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Rainbow Falls State Park, a peaceful haven in an oasis of old-growth forest, was established early in the growth of the Washington State Park system. The park was envisioned to be one of the “natural beauty spots untouched by civilization and the greed of man” that Governor Roland H. Hartley and others believed would make an ideal state park.

Maryhill State Park provides recreational opportunities on a landscape that has hosted a wide diversity of human endeavors over the ages. The park is located in the eastern gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, which features some of the most dramatic scenery in Washington.

The Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is a product of geologic processes that have affected much of today’s Washington State.

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.

Tolmie State Park provides access to the shores and undersea gardens of southern Puget Sound. The winding saltwater passageways of the South Sound, including Nisqually Reach in front of the park, were molded and scoured by glacial meltwaters at the close of the Pleistocene ice age.

Kitsap Memorial State Park is a testament to the value that local communities place on public parks and shoreline access.

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.

The End of Hood Canal

Belfair State Park features a popular stretch of beach between the mouths of Big Mission Creek and Little Mission Creek at the tip of the hook of Hood Canal. Today’s Belfair State Park was covered by glacial ice during the last ice age. The finger-like waterways of South Puget Sound were excavated by highly pressurized meltwater streams that developed as the ice began to melt.