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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McMicken Island Marine State Park is an off-the-beaten-path destination for boaters near Harstine Island that was homesteaded and used as a vacation home for many years.
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.
OLYMPIA – Mystery Bay State Park on Marrowstone Island will close from July 14 through August 20 for major repairs to its pier.
The park will remain open for boat-in traffic only. Boaters may not come on land while the 18-acre park is closed for safety due to the use of heavy equipment throughout construction.
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.
“The river was the lifeblood of the people. Not only did it connect all of the many villages into one tribe, but it was the home of the salmon, the Nisquallies’ main source of food.” --Cecelia Svinth Carpenter, Where the Waters Begin
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.
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park borders the Green River at the upper end of the Green River Gorge, a unique place where sandstone bedrock, covered by glacial deposits in most of the Puget Sound lowlands, is revealed by the downcutting of the river through the formation. Seams of coal interwoven with the sandstone fueled a local mining industry in the early 20th century.
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.
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.
We decided it was time to evolve our brand strategy to reflect our priorities.
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.
After 15 years of planning, and a year of construction Kopachuck State Park is ready to welcome guests.
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.
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!
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.
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.
OLYMPIA – June 22, 2023 – 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.
Picturesque Scenic Beach has stunning views of the toothy Olympic Mountain range. Enjoy groomed trails through the forest and admire native rhododendrons in season. Stroll along the beach and past the historic Emel House, a popular wedding destination.
Join naturalist-interpreter Sandie on a walk around the park to explore native plants, fungi and slime molds.
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos (Alfie), its newest member, to the Commission.
The Commission is made up of seven citizen members appointed by the governor. Commissioners are responsible for guiding the policies that steer the agency. Other duties include approving the agency’s strategic plan, setting Parks budget priorities and approving changes to Parks-related Washington Administrative Code.
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.
Savor panoramic mountain views, expansive wildflower meadows and starry skies at this Simcoe mountain jewel. Hike through tall pines and sturdy oaks while enjoying birdsongs. 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.