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List of Washington state parks facts for kids

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Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (logo).svg
Agency overview
Formed 1913; 112 years ago (1913)
Headquarters 1111 Israel Road S.W.,
Olympia, Washington
Annual budget $148.6 million (2011–13 biennium)

The Washington State Park System is a group of amazing outdoor spaces in Washington, USA. These parks are owned by the state government. They are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, which helps keep them beautiful and fun for everyone.

There are more than 140 parks across the state. This includes 19 parks that are near the ocean or large bodies of water, called marine parks. There are also 11 Historical Parks, which protect important historical sites.

The park system started way back in 1913. It began with the Washington State Board of Park Commissioners. The very first two parks were created in 1915 from land that was kindly donated. By 1929, Washington had seven state parks. In 1947, the group in charge changed its name to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. They were given the job of looking after all the state parks. By 1960, the number of state parks had grown to 130!

How are Washington State Parks Funded?

In 2003, the Washington State Legislature (the state's law-making group) tried something new. They added a $5-a-day parking fee for park visitors. This money was meant to help pay for building projects in the parks. However, a lot of the money collected went into the system itself, just to handle the fees. Also, fewer people visited the parks after the fee was introduced, with use dropping by more than 15%.

Because of this, the fee was removed in early 2006. This made Washington the only state in the western USA without daily fees to use its parks. But in 2011, the legislature brought in new fees. They created a $10 day-use permit and a $30 yearly pass called the Discover Pass. This pass allows vehicles to enter state parks and other public lands. The money from Discover Pass sales helps fund outdoor recreation. While these new fees didn't raise as much money as hoped, another idea worked well. People could choose to donate money when renewing certain state licenses, like driver's licenses. This was more successful than expected!

Explore Washington State Parks

Washington has many different types of state parks. You can find everything from lakes and rivers to mountains and beaches. Each park offers unique activities and sights.

Map of State Parks

Current State Parks to Visit

Here is a list of some of the current state parks in Washington. They are great places for outdoor adventures!

