The U.S. state of Washington has over 140 state parks that are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. These include 19 marine parks and 11 Historical Parks. The park system was established in 1913 by the creation of the Washington State Board of Park Commissioners.[2] The first two parks were formed from donated land in 1915, and by 1929 the state had seven parks. In 1947 the State Parks Committee was renamed to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and given authority to oversee the state park system. By 1960 the number of state parks had increased to 130.
![]() | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1913 |
Headquarters | 1111 Israel Road S.W., Olympia, Washington[1] |
Annual budget | $148.6 million (2011–13 biennium)[1] |
Website | www |
In 2003, the Washington State Legislature introduced a $5-a-day parking fee, meant to fund park-related construction projects; more than a quarter of the fees collected went into the fee-collection system itself.[3] Park use decreased more than 15% under the fees. The fee was rescinded in early 2006, returning the state park system to its status of the only system in the West without day-use fees.[4] In 2011 the legislature enacted a $10 day-use permit and a $30 annual pass, called the Discover Pass, for vehicles to enter state parks, lands owned or managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and designated lands of the Washington Department of Natural Resources.[5][6] Funds generated from the sale of the Discover Pass are deposited into the Recreation Access Pass Account. The new fees did not raise as much money as was hoped, though another effort to encourage donation when renewing certain state licenses (including driver's licenses) was more successful than officials expected.
Map
editCurrent state parks
editName | Image | County | Size[7] | Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
acres | ha | ||||
Alta Lake | Okanogan | 181 | 73 | Camping at the north end of 2-mile-long (3.2 km) Alta Lake | |
Anderson Lake | Jefferson | 476 | 193 | Trails, non-motorized boating, and lake fishing on Quimper Peninsula | |
Battle Ground Lake | Clark | 280 | 110 | Fishing, swimming, camping, and trails in and around an ancient volcano crater | |
Bay View | Skagit | 25 | 10 | Camping, swimming, and boating on Padilla Bay | |
Beacon Rock | Skamania | 5,100 | 2,100 | Volcanic monolith and forested uplands on the Columbia River | |
Belfair | Mason | 65 | 26 | Tidal flats, wetlands, and beaches on Hood Canal | |
Birch Bay | Whatcom | 194 | 79 | Camping, shellfish harvesting on Birch Bay | |
Blake Island | Kitsap | 475 | 192 | Island park in Puget Sound; home of Tillicum Village | |
Blind Island | San Juan | 3 | 1.2 | Part of the Cascadia Marine Trail | |
Bogachiel | Clallam | 123 | 50 | Camping on the Bogachiel River | |
Bottle Beach | Grays Harbor | 75 | 30 | Tidal flats on the southern shore of Grays Harbor | |
Bridgeport | Okanogan | 748 | 303 | Camping, boating on Rufus Woods Lake | |
Bridle Trails | King | 482 | 195 | Suburban equestrian park with 28 miles (45 km) of trails | |
Brooks Memorial | Klickitat | 700 | 280 | Trails and camping in the southern Cascade Mountains | |
Cama Beach | Island | 433 | 175 | Preserved 1930s seaside tourist camp | |
Camano Island | Island | 134 | 54 | Camping and water activities on Puget Sound | |
Cape Disappointment | Pacific | 1,882 | 762 | Formerly called Fort Canby: World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers; camping and water activities near the southern tip of Long Beach Peninsula | |
Centennial Trail | Spokane | 525 | 212 | 37-mile (60 km) paved trail following the Spokane River from Nine Mile Falls to the Idaho border | |
Clark Island | San Juan | 55 | 22 | Marine camping on the Strait of Georgia in the San Juan Islands | |
Columbia Hills | Klickitat | 3,338 | 1,351 | Formed from the merger of Horsethief Lake and Dalles Mountain Ranch state parks with hiking trails and Columbia River water activities | |
