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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OLYMPIA – Oct. 05, 2021 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold special commission meeting on Wed., Oct. 6. The purpose of this October 6 special meeting is for the commission to receive and evaluate complaints brought against a public officer or employee, to determine if the commission needs to prescribe additional measures and for the executive committee to seek additional directions or delegations from the commission as needed.
Visitors will see intermittent closures on three trails this summer
ISSAQUAH – Beginning this week, visitors will see construction activity on lower Issaquah Creek at Lake Sammamish State Park.
Parks planners will discuss possible modifications to conserve critical habitats
OLYMPIA – March 14, 2022 – Washington State Parks invites the public to attend a virtual meeting to learn about plans for expansion of the Klickitat Trail State Park in Klickitat County.
Members of the public can participate in the meeting by using the link or call-in information below.
WHEN:
1:30 p.m.– 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 29
The Klickitat Trail runs 31 miles through stunning Columbia River Gorge country between Lyle and the Goldendale plateau. As it leaves the Columbia to follow the Klickitat River, the gentle trail leads cyclists, hikers, birders and, in some places, equestrians through dramatic Swale Canyon.
OLYMPIA — As a member of the Washington Clean Coast Alliance, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is proud to co-host the annual Washington Coast Cleanup on Saturday, April 19. This vital event brings together volunteers to help protect and preserve Washington’s coastline.
This year’s cleanup will take place at 10 state parks, including Cape Disappointment, Fort Flagler, Fort Townsend, Fort Worden, Grayland Beach, Mystery Bay, Ocean City, Pacific Beach, Shine Tidelands and Twin Harbors.
In 2014, the Bridle Trails Park Foundation began conversations with Washington State Parks about funding the design and construction of an environmental education building in the park. 2022 brought the formal presentation of a dedicated indoor educational program space for members of the community to experience the park regardless of weather or physical abilities, as well as an indoor park office where the Park Ranger can connect with visitors.
A dizzying mile-long switchback trail takes you up 848-foot Beacon Rock, but that’s not the only way to a tip-top experience. Rock climbing and hiking to waterfalls are the rage at this park, where there are plenty of vantage points for eagle-eye views. Cyclists and horseback riders also will find trails to the vistas from Hamilton Mountain saddle, and boaters can delight in the majesty of Beacon Rock from the Columbia River.
Olympia – May 14, 2024 – The Washington State Parks (Parks) Folk and Traditional Arts Program (FTAP) has announced their summer lineup of concerts and festivals, including a new concert series in Central Washington and a new cultural festival at Lake Sammamish.
OLYMPIA – May 3, 2022 – On May 1, Washington State Parks began managing more than 15 recreation sites owned by Avista Utilities. The properties sit around the Spokane River, Nine Mile Dam, Lake Spokane and Long Lake Dam.
According to a new five-year agreement, State Parks will operate the Avista sites as part of Riverside State Park. The land parcels, which total 2,000 acres, include six trailheads, two water access sites, two overlooks,10 boat-in campsites and one picnic area on Lake Spokane.
The trailheads are:
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.
This entire gorge is famous for its wind and water sports, and Doug's Beach is a coveted spot. The winds can be fierce, whipping the river into a white-capped frenzy. Kite boarding and windsurfing success at this site comes with bragging rights and respect; it is rated as expert and is only recommended for those who are properly trained, skilled and equipped.
OLYMPIA — Significant septic failures led to the closure of the cabins and other buildings in the beach area of Cama Beach State Park in February 2024.
One of the foremost cultural and business ambassadors between the Northwest United States and Japan in the mid-1800s, MacDonald helped shaped the policies that opened relations between the two countries.
Boaters should check project schedule before planning overnight trips
OLYMPIA – April 29, 2022 – Washington State Parks will begin contracted mooring buoy repair work in the San Juan Islands beginning Monday, May 2 and on the eastern Olympic Peninsula beginning Wednesday, June 1. The agency will repair 82 buoys that are currently unsatisfactory and unusable. The months-long maintenance project will service salvageable state-owned, public mooring buoys to ensure they are in top condition for boaters.
As you enter Sun Lakes-Dry Falls, you may feel like you’re on another planet. The park is surrounded by one of Washington’s most striking and historically significant landscapes.
“May These Gates Never Be Closed”
The inscription inside the east wall of the Peace Arch monument has a simple message: the highest goal between great nations should be perfect peace. This 67-foot-tall structure of concrete on a steel frame was financed and constructed under the direction of lawyer, financier, road builder and humanitarian Sam Hill.
Join Interpretive Specialist, Sarah Overby, for a short hike in Northrup Canyon.
OLYMPIA — On July 1, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will transition to the statewide small works roster hosted by the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC).
Forest thinning will begin this fall
OLYMPIA – Oct. 12, 2022 – Washington State Parks will hold a virtual open house on an upcoming forest health project at Squilchuck State Park. The purpose of this meeting is to share updates about the project and answer questions.
The meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18 via Microsoft Teams. Attendees do not need to download Teams to join; they can use a web browser on a computer or mobile phone.
Thursday, May 29th: 9AM-2PM - Riverside State Park - Deep Creek Interpretive Trail - Trail Brushing & Tread Maintenance
Join us to improve the Deep Creek Interpretive Trail near Nine Mile Falls, WA. We will meet at Carlson Trailhead and hike down the Centennial Trail to where the Deep Ck. Interpretive Trail crosses the Centennial (about 1/2 mile from Carlson TH). From here, we will leapfrog one another and hike the entire interpretive loop (about 1.5 mi.) with handsaws, loppers, and brushcutters to remove encroaching vegetation from the trail. The trail is steep in sections with loose rock.
Join us to improve the Deep Creek Interpretive Trail near Nine Mile Falls, WA. We will meet at Carlson Trailhead and hike down the Centennial Trail to where the Deep Ck. Interpretive Trail crosses the Centennial (about 1/2 mile from Carlson TH). From here, we will leapfrog one another and hike the entire interpretive loop (about 1.5 mi.) with handsaws, loppers, and brushcutters to remove encroaching vegetation from the trail. The trail is steep in sections with loose rock.
Olympia — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes the community to attend an open house on Feb. 27 to discuss ongoing planning for Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
Ring in the holidays at the Admiralty Head Lighthouse for our annual Light Up Your Holiday event. Enjoy kid's activities and get your picture with Santa.
Saturday, May 31st: 9AM-2PM - Riverside State Park - Deep Creek Interpretive Trail - Trail Brushing & Tread Maintenance
Join us to improve the Deep Creek Interpretive Trail near Nine Mile Falls, WA. We will meet at Carlson Trailhead and hike down the Centennial Trail to where the Deep Ck. Interpretive Trail crosses the Centennial (about 1/2 mile from Carlson TH). From here, we will leapfrog one another and hike the entire interpretive loop (about 1.5 mi.) with tread tools to smooth uneven tread and install drainage. We will also carry loppers and handsaws to brush any encroaching vegetation. The trail is steep in sections with loose rock.
Join us to improve the Deep Creek Interpretive Trail near Nine Mile Falls, WA. We will meet at Carlson Trailhead and hike down the Centennial Trail to where the Deep Ck. Interpretive Trail crosses the Centennial (about 1/2 mile from Carlson TH). From here, we will leapfrog one another and hike the entire interpretive loop (about 1.5 mi.) with tread tools to smooth uneven tread and install drainage. We will also carry loppers and handsaws to brush any encroaching vegetation. The trail is steep in sections with loose rock.
Join us as we celebrate the completion of the capital project to improve the Swale Canyon section of the Klickitat Trail.