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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Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is beginning a process to update the long-term boundary for Pearrygin Lake State Park to include properties on the north shore of the lake. This change would result in all of Pearrygin Lake’s shoreline being within the long-term park boundary, allowing for future connection of a loop trail around the lake.
Roll out for a medium to advanced-level biking adventure Jan. 1 at Fort Ebey State Park.
Roll out for a medium to advanced-level biking adventure Jan. 1 at Fort Ebey State Park.
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.
Overnight mooring space may be limited during construction
OLYMPIA – May 20, 2024 – Washington State Parks is set to begin contracted mooring buoy repair work in several state parks. Work in the San Juan Islands begins June 10 and work on the eastern Olympic Peninsula and Hood Canal will start July 8.
Parks will also complete routine inspections and maintenance of 81 of its public mooring buoys. The maintenance project will service state-owned public mooring buoys to ensure they are in top condition for boaters this summer.
Join City of Issaquah Urban Forest Supervisor and Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park board member Dan Hintz to learn about the native species used in restoration efforts at Lake Sammamish State Park.
OLYMPIA – December 1, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a planning meeting in-person on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Camano Island.
Agenda items include year-end review, division highlights and 2023 Commission 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.
Step into U.S. military history at Fort Flagler Historical State Park on the northern tip of Marrowstone Island. Tour and explore a significant coastal defense fort established more than a century ago to guard the entrance to Puget Sound.
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA – June 6, 2024 – Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Rising 800 feet and spanning 600 acres, Steamboat Rock will impress the most seasoned of travelers. Carved by Ice Age floods into a dramatic, lake-dotted canyon, Steamboat Rock State Park’s landscape dates back at least 13,000 years. Known as "scabland," the area appears barren, but it is teeming with shy (and not-so-shy) wildlife, spring flowers and sagebrush.
Check out a brand new trail on a ranger-led First Day Hike at Dash Point State Park.
OLYMPIA – Dec. 13, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special commission meeting on Tues., Dec. 14. The purpose of this special meeting is for the Commission to establish the qualifications for the initial screening of applicants for the State Parks director position and to delegate authority or take other actions in the discretion of the Commission for the director recruitment and hiring process.
Washington State Parks now manages the entire trail from Beverly to the Idaho border, registration is required for this section of the trail. Registration may be valid for up to one year.
Restored bridge closes major gap in 285-mile Palouse to Cascades Trail
OLYMPIA – April 4, 2022 – Washington State Parks invites the public to join community leaders, trail enthusiasts, public lands agencies and elected officials for the grand opening of the refurbished Beverly Bridge.
A hidden gem only reached by watercraft, Hope Island Marine State Park is a special place to those who live in the area. Visitors may explore the trails, catch a glimpse of seals in the water, watch eagles soar in the sky or have a picnic under historic fruit trees.
OLYMPIA – Oct. 5, 2022 – Washington State Parks will hold a public open house to hear from the community and answer questions about the Miller Peninsula State Park Property.
The open house is scheduled for Oct. 18, 2022 from 6-7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Blynn-Bay meeting space located inside the 7 Cedars Hotel in Sequim.
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.
Programs are offered in-person and virtually
OLYMPIA – Oct. 12, 2021 – Washington State Parks offers unique learning opportunities for children and students in person and virtually throughout the year.
Named for Captain John Meares’ first thwarted voyage to find the Columbia, Cape Disappointment is steeped in Northwest history.
The Klickitat Trail follows an old railroad corridor that at one time linked the towns of Lyle and Goldendale. The trail runs along the Klickitat River to Swale Creek and through Swale Canyon. The canyons lined with oak and pine forests, and in the springtime covered in a variety of beautiful wildflowers. East of Swale Canyon visitors can see rustic farms, open fields and occasional grazing cows. In the winter, the trail is open for ungroomed snowshoeing and cross-country skiing adventures.
Accessible only by boat, Blind Island is a small, 3-acre marine park near Shaw Island. It provides few amenities but offers tranquil water views and a feeling of escape. During the high season, it's a popular stop for kayak groups. In the off-season, enjoy quiet contemplation among the apple trees planted on the island by visitors long ago.
Take a stroll around Lime Kiln Point State Park with Park Ranger McElhaney, to start off the new year. We will be hiking to the Whale Wall, the Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse, and the oldest manmade structure in WA State Parks the historic Lime Kilns. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know more about the park, its rich history, and celebrate the New Year.
It’s not a hike, campout or road trip unless your loyal pup comes with you. While embarking on a state park adventure is optional, bringing the whole family back healthy and whole is mandatory! So, we have for getting out and camping out with your canine BFF.
The park's proximity to Interstate 5 and long sandy beach make this a popular swim spot for local families, and the disc golf course can be a great play day destination on summer afternoons. On misty mornings, the park has the feel of a wetland and makes for a picturesque stroll.
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.