List of Washington state parks

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Agency overview
Formed1913 (1913)
Headquarters1111 Israel Road S.W.,
Olympia, Washington[1]
Annual budget$148.6 million (2011–13 biennium)[1]
Websitewww.parks.wa.gov

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.

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 The fee was rescinded in early 2006, returning the state park system to its status of the only system in the West without day-use fees.[4] In 2011 the legislature enacted a $10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] A day use pass known as the Check Out Washington pass is also available for check out from participating libraries.[7] 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

Washington State Parks (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link)

Current state parks

Name Image County Size[8] 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
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
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
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
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
Dosewallips Jefferson 425 172 Camping and water activities on Hood Canal
Doug's Beach   Klickitat 400 160 Windsurfing in the Columbia Gorge
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
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
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
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
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
Jarrell Cove Mason 43 17 Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound
Joemma Beach Pierce 122 49 Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound
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  
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  
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.[9][10]
Pacific Beach Grays Harbor 10 4.0  
Pacific Pines Pacific 10 4.0  
Palouse Falls Franklin, Whitman 105 42  
Paradise Point Clark 88 36  
Pearrygin Lake Okanogan 696 282  
Penrose Point Pierce 152 62  
Peshastin Pinnacles Chelan 34 14  
Pleasant Harbor   Jefferson 425 172  
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  
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  
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  
Stretch Point   Mason 8 3.2  
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.[9][11]
Tolmie Thurston 105 42  
Triton Cove Jefferson 29 12  
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
Yakima Sportsman Yakima 247 100  


Marine state parks

Name Image County Size Water body Details
acres ha
Blake Island Marine State Park Kitsap 475 192 Puget Sound Island park in Puget Sound; home of Tillicum Village
Blind Island Marine State Park San Juan 3 1.2 Blind Bay Part of the Cascadia Marine Trail
Clark Island Marine State Park San Juan 55 22 Strait of Georgia Marine camping on the Strait of Georgia in the San Juan Islands
Cutts Island Marine State Park Pierce 2 0.81 Carr Inlet Island park in Carr Inlet at the southern end of Puget Sound
Doe Island Marine State Park   San Juan 7 2.8 Rosario Strait Island park southeast of Orcas Island
Eagle Island Marine State Park   Pierce 10 4.0 Balch Passage Island park in southern Puget Sound
Hope Island Marine State Park - Mason County   Mason 106 43 Squaxin Passage Old-growth forest, salt marsh, beach on Puget Sound
Hope Island Marine State Park - Skagit County   Skagit 200 81 Skagit Bay Island camping on Skagit Bay
James Island Maine State Park San Juan 117 47 Rosario Strait Island camping in the San Juan Islands
Jones Island Maine State Park   San Juan 190 77 San Juan Channel Island camping in the San Juan Islands
Matia Island Marine State Park San Juan 145 59 Strait of Georgia  
McMicken Island Marine State Park   Mason 11.5 4.7 South Puget Sound  
Patos Island Marine State Park San Juan 207 84 Strait of Georgia  
Posey Island Marine State Park San Juan 1 0.40 Haro Strait  
Saddlebag Island Marine State Park   San Juan 24 9.7 Padilla Bay  
Skagit Island Marine State Park   Skagit 24 9.7 Skagit Bay  
Skull Island   San Juan 3.2 1.3 Massacre Bay  
Stuart Island Marine State Park San Juan 85 34 Boundary Pass, Haro Strait  
Sucia Island Marine State Park San Juan 814 329 Strait of Georgia  
Turn Island Marine State Park   San Juan 35 14 San Juan Channel Part of San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Historical and heritage site state parks

Name Image County Size Details
acres ha
Cama Beach Historical State Park Island 433 175 Preserved 1930s seaside tourist camp
Fort Casey Historical State Park Island 467 189 World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers
Fort Flagler Historical State Park Jefferson 784 317 World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers at the mouth of Puget Sound
Fort Simcoe Historical State Park Yakima 200 81 1850s-era military installation on the Yakama Indian Reservation with army and Native American interpretive displays
Fort Townsend Historical State Park Jefferson 367 149 Boating, camping, and trails at the northeastern extreme of the Olympic Peninsula
Fort Worden Historical State Park Jefferson 434 176 Camping, water activities, and the Coast Artillery Museum
Goldendale Observatory State Park Heritage Site Klickitat 5 2.0 An astronomical observatory
Jackson House State Park Heritage Site Lewis County 1.4 0.57 Restored 1850 cabin and homestead site of early Euro-American settlers John R. and Matilda Jackson
Matilda N. Jackson State Park Heritage Site Lewis 5 2.0 Heritage site of early pioneer homesteader; picnic amenities and small loop trail
Olmstead Place Historical State Park Kittitas 217 88  
Palouse Falls State Park Heritage Site Franklin, Whitman 105 42  
Peace Arch Historical State Park Whatcom 20 8.1 A peace memorial on the United States-Canada border
Sacajawea Historical State Park Franklin 284 115  
Steptoe Battlefield State Park Heritage Site Whitman 4 1.6  
Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site Whitman 150 61  
Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site Pacific 0.34 0.14 Site is accessible to users of the Willapa Hills Trail

Former state parks

Name County Area Image Remarks
acres ha
Central Ferry Park Whitman 185 75   Administered by USACE;[12] formerly Central Ferry State Park (?–2002)
Chief Timothy Park Asotin 198 80   Administered by USACE;[13] formerly Chief Timothy State Park (?–2002)
Crow Butte Park Benton 275 111   Administered by Port of Benton;[14] 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.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Commission and agency information". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Washington State Parks History". Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Judd, Ron (March 30, 2006). "Parks are fee-free again, as they should be". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  4. ^ Ammons, David (March 21, 2006). "$5 fee at parks is gone". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
  5. ^ Wong, Queenie (April 21, 2011). "Bill for parks fee goes to Gregoire". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  6. ^ "SB 5622 - 2011-12". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  7. ^ "Check Out Washington". Discover Pass. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  8. ^ "Comprehensive List of State Park Names by Region". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  9. ^ a b The Chronicle editorial staff (April 14, 2006). "Maintaining parks already developed should have priority". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Rosane, Eric (January 26, 2022). "Deal Would Transfer 180 Acres of State Park Land to Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Mittge, Brian (April 12, 2006). "Tale of two parks". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Central Ferry Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "Chief Timothy Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "Crow Butte Park". Port of Benton. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  15. ^ "Westport Light State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Second Washington State Parks public meeting scheduled for Aug. 31 in Westport". The Daily World. Aberdeen, Wash. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
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