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Ring in the New Year with fresh air, sweeping views, and the magic of winter birdwatching! Join Washington State Parks staff and volunteers for a guided First Day Hike at Bottle Beach State Park.

This easy, family-friendly hike follows a flat, 1and a half-mile round-trip trail and beach through coastal wetlands to a wildlife viewing platform overlooking Grays Harbor. Along the way, we’ll share the unique natural and cultural history of Bottle Beach.

Participants can expect to see a variety of wintering waterfowl and maybe even some early shorebirds. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged!
Camp Delany Retreat Center is a unique facility located in Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park, part of the Grand Coulee in the Columbia Basin. This desert oasis provides groups with warm, sunny days and clear, crisp stargazing.
Pitch In to improve the Klickitat Trail! Join State Parks and Klickitat Trail Conservancy in trimming vegetation while getting to know your neighbors and fellow trail fans on two separate dates.
Saturdays 10/11 and 10/25
Builders Exchange of Washington (BXWA) has been officially designated by State Parks as the primary source for bid packages pertaining to most public work (construction) projects. Learn about the BXWA and view current projects and public works open for bid.
Youth Art Classes for ages 6-12 hosted at Cama Beach Historical State Park on Saturday, September 20 and 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. Explore nature through various art mediums!
Washington state parks welcomes many types of volunteer groups. Volunteer groups consist of three or more persons that volunteer on either short or long-term projects. or events. Volunteer groups can consist of formal groups such as scouts, church groups Friends Groups and recreational organizations to local businesses that just want to come out and support their local park.
Join us to enjoy the traditional West African rhythms and dance songs played by ShiDaa and learn basic Ghanaian dance moves with Eric Pappoe in the American Roots Concert Series at Deception Pass State Park.

State parks are home to birds, fish, reptiles and mammals. But getting too close or feeding wild critters is dangerous for you and for them. Never fear! We're here with our trusty tips to help avoid potential conflicts in case you come across wildlife in our parks.

Alicia started as a volunteer at Deception Pass State Park with the Maintenance Crew. Not long after that, she became a park aide. Then, she found that she really loved intense physical labor, spacial problem solving, and operating more behind the scenes so, she pivoted and took on the role of Maintenance Mechanic.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Winter Recreation Program will be hosting Advisory Committee meetings in the coming weeks for both the Snowmobile Advisory Committee and the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee (WRAC).

Olyvia Buday started out as a college student volunteer at Penrose Point State Park. Now she's the South Sound Area Manager. Check out this story of her unexpected career path.
The Cornet Bay Retreat Center is located within the iconic Deception Pass State Park. Offering plenty of space for large meetings and group activities, you will be surrounded by old growth trees, wildlife and spectacular views of Mount Baker and Cornet Bay.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, but here at Washington State Parks, we appreciate our volunteers all year long!

In 2024, volunteers came out 5,000 strong, from around the country, to help in our parks. They contributed over 176,000 hours of service. They did trail work, habitat restoration, park hosting, interpretive program assistance, fundraising and donating money, educating staff and much more.

Cape Disappointment camping — including loops A, B, C and D, Waikiki Beach and the North Jetty are scheduled to close mid-September 2025 through spring 2026 while we complete renovations and repairs to improve the park. The boat launch will also experience intermittent closures. Cape Disappointment is one of the most visited state parks in Washington. This project focuses on improving the park’s infrastructure through renovations to its entrance, roads and trails.

Many of your state parks serve as a regular haven for migratory and year-round bird populations. Cold, clear days on the Olympic Peninsula draw all manner of fowl who fish, float and flit by the water.

In March 2024, Parks worked in collaboration with the Ecostudies Institute and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a prescribed burn to improve habitat conditions at Leadbetter Point State Park for western snowy plover and streaked-horned lark, two endangered species, as well as to restore a more native plant-dominated vegetation community. 

COUPEVILLE – The beach access road at Fort Ebey State Park will close June 23-25 for repaving.

The road work will help restore sections of the park’s day-use road that have eroded.  This work is the first phase in a larger project to repave the roads at Fort Ebey.

Recreation and beach access still available

One of our favorite ways to recreate in our parks is to go camping. While it can be a broad term, camping essentially means you’re sleeping outdoors in some type of shelter, like a tent or a camper or RV.

Most state parks have overnight camping accommodations. These range from basic campsites to full hook-up sites and roofed structures like yurts and platform tents.

OLYMPIA – April 26, 2023 – Sun Lakes – Dry Falls State Park has long been known as a geological icon and must-see destination for Washingtonians. Now, its significant legacy is being recognized on an international scale.

qatáy/PORT TOWNSEND — The traditional lands of the S'Klallam/Klallam, known as qatáy, on the present-day beaches of Fort Worden Historical State Park, will welcome traditional canoe families on July 29.  

Even during the dark days of winter, the world is your family-friendly playground at our state parks and Sno-Parks. But cold weather adventures do add a few layers complexity, pun intended. We’ve got tips (learned mostly through trial and error) on how to stay warm and dry in the outdoors this winter.

SPOKANE — This week, the easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail reopened after the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission resurfaced it with a new layer of asphalt.

The project was completed weeks ahead of schedule.

Snowmobiling is one of the state's most popular winter activities. More than 3,000 miles of groomed trails are provided through the Winter Recreation Program, in cooperation with federal, county, and local agencies, ski areas, snowmobile clubs, and private landowners.
The Winter Recreation Program provides Sno-Parks, cleared parking areas for vehicles in close proximity to groomed and/or backcountry trails. There are two types of Sno-Parks, those for snowmobiles and those for non-motorized sports. A handful offer both types of activities.

In 2018, State Parks initiated a planning process to update the land classifications and long-term boundaries at three parks located within the Blue Mountain Area: Palouse Falls, Lyons Ferry, and Lewis and Clark Trail. The Commission adopted the recommended updates to the land classification and long-term boundaries for these three parks in January 2021. Staff is currently developing the management plan for these three parks, which serve as a resource to staff to help implement the plan, as well as provide information that may be of interest to the public.

SPOKANE — Beginning on April 15, the easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail will temporarily close while the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission resurfaces the trail with a new layer of asphalt. The project is anticipated for completion in early September.