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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The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife.
Whether you are a seasoned birder of brand new to the scene, come join us for some FUN and times outdoors.
Portland-based artist Nina Vichayapai spent five weeks pulling inspiration from the sites, sounds and people of Deception Pass as State Parks' first-ever artist in residence.
Beach with a view
Scenic Beach State Park is rooted in the era of automobile tourist camps that sprung up around Washington’s inland waterways in the 1920s as car ownership became widespread. Its location on the eastern shore of Hood Canal, with views across the water to the soaring peaks of the Olympic Mountains is highlighted in the spring and early summer with blooming native rhododendrons.
SPOKANE – This spring, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will complete a 340-acre forest health treatment in the area immediately north of Seven Mile Road in Riverside State Park.
This project will help reduce wildfire risk within the park and promote a healthy and resilient forest by reducing the amount of wildfire fuels. It will also remove unhealthy trees from the ecosystem.
An Island In the Salish Sea
Blake Island Marine State Park, located in the heart of Puget Sound, has long been a desired getaway spot, now surrounded by the homes of millions of people.
OLYMPIA – Oct. 6, 2021 – Today the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission received the voluntary resignation of Director Pete Mayer. Mayer's decision to resign is based on the best interest of his family and he steps down as director to pursue other opportunities closer to his new home. The commission appreciates Mayer's service to Parks and the citizens of Washington state. Mayer was initially appointed as director in March 2021.
Lime Kiln Point State Park provides an opportunity for park visitors to view orca whales from shore in an area with connections to the cultural stories of the picturesque San Juan Islands.
Suspect Terranes
The bedrock landscape of the San Juan Islands is made of assemblages of rocks called terranes that have been thrust over one another like a stack of cards by tectonic forces.
A Spit of Land
The formation of a sand spit extending outward from a headland requires three things:
Washingtonians generally experience shock each November as the weather turns cold and wet. But, being hardy souls, we often shift quickly to embrace winter and its opportunities for snow play. Then we set out on adventures like:
OLYMPIA – July 6, 2022 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular in-person commission meeting Thursday, July 14 at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge in Anacortes.
Commission action items include 2023-25 state grant applications and approval of the 2023-25 operating and capital budgets.
In addition, the commission will hear updates and reports from agency staff and MS2000.
On the surface, Fort Townsend is a classic state with beach access along Port Townsend Bay. But a closer look reveals a hidden history. Built in 1856, Fort Townsend operated as a U.S. Army site on and off until a fire destroyed its barracks in 1895. The small camping park south of Port Townsend is unique among Washington's coastal forts because it has all but returned to nature.
Stop by Olmstead Place Historical State Park on Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. to visit the cabin and Smith house.
Join naturalist-interpreter Sandie on a walk around the park to explore native plants, fungi and slime molds.
Battle Ground Lake State Park is a forested camping park in the Cascade Mountain foothills; its proximity to Vancouver and Portland and its cool green lake make it a great escape from the bustle of city and suburbs.
Parks Inland Northwest and Blue Mountain Area Community Engagement Coordinator, Rex Schultz retired after a long, happy career in professional golf. Then he took a job as a park aide in eastern Washington. Now he has a new career and is having the time of his life. Read his story and consider becoming a park aide yourself!
OLYMPIA – June 22, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife.
Break out the boat, paddleboard or kayak — Blake Island offers classic island recreation while still being close to Seattle.
Set in the hills above the Columbia River, Goldendale Observatory State Park houses one of the nation’s largest public telescopes. The newly-renovated facility is known for informative science programs and vivid starry skies.
Are you the type to start a road trip at 4 a.m., crossing fingers for a fabulous sunrise? Time your departure for an early stop at Triton Cove State Park on your drive up or down Hood Canal.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular hybrid commission meeting on Thurs., July 13, 2023, at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. The public is welcome to attend in-person or online.
Agenda items include:
Picture a green fairy forest of moss-covered rocks and cedar trees.
Matia island archipelago for its old-growth trees, rainforest vibe and dramatic cove with fantasy forest canopy and swirling sandstone formations. Picturing a green fairy forest covered with moss and cedar trees.
Located in the San Juan Islands, Matia Island Marine State Park is a secluded little island accessible only by boat.
Matia island archipelago for its old-growth trees, rainforest vibe and dramatic cove with fantasy forest canopy and swirling sandstone formations. Picturing a green fairy forest covered with moss and cedar trees.
Located in the San Juan Islands, Matia Island Marine State Park is a secluded little island accessible only by boat.
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos (Alfie), its newest member, to the Commission.
The Commission is made up of seven citizen members appointed by the governor. Commissioners are responsible for guiding the policies that steer the agency. Other duties include approving the agency’s strategic plan, setting Parks budget priorities and approving changes to Parks-related Washington Administrative Code.
Alta Lake State Park is a land of fire and water. Tucked into the hills between Winthrop and Lake Chelan, Alta Lake has long been a hub for anglers, water sports enthusiasts and families that love to camp.
An Underground Wonderland
Crawford State Park Heritage Site preserves Gardner Cave, one of the largest limestone caverns in Washington. The cave is adorned with fantastic and delicate natural decorations that have formed over thousands of years.