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.
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Bridgeport State Park is a 622-acre camping park with 7,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on Rufus Woods Lake. Tucked away behind Chief Joseph Dam in Bridgeport, this gem of a park is a picnic lover's dream with 18 acres of lawn and abundant shade admidst a desert terrain.
A high desert adventure awaits you at this sprawling camping park located between Soap Lake and Coulee City. Experience a dramatic landscape of deep gorges and lakes where you can get out on the water, hike and play nine-hole or mini golf.
Conconully State Park is a favorite camping and fishing place in the arid transition zone of north central Washington. The park is set between the town of Conconully, WA and the north shoreline of the Conconully Reservoir, which stores water from Salmon Creek for flood control and irrigation purposes.
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.
Under the supervision of a Park Ranger, Park Aides perform a variety of tasks at a State Park, beach or historical area. A typical workday may include anything from registering campers and collecting camp fees, to cleaning facilities, mowing lawns or explaining park rules. The specific duties will have some variation by park location.
Whether you reach it by land or sea, Illahee State Park is an amazing place to be. Camp year-round and enjoy the verdant hiking trails, fishing and shellfishing or a paddle around the bay. Military enthusiasts can take in Illahee’s memorial featuring two large naval guns donated from the U.S.S. West Virginia.
Offering forested campgrounds, grassy fields and views of the Skagit River, Rasar State Park is a great retreat for hikers and families. This 180-acre camping park has 4,000 feet of freshwater shoreline and opportunities to play at the parks playground, wildlife observation, fishing and interpretive opportunities. There are also pet-friendly cabins are available to rent.
Squilchuck State Park is tucked deep into the mountains near Wenatchee and sits at 3,200 feet. Reserve the group camp and bring your mountain bikes for a fun weekend of rugged rides. In the winter, come for the day to enjoy snow sports. The Squilchuck Lodge is available to host your rustic wedding and other group events.
Saltwater State Park provides access to the shores and undersea gardens of Puget Sound in the midst of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The woodsy ravine behind the beach can be explored on miles of trails, and visitors enjoy camp life just minutes from the homes of millions of people.
Trees are ever-present above us when visiting or camping in the forest. Yet, too often, we are unaware of the risks associated with trees. Trees and branches can fall at any time and at any location for lots of reasons, including weather, age, fire, damage and disease.
Set on the seaward side of Chuckanut Mountain near Bellingham, Larrabee State Park is known for its postcard views of Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands. Come enjoy this 2,748-acre camping park and explore 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline. It's no wonder that this iconic outdoor locale was established as Washington's first state park.
Dash Point State Park provides access to the shores and undersea gardens of Puget Sound in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The woodsy ravine behind the park’s beach can be explored on miles of trails, and visitors enjoy camp life just minutes from the homes of millions of people.
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.
Our favorite fall road trip through the North and Central Cascades is doable clockwise or counterclockwise, starting from most points on the itinerary. You could bring your RV or camp out, or you could book cozy cabins at each state park on the loop.
Once a Yakama Nation camping area, the rich, fertile region sparked discord between the tribes and Euro-American settlers, prompting the U.S. Army to construct a fort in 1856. Fort Simcoe's military history was short-lived when in 1859 the fort was closed and turned over to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is one of the few remaining pre-Civil War forts in the west.
Washington State Parks has started a planning process for Steptoe Butte State Park and Steptoe Battlefield State Park Heritage Sites. CAMP is a multi-staged, public participation-based planning process for individual parks that culminates with adoption of park land classifications, a long-term park boundary, and a park management plan. The combination of these deliverables constitutes a land use plan.
Beach with a view
Scenic Beach State Park is rooted in the era of automobile tourist camps that sprung up around Washington’s inland waterways in the 1920s as car ownership became widespread. Its location on the eastern shore of Hood Canal, with views across the water to the soaring peaks of the Olympic Mountains is highlighted in the spring and early summer with blooming native rhododendrons.
On the surface, Fort Townsend is a classic state with beach access along Port Townsend Bay. But a closer look reveals a hidden history. Built in 1856, Fort Townsend operated as a U.S. Army site on and off until a fire destroyed its barracks in 1895. The small camping park south of Port Townsend is unique among Washington's coastal forts because it has all but returned to nature.
This social camping park pulses with life in the summer. Generations of families return to the blue lake every year; they even try to book the same campsite they've used since the 1960s and '70s. But, while they'll jockey online for their favorite spot, veteran Chelan-goers happily share this gem with first-timers, and many lifelong friendships begin there.
State parks have a wide variety of natural native and planted non-native trees and forests, which makes them at risk for almost every worrisome invasive pest. Parks are of particular concern because they have visitors from all over the state and country who often bring their own camping supplies for their stay. This includes the main culprit for invasive pest transfer: firewood.
Seaquest is a 475-acre, year-round camping park set among lush pines in the shadow of the storied Mount. St. Helen's volcano. Seaquest Park boasts forested campgrounds, great hiking trails and stunning mountain panoramas. Next door to the campground is Silver Lake. The park is connected to the popular Mount St. Helen's Interpretive Center, another worthwhile destination, and Silver Lake by a pedestrian tunnel which leads you to a boardwalk trail over the wetland where ducks and other wildlife thrive.
With so many lakes, rivers, bays, inlets and ocean shores, it’s no wonder boating, paddling, angling and beach camping are popular in Washington, especially when the weather gets warm.
Washington State Parks manages public boat ramps, docks, launches and mooring buoys, and each has its own pass or permit requirements.
Here is your handy guide to help you determine which passes you may need for your favorite water activity:
OLYMPIA — Washington State Parks needs the help of its visitors to stop the spread of invasive pests that can cause significant damage to our forests.
State parks have a wide variety of natural native and planted non-native trees and forests, which puts them at risk for almost every worrisome invasive pest. Parks are of particular concern because they welcome visitors from all over the state and country who often bring their own camping supplies for their stay. This includes the main culprit for invasive pest transfer: firewood.