The Parks headquarters Information Center is moving from its current location in Tumwater to the Department of Ecology building at 300 Desmond Drive SE in Lacey. Our customer service team is located at the front desk, just inside the main entrance.
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Alicia started as a volunteer at Deception Pass State Park with the Maintenance Crew. Not long after that, she became a park aide. Then, she found that she really loved intense physical labor, spacial problem solving, and operating more behind the scenes so, she pivoted and took on the role of Maintenance Mechanic.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program will be hosting Advisory Committee meetings in the coming weeks for both the Snowmobile Advisory Committee and the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee (WRAC).
Olyvia Buday started out as a college student volunteer at Penrose Point State Park. Now she's the South Sound Area Manager. Check out this story of her unexpected career path.
The Cornet Bay Retreat Center is located within the iconic Deception Pass State Park. Offering plenty of space for large meetings and group activities, you will be surrounded by old growth trees, wildlife and spectacular views of Mount Baker and Cornet Bay.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, but here at Washington State Parks, we appreciate our volunteers all year long!
In 2024, volunteers came out 5,000 strong, from around the country, to help in our parks. They contributed over 176,000 hours of service. They did trail work, habitat restoration, park hosting, interpretive program assistance, fundraising and donating money, educating staff and much more.
In March 2024, Parks worked in collaboration with the Ecostudies Institute and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a prescribed burn to improve habitat conditions at Leadbetter Point State Park for western snowy plover and streaked-horned lark, two endangered species, as well as to restore a more native plant-dominated vegetation community.
One of our favorite ways to recreate in our parks is to go camping. While it can be a broad term, camping essentially means you’re sleeping outdoors in some type of shelter, like a tent or a camper or RV.
Most state parks have overnight camping accommodations. These range from basic campsites to full hook-up sites and roofed structures like yurts and platform tents.
Most state parks have overnight camping accommodations. These range from basic campsites to full hook-up sites and roofed structures like yurts and platform tents.
COUPEVILLE – The beach access road at Fort Ebey State Park will close June 23-25 for repaving.
The road work will help restore sections of the park’s day-use road that have eroded. This work is the first phase in a larger project to repave the roads at Fort Ebey.
Recreation and beach access still available
Many of your state parks serve as a regular haven for migratory and year-round bird populations. Cold, clear days on the Olympic Peninsula draw all manner of fowl who fish, float and flit by the water.
OLYMPIA – April 26, 2023 – Sun Lakes – Dry Falls State Park has long been known as a geological icon and must-see destination for Washingtonians. Now, its significant legacy is being recognized on an international scale.
Even during the dark days of winter, the world is your family-friendly playground at our state parks and Sno-Parks. But cold weather adventures do add a few layers complexity, pun intended. We’ve got tips (learned mostly through trial and error) on how to stay warm and dry in the outdoors this winter.
Snowmobiling is one of the state's most popular winter activities. More than 3,000 miles of groomed trails are provided through the Winter Recreation Program, in cooperation with federal, county, and local agencies, ski areas, snowmobile clubs, and private landowners.
The Winter Recreation Program provides Sno-Parks, cleared parking areas for vehicles in close proximity to groomed and/or backcountry trails. There are two types of Sno-Parks, those for snowmobiles and those for non-motorized sports. A handful offer both types of activities.
The Winter Recreation Program provides Sno-Parks, cleared parking areas for vehicles in close proximity to groomed and/or backcountry trails. There are two types of Sno-Parks, those for snowmobiles and those for non-motorized sports. A handful offer both types of activities.
SPOKANE — This week, the easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail reopened after the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission resurfaced it with a new layer of asphalt.
The project was completed weeks ahead of schedule.
Lake Sylvia State Park closed June through Dec. 13, 2024 for a major construction project that replaced the culvert beneath the entrance road with a bridge and a new road. The culvert failed, which put the road at risk of collapsing, particularly during heavy rain events.
In 2018, State Parks initiated a planning process to update the land classifications and long-term boundaries at three parks located within the Blue Mountain Area: Palouse Falls, Lyons Ferry, and Lewis and Clark Trail. The Commission adopted the recommended updates to the land classification and long-term boundaries for these three parks in January 2021. Staff is currently developing the management plan for these three parks, which serve as a resource to staff to help implement the plan, as well as provide information that may be of interest to the public.
SPOKANE — Beginning on April 15, the easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail will temporarily close while the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission resurfaces the trail with a new layer of asphalt. The project is anticipated for completion in early September.
Our rangers want you to know that, despite its popularity, Palouse Falls State Park offers an off-the-beaten-path experience. Check out our 10 tips to make your trip safe and memorable.
Join us for the morning after the Fourth of July for a beach cleanup on Saturday, July 5, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Washington State Parks, GrassRoots Garbage Gang and Washington Surfrider Olympia and Grays Harbor chapters will be out hosting cleanups along the Central and South Pacific Coast.
Hike around Saltwater State Park, Various trail surface conditions; asphalt, gravel, and dirt. Switch back trails inclines and descent. 3-5 ft wide trail sections. Families are welcome if children can handle the mileage. Visit the beach on your own after the hike.
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).
If you happen to be hiking in Federation Forest, Millersylvania, Lewis and Clark or any number of lowland state parks in Western Washington, and you see a funky little tree that looks like a cross between a giant bonsai and a miniature conifer, it might be a Pacific yew tree.
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge!
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge!
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program will hold its annual summer funding meetings for both the Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SMAC) and the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee (WRAC) in early August.
Each meeting is open to the public and the community is invited to attend.
OLYMPIA – Jan. 25, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program will be hosting two in-person only advisory committee meetings in the coming weeks for both the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee and the Snowmobile Advisory Committee. Members of the public are invited to attend.