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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Does the first part of your outdoor adventure involve going online to figure out if you have the right recreation pass? Do you still hit the trail not completely sure you’ve got the right pass displayed the right way?
Whether you’re new to the Northwest’s nature scene, or you’re a PNW pro, you’re not alone if you still scratch your head about permits.
Washington’s outdoor pass system can be confusing, but we’re here to help.
Among Lake Sylvia State Park’s peaceful trails and campsites are nearly hidden stories of ventures to wrest timber and hydroelectricity from the landscape.
Indigenous Lands
Lake Sylvia State Park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
Named for Captain John Meares’ first thwarted voyage to find the Columbia, Cape Disappointment is steeped in Northwest history.
Join Interpretive Specialist, Sarah Overby, for a guided hike.
Step back in time on a guided tour of a 1905 military hospital. Tour the first floor to learn about its history and the ongoing restoration work.
Join us for our first summer of Mini Ranger programs, inspired by our annual Family in Nature programs. As a group, explore Deception Pass State Park’s amazing wildlife and unique collection of forest and marine habitats.
Beginning in mid-April, the first 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail will temporarily close while Parks resurfaces the trail with a new layer of asphalt. The project is anticipated for completion in early September.
Join Interpretive Specialist, Sarah Overby, for a guided hike at the Lake Lenore Caves Heritage Site.
Lincoln Rock State Park is a popular recreation area with access to Lake Entiat, the reservoir created by Rocky Reach Dam.
Indigenous Lands
The park lies within the traditional territories of Sahaptian and Interior Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. For thousands of years this area has provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures.
Lewis and Clark State Park preserves precious remnants of once-common southwest Washington landscapes along a historic Indigenous travel route.
Indigenous Lands
The park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. For thousands of years this area has provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures.
From park rangers to camp hosts, here’s who can help you enjoy your state park visit
Our in-park staff are excited to welcome you to Washington’s state parks. Whether you’re picnicking for the day, camping for a week or just passing through, there are staff available to help you.
Before you head out, here’s a little bit about the who’s who of staff in our parks.
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.
Nolte State Park preserves a forest sanctuary surrounding Deep Lake, favored for swimming and picnicking on hot summer days. The lake’s attractively cool waters are due to its 76-foot depth and cold water coming into the lake from Deep Creek, with its headwaters in the 3,000-foot-high foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
The lake has no outlet, as outflow percolates through gravels left as meltwater outwash from the great Ice Age glaciers that filled the Puget Sound lowlands.
Ike Kinswa cabins are a stones throw away from Mayfield Lake and forested hiking trails.
CASTLE ROCK – Set to reopen after receiving its first major renovation since it originally opened in 1986, the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in Castle Rock will begin welcoming visitors on May 31.
2021-22 prices will ensure Sno-Parks continue to operate
OLYMPIA – Oct. 5, 2021 – When Washington Sno-Park permits go on sale Nov. 1, winter recreationists will see a fee increase for the first time since 2009.
To visit a state park you will need a one-day or annual Discover Pass most days of the year. Depending on what kind of activity you are planning, you may also need a permit, reservation or to pay a fee.
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Grayland Beach provides front row access to a sandy beach and ocean view. Summer days host a variety of ocean activities and winters can be a quiet day in your RV or yurt.
Seaquest yurts are located in a thick forest with hiking trails and is within walking distance to the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center.
Bay View State Park is perched above the waves of Padilla Bay at the western edge of the Skagit Valley. The scenic spot lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Samish Indian Nation, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Suquamish Tribe and Lummi Nation. For thousands of years the rich estuary and its extensive eelgrass beds have provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures.
Pacific Beach State Park has a long history as a place for travelers to rest as they journey along Washington’s Pacific Ocean coastline.
Indigenous Lands
The park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Quinault Indian Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation.
Ethnographers reported that the mouth of Joe Creek in today’s Pacific Beach State Park served as a “rest stop” for Indigenous people traveling along the coast between trading centers.
Triton Cove State Park is a small day use park on Hood Canal with 555 feet of shoreline and an ADA-accessible boat launch. Take to the water for a day of crabbing, fishing or enjoy a relaxed picnic on the shore.
At Olallie State Park, view waterfalls, hike, bike, rock climb, connect to the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail and more.
Illahee State Park takes its name from the Chinook jargon word for “homeland.” The park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Suquamish Tribe. Indigenous historian Vi Hilbert noted that today’s park occupies a site known as Xitca’sEb, meaning “to feel a tremor.” Geologists have mapped two main faults of the Seattle Fault Zone running north and south of the park area. The fault zone was the site of a major earthquake 1,100 years ago.
Nationwide recruitment efforts lead to internal talent
OLYMPIA – March 16, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announced today the appointment of Diana Dupuis as the agency's new director. Dupuis will be the first female director since the agency was established more than 100 years ago.