The Parks headquarters Information Center is moving from its current location in Tumwater to the Department of Ecology building at 300 Desmond Drive SE in Lacey. Our customer service team is located at the front desk, just inside the main entrance.
Search results
1188 results found
The 130-mile Columbia Plateau State Park Trail weaves together a diverse parade of landscapes filled with stories of land and people along the route of the abandoned Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway. The trail stretches through a swath of today’s eastern Washington, from ponderosa pine forests near Spokane across the volcanic “scablands” and into the deep canyon of the Snake River.
James Island Marine State Park preserves an entire island on the western side of Rosario Strait. Its two forested hills rise more than 200 feet above a low isthmus. Rock outcrops on its rugged shore reveal that the bedrock of the island was formed deep on the ocean floor and uplifted above the water’s surface by the forces of plate tectonics.
“The wife of Shabono our interpretr we find reconsiles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions… a woman with a party of men is a token of peace.” --William Clark, on the Snake River, October 13, 1805
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 – Nov. 23, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is set to begin construction on the Keystone Boat Launch at Fort Casey State Park.
Learn about snakes in Washington State Parks.
The 3,876-acre, 130-mile Columbia Plateau State Park Trail is one of the state's hidden riches; explorers who find it are rewarded with big eastern Washington skies, rolling landscapes and unforgettable journeys.
Did you or your love pop the question recently? Congratulations! Let the planning fun begin.
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.
Come on out to Sacajawea Historical State Park to learn about some “Nansense” (nature nonsense with Ranger Nan)! Each week has a different topic, but we will always begin with storytime with Ranger Nan, followed by an activity and/or craft! This program is recommended for kids aged 4-8, but all are welcome! Check out our program flyer below for more information about the topics each week!
Enjoy a 2-hour guided snowshoe hike.
Turn everyday trash into art! The possibilities are endless.
Ring in the New year with a hike around Lincoln Rock State Park and the Rocky Reach Trail with park staff as we look for and discuss the wildlife of our park and area, followed up with a campfire, food, refreshments, and Junior Ranger activities for the kids.
Skagit Island Marine State Park is a delightfully pristine small island located in Skagit County near Deception Pass.
Rock From Spreading Tectonic Plates
The bedrock that makes up Skagit Island is part of a larger assemblage of rocks that outcrop on nearby islands and collectively make up an ophiolite sequence, a distinctive formation of rocks formed where the sea floor has spread apart at a tectonic plate boundary.
Stuart Island Marine State Park is a favorite boating destination with an interesting convergence of personal histories.
Sediments and Folds
The rocks that make up Stuart Island are made of siltstone and sandstone that formed from sediments deposited by river deltas and massive underwater landslides on the sea floor about 75 million years ago, at a location hundreds of miles south of today’s Stuart Island. Geologists call this formation the Nanaimo Group.
Clark Island Marine State Park preserves an entire long, narrow island along the northern edge of the San Juan Archipelago.
A Rocky Island
The San Juan Islands are distinct from most of Puget Sound in that they feature shorelines with exposures of hard bedrock, rather than the bluffs of clay, sand and gravel left by Ice Age glaciers that are predominant on most of Washington’s Salish Sea, the state’s inland saltwater passages.
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.
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.
Willie Keil’s Grave is located in a small, private cemetery just off State Highway 6, about 5 miles east of Raymond. Stop at the State Parks highway pullout to view the gravesite, pay your respects, and read about the so-called "Pickled Pioneer."
The hike will be led by a park ranger and will follow Twanoh Creek before climbing up to a forested ridgetop. It then follows a service road along the ridge before descending back to end along the creek.
Named for Captain John Meares’ first thwarted voyage to find the Columbia, Cape Disappointment is steeped in Northwest history.
The northwestern-most San Juan Island is sure to inspire with beautiful sunsets that glow orange and clear waters. Come prepared to stay overnight at the primitive campground or sleep on your boat. Once you arrive at this water-access-only gem, you won't want to leave.
OLYMPIA – Following a public process, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission voted on Thursday to keep the cabins at Cama Beach Historical State Park permanently closed where they currently sit.
Check out a brand new trail on a ranger-led First Day Hike at Dash Point State Park.