Search results

1195 results found

Potlatch State Park History

Potlatch State Park is one of many of Washington’s state parks that was established in response to an appeal from local residents. In the building boom after the end of World War II, residents of the Hood Canal area felt squeezed out of access to the shoreline by rapidly spreading development.

Anderson Lake State Park

Anderson Lake State Park is a day-use park with cedar, fir and alder forests and a freshwater marsh. Explore the park via hiking, equestrian and biking trails, which slope down to a lake teeming with birds and other wildlife.

A nephew’s adventures in state parks, part 2: Fort Worden Historical State Park

By Holly Sproul (Parks Forms Manager & Web Specialist) & Nephew Evan (Age 9) 

After soaking up the sun at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, we ventured to the westside of the mountains to cool off at Fort Worden Historical State Park in Port Townsend.  

Triton Cove State Park

Triton Cove State Park is a small day use park on Hood Canal with 555 feet of shoreline and an ADA-accessible boat launch. Take to the water for a day of crabbing, fishing or enjoy a relaxed picnic on the shore.

Shine Tidelands State Park

Shine Tidelands State Park is a day-use park with a sandy shoreline along Bywater Bay. A peaceful stop while traveling through the Kitsap Peninsula or for admiring stunning views of Hood Canal, this park offers a picnic area and beachy fun.

Bottle Beach State Park

Calling all birders! Bottle Beach State Park sits on the tide flats of southern Grays Harbor, and hosts more than a million migratory shorebirds and seabirds in the springtime.

Steamboat Rock State Park

Amid a Pacific Northwest desert, Steamboat Rock State Parks offers lush green lawns, climbing rocks, water activities, camping and miles of trails for horses and hikers.

Griffiths-Priday State Park

Don't want to choose between the ocean or river? Griffiths-Priday State Park has the best of both! Whether you are picnicking, fishing or want a relaxing stroll on the sandy beach then this quiet park is a perfect day trip.

Alta Lake State Park

Alta Lake State Park is a camping and day-use park where mountainous pine forests meet the desert. The 2-mile long lake offers trout fishing, water skiing and windsurfing during the summer months.

Millersylvania State Park History

Hugging the shore of 17-foot-deep Deep Lake, Millersylvania State Park is notable for its many well-preserved park structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Rainbow Falls State Park

Rainbow Falls State Park is a 129-acre camping park on the Chehalis River. A variety of campsites and a tranquil river setting make this a popular overnight stay for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders tackling the Willapa Hills Trail.

Kopachuck State Park History

Kopachuck State Park is a good place to contemplate the many interconnections that bind the community of life to the landscape we all inhabit.

The winding saltwater passageways of southern Puget Sound, including Carr Inlet surrounding Kopachuck State Park, were molded and scoured by glacial meltwaters at the close of the Pleistocene ice age.

Birch Bay State Park

Set in a blue cove between Bellingham and Blaine, Birch Bay State Park gives you a private and secluded feel without being too far from urban life.

Reed Island State Park

Reed Island State Park is a marine day use park located on the Columbia River, east of Vancouver. Boat in for a rustic park experience, relax on the sandy beach and grassy meadows. You may catch a glimpse of the herons that call this island home. There are no services here.

Moran State Park

To the delight of outdoor enthusiasts, this park has it all. Lakes, scenic views, trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding, historic structures, forested campgrounds and a nature preserve are all at your fingertips.

Virtual State Parks Learning Opportunities

​​​​​​Explore Washington State Parks from where you are! We are committed to providing virtual learning opportunities that connect students and families to Washington State Parks.

Mystery Bay State Park

Mystery Bay State Park is a hidden escape on the west side of Marrowstone Island. Drive or boat in for a day of fun on the water and take in views of the Olympic Mountains over a sunset picnic dinner.

Sequim Bay State Park

Set in one of the driest microclimates west of the Cascade Mountains, Sequim Bay State Park dwells in the Olympic rain shadow, making it the perfect place for a day visit or off-season camping.

Visiting state parks by motorcycle

While some prefer to see the state by car, tour bus or RV, Rajesh Pillai had a different plan. Rajesh, a program manager from Bothell, Washington, set out on an adventure to see all auto-accessible Washington state parks by motorcycle.

Lake Easton State Park

Located between Seattle and Ellensburg off I-90, Lake Easton State Park 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.

State Parks hiring park aides, senior park aides

Hundreds of positions available across Washington

OLYMPIA – Feb. 14, 2022 – Washington State Parks announces its annual statewide recruitment for park aide and senior park aide positions.

The available park aide and senior park aide positions are non-permanent.

Twanoh State Park History

Twanoh State Park is a delightful place on the southern reach of Hood Canal.  Its attractive beach at the mouth of cold, clear Twanoh Creek has long attracted people.

State Parks Commission to meet in Chelan

OLYMPIA – Nov. 8, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Thursday, Nov. 17 at Campbell's Resort in Chelan.

Commission action items include the proposed transfer of Riverside State Park – Sontag Park to Nine Mile Falls School District and the proposed transfer of portions of Nisqually State Park to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

A nephew’s adventures in state parks, part 3: Maryhill and Goldendale Observatory State Parks

By Holly Sproul (Parks Forms Manager & Web Specialist) & Nephew Evan (Age 9) 

Joseph Whidbey State Park

Joseph Whidbey State Park is a day use park on the west shore of Whidbey Island with expansive views of Victoria, B.C., Lopez Island, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Take in a spectacular sunset, kick a ball around, or roam the beach with your kids.