Columbia Plateau Trail | Adams | 3,880 | 1,570 | 130-mile (210 km) abandoned railroad right-of-way running between Cheney and Pasco | |
Conconully | Okanogan | 81 | 33 | Camping and water activities on Conconully Reservoir | |
Crawford | Pend Oreille | 49 | 20 | Seasonal tours of the limestone formations in Gardner Cave | |
Curlew Lake | Ferry | 123 | 50 | Camping and water activities on Curlew Lake | |
Cutts Island | Pierce | 2 | 0.81 | Island park in Carr Inlet at the southern end of Puget Sound | |
Daroga | Douglas | 90 | 36 | Camping and water activities on the Columbia River | |
Dash Point | King | 398 | 161 | Camping, trails, and water activities on Puget Sound | |
Deception Pass | Island | 4,134 | 1,673 | Camping, water activities, and old-growth forest at the northern end of Whidbey Island | |
Doe Island | San Juan | 7 | 2.8 | Island park southeast of Orcas Island | |
Dosewallips | Jefferson | 425 | 172 | Camping and water activities on Hood Canal | |
Doug's Beach | Klickitat | 400 | 160 | Windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge | |
Eagle Island State Park | Pierce | 10 | 4.0 | Island park in southern Puget Sound | |
Federation Forest | King | 619 | 251 | Hiking amid old-growth Douglas firs on the White River | |
Fields Spring | Asotin | 792 | 321 | Trails in the Blue Mountains region | |
Flaming Geyser | King | 480 | 190 | Flaming methane geysers (seeps); rafting on the Green River | |
Forks of the Sky | King | 1,300 | 530 | ||
Fort Casey | Island | 467 | 189 | World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers | |
Fort Columbia | Pacific | 593 | 240 | Early 20th-century coastal artillery and historic wood-frame fort buildings | |
Fort Ebey | Island | 645 | 261 | Camping, paragliding, and trails on the Strait of Juan de Fuca | |
Fort Flagler | Jefferson | 784 | 317 | World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers at the mouth of Puget Sound | |
Fort Simcoe | Yakima | 200 | 81 | 1850s-era military installation on the Yakama Indian Reservation with army and Native American interpretive displays | |
Fort Townsend | Jefferson | 367 | 149 | Boating, camping, and trails at the northeastern extreme of the Olympic Peninsula | |
Fort Worden | Jefferson | 434 | 176 | Camping, water activities, and the Coast Artillery Museum | |
Ginkgo Petrified Forest | Kittitas | 7,470 | 3,020 | A petrified forest with more than 50 species of wood; camping and water activities on the Columbia River's Wanapum Reservoir | |
Goldendale Observatory | Klickitat | 5 | 2.0 | An astronomical observatory | |
Grayland Beach | Pacific | 412 | 167 | Saltwater beach activities on the Pacific Ocean | |
Griffiths-Priday | Grays Harbor | 364 | 147 | Saltwater beach activities on the Pacific Ocean | |
Harstine Island | Mason | 471 | 191 | Beach access | |
Hope Island (Mason County) | Mason | 106 | 43 | Old-growth forest, salt marsh, beach on Puget Sound | |
Hope Island (Skagit County) | Skagit | 200 | 81 | Island camping on Skagit Bay | |
Ike Kinswa | Lewis | 454 | 184 | Water activities on Lake Mayfield | |
Illahee | Kitsap | 75 | 30 | Saltwater beach activities on Puget Sound | |
Iron Horse | Kittitas, King |
1,612 | 652 | Rail trail over Snoqualmie Pass | |
Jackson House | Lewis County | 1.4 | 0.57 | Restored 1850 cabin and homestead site of early Euro-American settlers John R. and Matilda Jackson | |
James Island | San Juan | 117 | 47 | Island camping in the San Juan Islands | |
Jarrell Cove | Mason | 43 | 17 | Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound | |
Joemma Beach | Pierce | 122 | 49 | Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound | |
Jones Island | San Juan | 190 | 77 | Island camping in the San Juan Islands | |
Joseph Whidbey | Island | 112 | 45 | Saltwater beach activities on the Strait of Juan de Fuca | |
Kanaskat-Palmer | King | 320 | 130 | Whitewater rafting in the Green River Gorge | |
