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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.

Cape Disappointment camping — including loops A, B, C and D, Waikiki Beach and the North Jetty are scheduled to close mid-September 2025 through spring 2026 while we complete renovations and repairs to improve the park. The boat launch will also experience intermittent closures. Cape Disappointment is one of the most visited state parks in Washington. This project focuses on improving the park’s infrastructure through renovations to its entrance, roads and trails.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

qatáy/PORT TOWNSEND — The traditional lands of the S'Klallam/Klallam, known as qatáy, on the present-day beaches of Fort Worden Historical State Park, will welcome traditional canoe families on July 29.  

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.

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 — 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.

Join Interpretive Specialist Emily on a slow, contemplative stroll on the forest trails of Lime Kiln Point State Park. After enjoying the views over Haro Strait and breathing in the sea air, we will venture up into the quieter parts of the Park to reconnect with nature and ourselves as we ring in 2026. We will end our hike with a cup of hot tea, featuring flavors inspired by the forest.

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.

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. 

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.

Looking for new day-trip experiences or traveling across the state? In the heart of Washington (Kittitas County specifically), you will find three of our parks – perfect for those wanting to check off a few on their must-visit list or newbie hikers looking to hit an easy-rated trail.
Join staff in fun, family friendly explorations of Deception Pass State Park’s amazing wildlife and unique collection of forest and marine habitats. Programs last 30 minutes and are designed for ages 4 to 12, though all are welcome. Children attending Junior Ranger Programs must be accompanied by an adult.