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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Walk in an old-growth forest filled with lush undergrowth and western views of Admiralty Inlet. Stop in to stretch your legs, hike and picnic or gather with family and friends at the amphitheater surrounded by majestic trees.
A short drive from Bremerton, Scenic Beach State Park is the quintessential out-in-the-country neighborhood park. Its beaches and shaded picnic areas are a mecca for locals, while the park is also a popular wedding site and camping park for out-of-towners.
Shoppers can conveniently explore merchandise on the new site
OLYMPIA – Nov. 29, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission launched a new online store that provides customers with an improved experience when shopping for popular products.
The store features fan-favorite items including icon prints of each state park, Winter Recreation scarves, 2022 Parks calendars, guidebooks, Discover Passes and e-gift cards.
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.
Peshastin Pinnacles is a 34-acre day use park in the Wenatchee River Valley. Rock climbers come here to tackle the sandstone slabs while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, hills and orchards. Spectators and hikers will enjoy a picturesque setting ideal for wildlife viewing or nature photography.
Located in Padilla Bay, Saddlebag Island is a boat-in only park offering a warm pebble beach, green forest and grassy meadows with spring wildflowers.
Parks staff offer reminders, tips and rules for fireworks and use of state parks
OLYMPIA – June 22, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission encourages safe and responsible gatherings in state parks during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
Parks urges visitors to:
OLYMPIA – March 1, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will host their regularly scheduled work session virtually on March 8.
The public may listen to or watch the meeting through the resources listed below. This is a work session between staff and the Commission. The public is invited to attend, but no public comment will be taken. No decisions will be made by the Commission at the work session.
Yakima Sportsman State Park is, literally, an oasis in the desert. Located near the urban amenities of Yakima in arid eastern Washington, this park attracts local picnickers, out-of-town visitors and road-trippers passing through.
We decided it was time to evolve our brand strategy to reflect our priorities.
Columbia Hills Historical State Park is wide open acres of stunning shrub-steppe beauty composed of 4 different sites: Horsethief Lake, Horsethief Butte, Crawford Oaks Trailhead and Dalles Mountain Ranch Trailhead. High-desert panoramas and river shoreline provide plentiful climbing, biking and horseback riding opportunities. Boat, windsurf or dive into history with the regional geological features or a tour of the Native American petroglyphs located at the park.
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.
OLYMPIA – Feb. 22, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission work session virtually on March 1.
Commission work session items include a financial update covering Parks' 2021-23 biennium operating and capital budget expenditures and Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account (PRSA) revenue; An update on the 2023 legislative session; and an update on the work to develop a new state park at Nisqually State Park in partnership with the Nisqually Indian Tribe.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission work session virtually on Aug. 23.
Explore the flora and fauna of Nolte State Park on a ranger-led First Day Hike.
Seasonal positions will serve parks across Washington.
OLYMPIA – Washington State Parks is recruiting seasonal park aides to work in its beautiful outdoor places this spring, summer and fall.
Parks is looking for more than 300 park aides and senior park aides to work from April through September in such diverse environments as old-growth forests, channeled scabland and shrub steppe, on Pacific Ocean beaches, in the high desert and around Puget Sound and its islands.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) has identified 35 public recreational mooring buoys across western Washington that are at risk of breaking in the future.
Starting this week, Parks will close these buoys, which the agency plans to replace. Even though individual buoys will close, the impacted parks will still have other mooring buoys available for use.
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.
Are you the type to start a road trip at 4 a.m., crossing fingers for a fabulous sunrise? Time your departure for an early stop at Triton Cove State Park on your drive up or down Hood Canal.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular hybrid commission meeting on Thurs., July 13, 2023, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The public is welcome to attend in-person or online.
Agenda items include:
Whether you're a winter sports enthusiast or a summer hiker or biker, you're sure to enjoy all the beauty Puffer Butte Retreat Center has to offer. Nestled amongst the pine trees of the Blue Mountains in southeast Washington, this facility can accommodate up to 76 guests in six cabins and a beautiful lodge.
We're honored to host the Association of Western State Parks Conference (AWSPC) in Vancouver, Washington along the Columbia River Gorge.
Set on a glorious stretch of the Green River east of Auburn, this suburban jewel known for its radio-controlled aircraft flying activities offers wooded hiking and horse trails, expansive fields for play and places to view the fall salmon runs.
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.
SPOKANE – After several months of conversation with the community, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission developed its preliminary land use plan for the potential boundary expansion of Riverside State Park.