Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1913 |
Headquarters | 1111 Israel Road S.W., Olympia, Washington [1] |
Annual budget | $148.6 million (2011–13 biennium) [1] |
Website | www |
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 The fee was rescinded in early 2006, returning the state park system to its status of the only system in the West without day-use fees.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] 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.
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 | |
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. [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 | ||
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. [8] [10] | |
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 |
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] | |
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Timothy Donald Eyman is an American anti-tax activist and businessman.
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Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in the U.S. state of Washington since December 6, 2012. On February 13, 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire signed legislation that established full marriage rights for same-sex couples in the state of Washington. Opponents mounted a challenge that required voters to approve the statute at a referendum, which they did on November 6. The law took effect on December 6, and the first marriages were performed on December 9. Within a couple of days, more than 600 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples in King County alone. Washington was the seventh U.S. state, and the eighth U.S. jurisdiction, to legalize same-sex marriages.
Good to Go, stylized as GoodToGo!, is the electronic toll collection program managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation on all current toll and future projects in the U.S. state of Washington. Regular Good to Go customers may set up an account from which tolls are automically deducted. Vehicles that are not linked to an account are photographed and a toll bill is sent to the registered owner by U.S. mail.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan founded in 1921, charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission. Since 2023, the Director is Scott Bowen. The DNR has about 1,400 permanent employees, and over 1,600 seasonal employees.
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Interstate 90 (I-90), designated as the American Veterans Memorial Highway, is a transcontinental Interstate Highway that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. It crosses Washington state from west to east, traveling 298 miles (480 km) from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains and into Eastern Washington, reaching the Idaho state line east of Spokane. I-90 intersects several of the state's other major highways, including I-5 in Seattle, I-82 and U.S. Route 97 (US 97) near Ellensburg, and US 395 and US 2 in Spokane.
Washington, officially the State of Washington, is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is often referred to as Washington state to distinguish it from the national capital, both named after George Washington. Washington borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the south, Idaho to the east, and shares an international border with the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north. Olympia is the state capital, and the most populous city is Seattle.
The Columbia Plateau State Park Trail is a 130-mile-long (210 km), 20-foot-wide (6.1 m) corridor in eastern Washington state maintained as part of the Washington State Park system. The rail trail runs along the abandoned right-of-way of the former Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway.
Rainbow Falls State Park is a public recreation area on the Chehalis River. It is situated off Washington State Route 6 and is approximately 1.0-mile (1.6 km) east of the town of Dryad, Washington.
Lewis and Clark State Park is a public recreation area located six miles (9.7 km) northeast of Winlock and immediately south of Mary's Corner in Lewis County, Washington. Named after the explorers Lewis and Clark, despite the expedition not venturing in the area during their travels, the state park occupies one of the last major stands of old-growth forest in the state. When the park opened in the 1920s it was visited by over 10,000 people per year.
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