Name Image County Size Details
acres ha
Alta Lake View of Alta Lake Okanogan 181 73 Camping at the north end of 2-mile-long (3.2 km) Alta Lake
Anderson Lake Lake and trees with a danger sign and red tape surrounding it Jefferson 476 193 Trails, non-motorized boating, and lake fishing on Quimper Peninsula
Battle Ground Lake Aerial view of Battle Ground Lake State park Clark 280 110 Fishing, swimming, camping, and trails in and around an ancient volcano crater
Bay View Padilla Bay as seen from Bayview State Park Skagit 25 10 Camping, swimming, and boating on Padilla Bay
Beacon Rock Large rock nearby water Skamania 5,100 2,100 Volcanic monolith and forested uplands on the Columbia River
Belfair Beach with tide flats and land in distance Mason 65 26 Tidal flats, wetlands, and beaches on Hood Canal
Birch Bay Birch Bay panorama Whatcom 194 79 Camping, shellfish harvesting on Birch Bay
Blake Island Blake Island surrounded by water Kitsap 475 192 Island park in Puget Sound; home of Tillicum Village
Blind Island Picnic table and trees on Blind Island San Juan 3 1.2 Part of the Cascadia Marine Trail
Bogachiel Forest with tall soggy trees and a bunch of moss and ferns Clallam 123 50 Camping on the Bogachiel River
Bottle Beach Sunset over a beach at low tide with land in the distance Grays Harbor 75 30 Tidal flats on the southern shore of Grays Harbor
Bridgeport Geese on lake with barren hill in background Okanogan 748 303 Camping, boating on Rufus Woods Lake
Bridle Trails A tree in a forested area King 482 195 Suburban equestrian park with 28 miles (45 km) of trails
Brooks Memorial Thinly wooded forest, looking up to the canopy Klickitat 700 280 Trails and camping in the southern Cascade Mountains
Cama Beach Little pink houses Island 433 175 Preserved 1930s seaside tourist camp
Camano Island Rocky beach with covered with driftwood Island 134 54 Camping and water activities on Puget Sound
Cape Disappointment A lighthouse atop a rocky cliff overlooking water 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 Aerial view of small forested island San Juan 55 22 Marine camping on the Strait of Georgia in the San Juan Islands
Columbia Hills Waterfalls in the distance 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 A rail trail overlooking a stream in a shallow valley Adams 3,880 1,570 130-mile (210 km) abandoned railroad right-of-way running between Cheney and Pasco
Conconully Conconully State Park.jpg Okanogan 81 33 Camping and water activities on Conconully Reservoir
Crawford Flowstone formation 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 Small butte-shaped island topped with trees Pierce 2 0.81 Island park in Carr Inlet at the southern end of Puget Sound
Daroga Daroga State Park Douglas 90 36 Camping and water activities on the Columbia River
Dash Point Beach at low tide with forest in background King 398 161 Camping, trails, and water activities on Puget Sound
Deception Pass A green bridge spanning some water 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 Tidal shoreline decorated with spruce trees 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 Tall evergreen trees in an old-growth forest King 619 251 Hiking amid old-growth Douglas firs on the White River
Fields Spring Hills in the distance as viewed from highground Asotin 792 321 Trails in the Blue Mountains region
Flaming Geyser A small flame coming from a cylindrical concrete slab surrounded by rocks King 480 190 Flaming methane geysers (seeps); rafting on the Green River
Forks of the Sky King 1,300 530
Fort Casey A canon in an embarkment overlooking water Island 467 189 World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers
Fort Columbia Historic building on a slight hill Pacific 593 240 Early 20th-century coastal artillery and historic wood-frame fort buildings
Fort Ebey Seascape Island 645 261 Camping, paragliding, and trails on the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Fort Flagler Deer grazing on grass in front of historic buildings Jefferson 784 317 World War I-era naval gun emplacements and bunkers at the mouth of Puget Sound
Fort Simcoe Wooden structure surrounded by yellow grassland Yakima 200 81 1850s-era military installation on the Yakama Indian Reservation with army and Native American interpretive displays
Fort Townsend Abandoned brick structure surrounded by forest Jefferson 367 149 Boating, camping, and trails at the northeastern extreme of the Olympic Peninsula
Fort Worden Historic buildings behind a flag pole Jefferson 434 176 Camping, water activities, and the Coast Artillery Museum
Ginkgo Petrified Forest Petrified wood below park signage 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 Skyline of observatories Klickitat 5 2.0 An astronomical observatory
Grayland Beach Sandy beach with sunbeams peeking through overcast sky Pacific 412 167 Saltwater beach activities on the Pacific Ocean
Griffiths-Priday Grassy field with shrubs and distant trees Grays Harbor 364 147 Saltwater beach activities on the Pacific Ocean
Harstine Island Harstine Island, Jarrell Cove State Park.JPG 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 River flowing through valley surrounded by forested mountains Lewis 454 184 Water activities on Lake Mayfield
Illahee Small beach as seen through a higher vantage point obscured by trees Kitsap 75 30 Saltwater beach activities on Puget Sound
Iron Horse Cross country skiers on a snow covered path between trees Kittitas,
King		 1,612 652 Rail trail over Snoqualmie Pass
Jackson House Restored 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  Looking roughly south to Decatur Island, James Island in the distance 01 (20276408790).jpg San Juan 117 47 Island camping in the San Juan Islands
Jarrell Cove Sailboat with forested shore in background Mason 43 17 Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound
Joemma Beach Sun peeking through tall old-growth trees Pierce 122 49 Saltwater activities on south Puget Sound
Jones Island   San Juan 190 77 Island camping in the San Juan Islands
Joseph Whidbey Looking down grassy hillside towards beach on cloudy day Island 112 45 Saltwater beach activities on the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Kanaskat-Palmer Rapids of the Green River near pebble beaches King 320 130 Whitewater rafting in the Green River Gorge