Kinney Point | Jefferson | 76 | 31 | Saltwater beach activities on south Puget Sound | |
Kitsap Memorial | Kitsap | 58 | 23 | Saltwater beach activities on south Hood Canal | |
Kopachuck | Pierce | 109 | 44 | Saltwater beach activities on south Puget Sound | |
Lake Chelan | Chelan | 127 | 51 | Camping, water activities on Lake Chelan | |
Lake Easton | Kittitas | 516 | 209 | Camping, water activities on Lake Easton | |
Lake Isabella | Mason | 188 | 76 | ||
Lake Sammamish | King | 512 | 207 | ||
Lake Sylvia | Grays Harbor | 252 | 102 | ||
Lake Wenatchee | Chelan | 489 | 198 | ||
Larrabee | Whatcom | 2,683 | 1,086 | ||
Leadbetter Point | Pacific | 1,698 | 687 | ||
Lewis and Clark | Lewis | 621 | 251 | ||
Lewis and Clark Trail | Columbia | 37 | 15 | ||
Lime Kiln Point | San Juan | 36 | 15 | A facility for orca whale research | |
Lincoln Rock | Douglas | 80 | 32 | ||
Lyons Ferry | Franklin | 1,000 | 400 | Returned to Washington State Parks operation in 2015 | |
Loomis Lake | Pacific | 385 | 156 | ||
Manchester | Kitsap | 111 | 45 | ||
Maryhill | Klickitat | 99 | 40 | ||
Matia Island | San Juan | 145 | 59 | ||
Matilda N. Jackson | Lewis | 5 | 2.0 | Heritage site of early pioneer homesteader; picnic amenities and small loop trail | |
McMicken Island | Mason | 11.5 | 4.7 | ||
Millersylvania | Thurston | 842 | 341 | ||
Moran | San Juan | 5,000 | 2,000 | ||
Mount Pilchuck | Snohomish | 1,893 | 766 | ||
Mount Spokane | Spokane | 13,919 | 5,633 | ||
Mystery Bay | Jefferson | 10 | 4.0 | ||
Nolte | King | 117 | 47 | ||
Obstruction Pass | San Juan | 76 | 31 | ||
Ocean City | Grays Harbor | 170 | 69 | ||
Olallie | King | 2,338 | 946 | ||
Olmstead Place | Kittitas | 217 | 88 | ||
Packwood State Park (Skate Creek Nature Park) | Lewis | 175 | 71 | Part of a land swap in the 1990s, the parcel has remained undeveloped. Attempts have been made to transfer the land to the county.[8][9] | |
Pacific Beach | Grays Harbor | 10 | 4.0 | ||
Pacific Pines | Pacific | 10 | 4.0 | ||
Palouse Falls | Franklin, Whitman | 105 | 42 | ||
Paradise Point | Clark | 88 | 36 | ||
Patos Island | San Juan | 207 | 84 | ||
Peace Arch | Whatcom | 20 | 8.1 | A peace memorial on the United States-Canada border | |
Pearrygin Lake | Okanogan | 696 | 282 | ||
Penrose Point | Pierce | 152 | 62 | ||
Peshastin Pinnacles | Chelan | 34 | 14 | ||
Pleasant Harbor | Jefferson | 425 | 172 | ||
Posey Island | San Juan | 1 | 0.40 | ||
Potholes | Grant | 640 | 260 | ||
Potlatch | Mason | 125 | 51 | ||
Rainbow Falls | Lewis | 139 | 56 | ||
Rasar | Skagit | 169 | 68 | ||
Reed Island | Clark | 510 | 210 | ||
Riverside | Spokane | 10,885 | 4,405 | ||
Rockport | Skagit | 670 | 270 | ||
Sacajawea | Franklin | 284 | 115 | ||
Saddlebag Island | San Juan | 24 | 9.7 | ||
Saint Edward | King | 316 | 128 | ||
Saltwater | King | 87.4 | 35.4 | ||
Scenic Beach | Kitsap | 88 | 36 | ||
Schafer | Mason | 119 | 48 | ||
Seaquest | Cowlitz | 475 | 192 | ||
Sequim Bay | Clallam | 92 | 37 | ||
Shine Tidelands | Jefferson | 13 | 5.3 | ||
Skagit Island | Skagit | 24 | 9.7 | ||
Skull Island | San Juan | 3.2 | 1.3 | ||
South Whidbey | Island | 347 | 140 | ||
Spencer Spit | San Juan | 138 | 56 | ||
Spring Creek Hatchery | Skamania | 9.6 | 3.9 | ||
Squak Mountain | King | 1,545 | 625 | ||
Squilchuck | Chelan | 228 | 92 | ||
Steamboat Rock | Grant | 3,522 | 1,425 | ||
Steptoe Battlefield | Whitman | 4 | 1.6 | ||
Steptoe Butte | Whitman | 150 | 61 | ||
Stretch Point | Mason | 8 | 3.2 | ||
Stuart Island | San Juan | 85 | 34 | ||
Sucia Island | San Juan | 814 | 329 | ||
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls | Grant | 4,027 | 1,630 | ||
Tilton River State Park | Lewis | 110 | 45 | The land was donated by a retired logger in the 1990s. The parcel has remained undeveloped as the state found the park inconsistent with the overall plans within the parks system. The grounds are open only for hiking and day use activities.[8][10] | |
Tolmie | Thurston | 105 | 42 | ||
Triton Cove | Jefferson | 29 | 12 | ||
