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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
McMicken Island is so small, you could easily miss it. But boaters who love Puget Sound would not want to miss it. This small state park, in the fold of Harstine Island, is only reachable by boat. Low tide allows you to walk across a tombolo to and from Harstine Island for a few hours each day.
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.
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.
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.
Several parks will host events during national Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend.
Park planners will discuss impacts of renovation, expansion on roads and traffic
OLYMPIA – Jan. 3, 2022 – Washington State Parks invites the public to attend a virtual public meeting to learn about plans for the expansion of Kopachuck State Park, including potential impacts on traffic and county roads.
WHEN:
6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11
WHERE:
https://bit.ly/3yyIZ5T.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission work session virtually on Aug. 21.
Commission work session items include a report about an opportunity for the agency to lease Beebe Bridge Park from the Chelan County Public Utility District, a revenue update covering the 2023-25 biennium, and an update from Parks Director Diana Dupuis about the agency’s progress on the Commission’s 2024 priorities.
The 40-mile, 526-acre Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail winds through eastern Washington from Nine Mile Recreation Area on Lake Spokane to the Idaho border.
OLYMPIA — As a proud member of the Washington Clean Coast Alliance, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) will co-host the annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 21.
This year’s event will take place at six state parks: Cape Disappointment, Fort Worden, Grayland Beach, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and Twin Harbors.
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Scott Merriman of Thurston County as the newest member of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Located between Seattle and Ellensburg off I-90, Lake Easton is a magnet for urbanites who have limited time for escapes. The park is also far enough east to (sometimes) see sun when Seattle is shrouded in gray.
Planners will discuss facility improvements at Blake Island Marine State Park
OLYMPIA – April 20, 2022 – Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting on Bainbridge Island to learn more about planned facility improvements at neighboring Blake Island Marine State Park.
Jackson House State Park Heritage Site is a 1.4-acre day-use park in Chehalis on the Jackson Highway. The park was the setting of a homestead cabin built in 1850 by John R. Jackson, one of the first Euro-Americans to settle north of the Columbia River and an important figure in early Washington territorial history.
An oasis that many locals have yet to discover, Helen McCabe is a small wayside park at the northern entrance to the Yakima Canyon Scenic Byway, near the intersection of Interstates 90 and 82 in central Washington State.