove with fantasy forest canopy and swirling sandstone formations. Picturing a green fairy forest covered with moss and cedar trees.
Located in the San Juan Islands, Matia Island Marine State Park is a secluded little island accessible only by boat.
Savor panoramic mountain views, expansive wildflower meadows and starry skies by night at this Simcoe mountain jewel. Hike through tall pines and sturdy oaks while enjoying birdsongs and wildflowers in season. Also, great for day trips to the Goldendale Observatory or the majestic Columbia River Gorge.
Set in the hills above the Columbia River, Goldendale Observatory State Park houses one of the nation’s largest public telescopes. The newly-renovated facility is known for informative science programs and vivid starry skies.