Turn Island | San Juan | 35 | 14 | Part of San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge | |
Twanoh | Mason | 182 | 74 | ||
Twenty-Five Mile Creek | Chelan | 235 | 95 | ||
Twin Harbors | Grays Harbor | 172 | 70 | ||
Wallace Falls | Snohomish | 4,735 | 1,916 | ||
Wenatchee Confluence | Chelan | 197 | 80 | ||
Westhaven | Grays Harbor | 79 | 32 | ||
Westport Light | Grays | 212 | 86 | ||
Willapa Hills | Lewis County and Pacific County | 757 | 306 | Park consists of a 56-mile (90 km) rail trail that is partially paved with stretches of compact gravel | |
Willie Keil's Grave | Pacific County | 0.34 | 0.14 | Site is accessible to users of the Willapa Hills Trail | |
Yakima Sportsman | Yakima | 247 | 100 |
Former state parks
editName | County | Area | Image | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
acres | ha | ||||
Central Ferry Park | Whitman | 185 | 75 | Administered by USACE;[11] formerly Central Ferry State Park (?–2002) | |
Chief Timothy Park | Asotin | 198 | 80 | Administered by USACE;[12] formerly Chief Timothy State Park (?–2002) | |
Crow Butte Park | Benton | 275 | 111 | Administered by Port of Benton;[13] formerly Crow Butte State Park (?–2002) | |
Damon Point | Grays Harbor | 61 | 25 | Administered by Washington Recreation and Conservation Office | |
Fay Bainbridge Park | Kitsap | 17 | 6.9 | Administered by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District | |
Fort Okanogan | Okanogan | 45 | 18 | Administered by Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation | |
Fort Ward Park | Kitsap | 137 | 55 | Administered by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District | |
Griffin Bay | San Juan | 15 | 6.1 | ||
Hanging Gardens | King | 434 | 176 | Now Hanging Gardens Site within the Green River Gorge Conservation Area | |
Mukilteo Lighthouse Park | Snohomish | 12 | 4.9 | Formerly Mukilteo State Park, deeded to City of Mukilteo in 2004 | |
Osoyoos Lake | Okanogan | 47 | 19 | Now Osoyoos Lake Veteran's Memorial Park, operated by city of Oroville | |
Upright Channel | San Juan | 20 | 8.1 | ||
Wenberg County Park | Snohomish | 46 | 19 | Formerly Wenberg State Park; transferred to Snohomish County in 2009 | |
West Hylebos Wetlands Park | King | 120 | 49 | ||
Westhaven | Grays Harbor | 79 | 32 | Subsumed into the expanded Westport Light State Park in 2016.[14][15] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Commission and agency information". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- ^ "Washington State Parks History". Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ Judd, Ron (March 30, 2006). "Parks are fee-free again, as they should be". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
- ^ Ammons, David (March 21, 2006). "$5 fee at parks is gone". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
- ^ Wong, Queenie (April 21, 2011). "Bill for parks fee goes to Gregoire". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- ^ "SB 5622 - 2011-12". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
- ^ "Comprehensive List of State Park Names by Region". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ a b The Chronicle editorial staff (April 14, 2006). "Maintaining parks already developed should have priority". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Rosane, Eric (January 26, 2022). "Deal Would Transfer 180 Acres of State Park Land to Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Mittge, Brian (April 12, 2006). "Tale of two parks". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Central Ferry Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ "Chief Timothy Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ "Crow Butte Park". Port of Benton. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- ^ "Westport Light State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ "Second Washington State Parks public meeting scheduled for Aug. 31 in Westport". The Daily World. Aberdeen, Wash. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.