Next state park “free day” Aug. 25 | Washington State Parks

There are several state parks residents can enjoy nearby

By The Renton Reporter staff • August 10, 2019 3:15 pm
Nolte State Park, pictured, as well as Federation Forest and Nisqually Park are just three of the many state parks free to visit Aug. 25. Photo courtesy Washington State Parks
Nolte State Park, pictured, as well as Federation Forest and Nisqually Park are just three of the many state parks free to visit Aug. 25. Photo courtesy Washington State Parks

In recognition of the National Park System’s 103rd birthday, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is offering free entrance to state parks on Sunday, Aug. 25. Day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass to visit state parks by vehicle.

State Parks free days are in keeping with 2011 legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs $30 annually or $10 for a one-day visit. The pass is required for vehicle access to state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Discover Pass legislation directed State Parks to designate up to 12 free days when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required on WDFW and DNR lands.

While Washington State Parks and the National Park Service are different entities, the two agencies share a rich tradition of stewarding the lands they manage. Many state parks are located within an hour’s drive of Washington’s national parks, monuments and historical reserves and sites:

Battle Ground Lake State Park, near Fort Vancouver National Historic Site: 35 minutes by car

Fort Townsend Historical State Park, near Olympic National Park: One hour by car

Bogachiel State Park, near Olympic National Park: 43 minutes by car

Lime Kiln Point State Park, near San Juan Island National Historical Park: 16 minutes by car

Rockport and Rasar state parks, near North Cascades National Park: 32 and 40 minutes by car

Fort Ebey State Park and Fort Casey Historical State Park, near Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve: 10 minutes by car

Federation Forest, Nisqually and Nolte state parks, near Mount Rainier National Park: 40 minutes, 36 minutes and one hour by car

In addition, many Washington state parks are within the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail:

Beacon Rock State Park

Columbia Hills State Park

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park

Lyons Ferry State Park

Palouse Falls State Park

Steamboat Rock State Park

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park

Yakima Sportsman State Park

For more information on special birthday events the National Park Service is planning, visit: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/nps-birthday.htm

The remaining 2019 State Parks free days are:

Saturday, Sept. 28 — National Public Lands Day

Monday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day

The Discover Pass provides daytime access to parks. Overnight visitors in state parks are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations, and day access is included in the overnight fee. For information about Discover Pass, visit www.DiscoverPass.wa.gov.

To find a Washington state park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/281/Parks