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List of Washington state parks

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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.

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Agency overview
Formed1913; 111 years ago (1913)
Headquarters1111 Israel Road S.W.,
Olympia, Washington[1]
Annual budget$148.6 million (2011–13 biennium)[1]
Websitewww.parks.wa.gov

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 The fee was rescinded in early 2006, returning the state park system to its status of the only system in the West without day-use fees.[4] In 2011 the legislature enacted a $10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

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

Current state parks

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Name 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

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Name 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

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References

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  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. ^ "Comprehensive List of State Park Names by Region". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  8. ^ a b The Chronicle editorial staff (April 14, 2006). "Maintaining parks already developed should have priority". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Rosane, Eric (January 26, 2022). "Deal Would Transfer 180 Acres of State Park Land to Lewis County". The Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ Mittge, Brian (April 12, 2006). "Tale of two parks". The Chronicle. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Central Ferry Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  12. ^ "Chief Timothy Park". USACE. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "Crow Butte Park". Port of Benton. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  14. ^ "Westport Light State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "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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