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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Meet Mindy's GIANT (and lovable) horses! Mindy and friends will teach us how to be safe around horses and near the horse trails at Battle Ground Lake.
While you are out for a stroll in the park or just around the campground, be sure to stop by our Pop-up Exhibits to learn more about the park! Exhibits will rotate between natural resource and history topics.
For a walk on the beach, clamming or camping, Ocean City State Park is the place to go. Smell the salty air, watch the sandpipers, build a sandcastle and fly kites on the soft sand. Relax around a campfire in the forested campground to end a fun-filled beach day.
The day will begin at the Dry Falls Visitor Center for an overview of the geology of Dry Falls & the Ice Age Flood National Geologic Trail, plus a tour of the visitor center. (40 minutes) Then hike a 1.5-mile looping hike through the winter wonderland of desert sagebrush and rolling shrub-steppe south of the Dry Falls Visitor Center. Because the weather and road conditions vary, I will make the determination of the "best trail" to hike and travel on.
This unassuming park has a welcoming campground in a thicket of trees, and its forested creek was recently restored for salmon health. Local elk herds roam through the area, and pileated woodpeckers are busy with their beaks, tapping out rhythms on the trees.
OLYMPIA – December 8, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program, along with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) partners at the Snoqualmie Ranger District, are excited to announce a new winter Sno-Park and access area at exit 47 on I-90 West of the summit of Snoqualmie.
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.
Penrose Point is a richly forested 237-acre marine park with nearly 2 miles of Puget Sound shoreline, 2-1/2 miles of trails, overnight moorage, picnic sites and a shady campground, make this park an excellent destination for both relaxation and adventure! Come for a day or stay for a weekend to immerse yourself in nature, and unwind
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.
Washington State Parks is now operating the upper campus of Fort Worden Historical State Park. In the coming months, we will begin a planning process to inform the long-term plan for the upper campus. The parks campgrounds are open and remain available for reservations.
State Parks will engage with the Tribes separately to get an understanding of how they want to participate in future planning.
Biking, also known as cycling, is a great way to get outdoors and explore your state parks. It can be done on roads, bike paths or off-road trails — though, if you're a beginner, we recommend starting on paved paths. Whether you're an expert trail cyclist or a casual campground wanderer, your state parks have many opportunities to discover and explore on two wheels.
The Lake Sylvia Legacy Pavilion has panoramic views of the surrounding forest with lake access.
By Holly Sproul (Parks Forms Manager & Web Specialist) & Nephew Evan (Age 9)
For my family, campouts have typically centered around boating and fishing. This summer, my sister and I took my 9-year-old nephew Evan to state parks in different areas of Washington. Here is our just-over-a-week campout experience with Evan’s insight and tips – and some tips from the adults as well.
Saint Edward State Park hugs the shore of Lake Washington, the second largest natural lake in Washington, surpassed in area only by Lake Chelan. Tongues of the great Pleistocene glaciers that excavated the passageways of Puget Sound also dug the nearly 20 mile long basin of Lake Washington. For thousands of years, the lake received fresh water from the Sammamish River at its north end and drained through the Black River into Puget Sound at its south end.
Singing, dancing and alpine air! This concert series at Lake Wenatchee State Park features performances by great musicians and dancers amid the majestic mountain lake views.
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.
Join members of the Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia for the annual counting of the trilliums. Hike around the lake and count the trilliums to help monitor plant health in the park. Kids activities including a nature museum will be available at the Legacy Pavilion.
Clean up the park with the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park!
Join the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park for Art in the Outdoors!
Wandering on the Wilbert
What's the oldest tree you ever seen? Join Rangers Drew and Jen on this epic exploration of the old-growth forest of South Whidbey State Park. We'll meet the tall trees of the floating forest along the Wilbert Trail and see how nature is reclaiming the old campground on this family-friendly hike.
Bonus: If you have the time, we'll also check out the Earth Warrior Course on the Hobbit Trail leading to one of the best views of the Salish Sea and Olympic Mountains.
What's the oldest tree you ever seen? Join Rangers Drew and Jen on this epic exploration of the old-growth forest of South Whidbey State Park. We'll meet the tall trees of the floating forest along the Wilbert Trail and see how nature is reclaiming the old campground on this family-friendly hike.
Bonus: If you have the time, we'll also check out the Earth Warrior Course on the Hobbit Trail leading to one of the best views of the Salish Sea and Olympic Mountains.
Earn your Junior Ranger badge at Lake Sammamish State Park.
Enjoy a hike out to Cranberry Lake with Parks' staff on Jan. 1.
Hike with us through the important habitat that is Lake Sammamish State Park!
This family friendly hike walks along the Columbia Plateau Trail near Fish Lake.
Ring in the New Year with a guided snowshoe hike through beautiful Lake Wenatchee State Park.