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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Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is beginning a process to update the long-term boundary for Pearrygin Lake State Park to include properties on the north shore of the lake. This change would result in all of Pearrygin Lake’s shoreline being within the long-term park boundary, allowing for future connection of a loop trail around the lake.
Curlew Lake State Park is perched in a high valley in northeastern Washington that owes its landform features to Ice Age glaciers. The lake, six miles long, half a mile wide, and reaching a depth of 130 feet, is centered in the valley of Curlew Creek. The creek drains to the Kettle River, which wanders back and forth across the US/Canada border to its confluence with the Columbia River near Kettle Falls.
OLYMPIA – Nov. 3, 2021 – Pass Lake, a popular destination in Deception Pass State Park, has reopened for winter fishing and recreation.
The lake had closed in August, 2021 when high concentrations of toxic algae were discovered. Recent tests show the waters are back at levels deemed safe for recreation by Washington's Department of Health.
Toxic algae blooms typically start in late summer and are usually caused by excessive nutrients in warm, stagnant waters.
OLYMPIA — Lake Sylvia State Park in Montesano has reopened for camping and day-use after undergoing construction and improvements.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Outdoors for All Foundation announce the second season of Action Trackchair availability at the Adaptive Cycling Center (ACC) starting April 17 at Lake Sammamish State Park.
The North Lot features approximately 6.5 miles of non-motorized trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
The South Lot features a 150' sled hill and approximately 8.5 miles of non-motorized trails for snowshoeing, cross country skiing. These trails connect with the Nason Ridge Sno-Park.
Lake Sammamish State Park is getting a much-needed renovation at Sunset Beach. This heavily used day-use area will have improved ADA access trails, an upgraded event space, new picnic shelters, and small covered shelters near the playground for caregivers to observe the play area.
Park Lake Trail
Join us for some fun and time outdoors on National Take a Walk in the Park Day!
MONTESANO – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will lower the water level of Lake Sylvia by approximately five feet on June 23 to relieve pressure on the aging Lake Sylvia dam. The lowering process could take up to a week to complete.
The Lake Sylvia dam, which was built around 1918, is showing signs of age and requires maintenance work. Lowering the level of the lake will alleviate stress on the dam, ensure visitor safety and allow State Parks and its partners to continuing monitoring the structure while preparing for next steps.
1.5 Lake Trail – Open to all ages
Meet at the Legacy Pavilion at 1pm. The hike will begin there and will go around the lake, 1.5 miles. The trail can be slippery and muddy, so rain/mud boots are heavily recommended.
Forest Bathing Stroll
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice of immersing in nature for health and wellness benefits. The hike will begin at the Legacy Pavilion. The walk is a gentle easy stroll through the park and group camp.
.5 Mile Kids Hike
Our kids hike begins at the legacy pavilion. The group will be led by staff over the bridge and up through group camp and back toward the dam and back to the legacy pavilion. Along the way plant species and little critters will be discussed.
Washington State Parks, in partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, will create improved in-stream habitat along the lower 6,000 feet of Issaquah Creek that flows through Lake Sammamish State Park. The result will be an environment that is more hospitable to Chinook and other salmon species, where they can migrate, spawn and survive.
Formed by Glacial Meltwaters
Pearrygin Lake owes its existence to a quirk in the timing of melting glaciers. At the close of the Pleistocene ice age around 13,000 years ago, the huge Methow Valley glacier responsible for deepening the U-shaped Methow Valley persisted later than the tongues of ice that had flowed into the Chewack River Valley from a giant ice cap centered in today’s British Columbia.
OLYMPIA – Lake Sylvia State Park will close June 10 through Sept. 30 for an improvement project at the park’s entrance.
The $2.9 million Capital project will replace a culvert beneath the entrance road with a bridge and a new road. The new bridge will provide safer and more sustainable infrastructure to the park’s entrance, particularly in heavy rain events.