Search results

1204 results found


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.

Hidden in plain sight, this park offers miles of forested hiking and biking trails, but its main draw is the beach. Whether you're out for an afternoon or a camping trip, you'll be delighted by this oasis tucked between two urban hubs.

Picture yourself walking your dog down a peaceful beach on a Wednesday evening or at the same beach on a Saturday afternoon, wiping ice cream off your kids’ faces. If these thoughts make you smile, Tolmie could be your state park.

Alta Lake State Park is located on the shores of an unusual body of water. Its namesake lake, perched 1,166 feet above sea level inside a meandering trench between the Methow and Chelan valleys, has no visible inlet or outlet.

Washington’s Sand Sea

Potholes State Park is set in a unique environment dominated by ancient sand dunes and a modern irrigation reservoir.

In the final stages of the most recent ice age, masses of glacial ice repeatedly blocked meltwater drainage, creating huge bodies of impounded water in northern Washington, Idaho and Montana. When the ice dams melted or were breached by the sheer weight of water behind them, gigantic Ice Age floods swept over the landscape.

Deception Pass Park Foundation and Washington State Parks offer fun activities to ring in the new year

OLYMPIA – Dec. 1, 2021 – The Deception Pass Park Foundation and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invite the public to ring in the new year with an extra special New Year's weekend experience at Deception Pass State Park.


Willapa Hills State Park Trail spans 56 miles east-west between Chehalis in Lewis County and South Bend in Pacific County. Pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists and skaters can experience scenic views of Willapa Valley, rivers, farms and small towns along the way.

Lake Wenatchee owes its existence to giant glaciers that widened and deepened the headwaters of the Wenatchee River. Gravel and rock carried in the glacier was deposited at the glacier’s end, forming a moraine, a natural dam to impound the lake. Lake Wenatchee State Park is situated on that moraine.

While much of James Island Marine State Park is designated a Natural Forest Area and is closed to public access, there is plenty of open territory to explore on this water access-only island. Enjoy the emerald coves, forested trails, spectacular views and an isthmus with two white sand beaches.
Located on Harstine Island, Jarrell Cove is a saltwater haven with excellent opportunities for swimming, camping and overnight boat moorage. This park is rife with with opportunities for bird and wildlife watching, offering walks through dense tree stands and along placid, opal-colored water.

On Oct. 16, 1805, the Corps of Discovery arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, the site of today’s Sacajawea Historical State Park.
Join Parks Interpretive Rangers in scavenger hunts, educational games, Junior Ranger programming and the opportunity for kids to get their Girl Scouts Love State Parks Passport stamped.

The 40-mile Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail weaves together rural, urban, and park landscapes filled with stories of land and people. The trail stretches through the Spokane River Valley, meandering from the Idaho/Washington state line to Riverside State Park.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission meeting virtually on Wednesday, Nov. 15. 

Commission meeting items include a camping inventory update from Parks Director Diana Dupuis that covers use and trends at existing camping areas. The Commission will also hear a financial update and discuss its December planning meeting. 

“To know the land, one must feel it out inch by inch with the feet.” –Harvey Manning

A generous land donation and the hard work of community activists has ensured that Squak Mountain State Park will be an enduring piece of wilderness close to the homes of millions of urban residents.

Step back in time at Fort Casey Historical State Park. Ignite your curiosity in the historic military batteries and 1903 lighthouse, with its own interpretive center and gift shop. Soak in the stunning views, fly a kite, fish or explore the beach at this central west side Whidbey Island gem.
This unique park features a rare sand spit enclosed by a saltwater lagoon and is located on Lopez Island. Camp at large, private campsites, open beachside sites or one of the group camps. Enjoy water activities including kayaking, paddle boarding, crabbing, clamming and fishing.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is updating its camping and moorage fees for 2025 to support its operations amid inflation impacts and rising costs.  

Separating the mountains from Lake Chelan, Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park is perfect for a day trip or campout with activities to keep the entire family entertained.

Closure expected to last a full year 

Olympia – Kopachuck State Park will close from June 3, 2024 until summer of 2025 for extensive construction and reimagining of the day-use park. 

During the construction period, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will build an outdoor amphitheater, a new playground and a large, rentable facility in the upper day-use area. The goal of the project is to provide a park with better infrastructure, all while keeping its neighborhood park feel. 

Hike a trail that meanders through a forest, around freshwater lakes, saltwater marshes and ocean tidelands. The beaches at Cape Disappointment lure kite flyers, sandcastle builders, and nature explorers.
Surrounded by idyllic forest on the shore of Mayfield Lake. Enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, kayaking and nature watching or just sitting around a campfire taking in the lush natural surroundings.
Discover Jarrell Cove State Park through a series of clues and instructions!

Overnight mooring space may be limited during maintenance work

OLYMPIA – June 9, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and recreation Commission (Parks) will complete routine inspection and maintenance of 180 public mooring buoys in parks this summer. Work will begin in north and central Puget Sound on Monday, June 12, and will continue across Puget Sound through June.

Nolte State Park preserves a forest sanctuary surrounding Deep Lake, favored for swimming and picnicking on hot summer days. The lake’s attractively cool waters are due to its 76-foot depth and cold water coming into the lake from Deep Creek, with its headwaters in the 3,000-foot-high foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

The lake has no outlet, as outflow percolates through gravels left as meltwater outwash from the great Ice Age glaciers that filled the Puget Sound lowlands.