Kinney Point   Jefferson 76 31 Saltwater beach activities on south Puget Sound
Kitsap Memorial Hood Canal with mountains in background Kitsap 58 23 Saltwater beach activities on south Hood Canal
Kopachuck Kopachuck State Park beach Pierce 109 44 Saltwater beach activities on south Puget Sound
Lake Chelan View of Lake Chelan with barren hills in background Chelan 127 51 Camping, water activities on Lake Chelan
Lake Easton Lake Easton with a distant beach on the opposite side Kittitas 516 209 Camping, water activities on Lake Easton
Lake Isabella   Mason 188 76  
Lake Sammamish Picnic tables on a grassy field near a large lake King 512 207  
Lake Sylvia Small stream in a forest flowing below an old wooden dam Grays Harbor 252 102  
Lake Wenatchee A lake as it encounters foothills covered in trees Chelan 489 198  
Larrabee A steep rocky coastline covered in trees Whatcom 2,683 1,086  
Leadbetter Point Leadbetter Point.jpg Pacific 1,698 687  
Lewis and Clark Informational sign by a large Douglar Fir tree Lewis 621 251  
Lewis and Clark Trail   Columbia 37 15  
Lime Kiln Point A small lighthouse on a rocky near a rocky coastline San Juan 36 15 A facility for orca whale research
Lincoln Rock Steep rocky cliff and sandy hillside rising from a lake Douglas 80 32  
Lyons Ferry Franklin 1,000 400 Returned to Washington State Parks operation in 2015
Loomis Lake   Pacific 385 156  
Manchester Manchester State Park Torpedo Building.JPG Kitsap 111 45  
Maryhill Maryhill, Washington.jpg Klickitat 99 40  
Matia Island  Dock at Rolfe Cove, Matia Island.jpg San Juan 145 59  
Matilda N. Jackson  Matilda N. Jackson State Park Heritage Site.jpg Lewis 5 2.0 Heritage site of early pioneer homesteader; picnic amenities and small loop trail
McMicken Island   Mason 11.5 4.7  
Millersylvania Calm lake with trees on the opposite side in the distance Thurston 842 341  
Moran A small pier into Mountain Lake San Juan 5,000 2,000  
Mount Pilchuck A small structure on a rocky summit Snohomish 1,893 766  
Mount Spokane A wooded mountain in the distance Spokane 13,919 5,633  
Mystery Bay   Jefferson 10 4.0  
Nolte Small lake surrounded by forest King 117 47  
Obstruction Pass Gravelly beach with islands in the distance San Juan 76 31  
Ocean City Low tide beach under overcast sky with tiny silhouettes of people in the distance Grays Harbor 170 69  
Olallie Snoqualmie River flowing through a heavily wooded area King 2,338 946  
Olmstead Place Small red cottage surrounded by garden Kittitas 217 88  
Pacific Beach Stagnant stream of water surrounded by flat grassland near the beach Grays Harbor 10 4.0  
Pacific Pines A small trail through a field with high grass and small shrubs Pacific 10 4.0  
Palouse Falls A waterfall surrounded by rocky cliffs with a rainbow visible above the water Franklin, Whitman 105 42  
Paradise Point A small sandy river beach with concrete bridges overhead Clark 88 36  
Patos Island A lighthouse in the distance on the Patos Island San Juan 207 84  
Peace Arch A white stone arch in a grassy lawn in front of a line of automobiles Whatcom 20 8.1 A peace memorial on the United States-Canada border
Pearrygin Lake Green rolling hills under an overcast sky with some breaks in the clouds Okanogan 696 282  
Penrose Point Motorboat at a dock with a forest on the shore Pierce 152 62  
Peshastin Pinnacles Pointed rock formations with a few small shrubs Chelan 34 14  
Pleasant Harbor   Jefferson 425 172  
Posey Island Barbecue pit surrounded by dry grass and shrubs with the sound in the background San Juan 1 0.40  
Potholes Aerial view of a large reservoire surrounded by fields Grant 640 260  
Potlatch  Potlatch State Park.jpg Mason 125 51  
Rainbow Falls Small waterfall passing between boulders in front of some trees Lewis 139 56  
Rasar Sandy bank of a wide river with a strand of trees and a hillside on the other side Skagit 169 68  
Reed Island   Clark 510 210  
Riverside A stream of water in front curving around some large boulders Spokane 10,885 4,405  
Rockport Densely populated greenery in a forest Skagit 670 270  
Sacajawea A museum building surrounded by trees Franklin 284 115  
Saddlebag Island   San Juan 24 9.7  
Saint Edward A dense forest with shrubs King 316 128  
Saltwater Picnic tables on a lawn surrounded by a steep rocky beach King 87.4 35.4  
Scenic Beach Distant blue mountains separated from viewer by a large body of water Kitsap 88 36  
Schafer River flowing between a mix of coniferous trees and leafless shrubs Mason 119 48  
Seaquest Seaquest State Park Cowlitz 475 192  
Sequim Bay Sequim Bay State Park 2.jpg Clallam 92 37  
Shine Tidelands Driftwood-laden shoreline with forested piece of steep-cliffed land in the distance Jefferson 13 5.3  
Skagit Island   Skagit 24 9.7  
Skull Island   San Juan 3.2 1.3  
South Whidbey A black and white image of a large cedar looking up from the ground Island 347 140  
Spencer Spit Driftwood on a beach with some small watercraft in the nearby water San Juan 138 56  
Spring Creek Hatchery Windsurfers on the river with a forested hillside in the background Skamania 9.6 3.9  
Squak Mountain View from the top of a tall hill overlooking more hills King 1,545 625  
Squilchuck Dirt trail with bike tracks and a forest and hill in the background Chelan 228 92  
Steamboat Rock Large plateau separated from the viewer by some water Grant 3,522 1,425  
Steptoe Battlefield White stone obelisk surrounded by grass and a black fence Whitman 4 1.6  
Steptoe Butte Small paved road approaching a hill surrounded by fields Whitman 150 61  
Stretch Point   Mason 8 3.2  
Stuart Island Aerial view of low forested islands San Juan 85 34  
Sucia Island Sail boats anchored off a beach covered with driftwood San Juan 814 329  
Sun Lakes-Dry Falls High point view of a body of water surrounded by steep cliffs Grant 4,027 1,630  
Tolmie Mud flats of the Puget Sound through foliage. Thurston 105 42  
Triton Cove Shoreline covered in a mix of grass, trees, and shrubs Jefferson 29 12  
Turn Island   San Juan 35 14 Part of San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Twanoh Picnic tables, empty parking lot, grass fields, and a lone tree with the water in the background Mason 182 74  
Twenty-Five Mile Creek Creek in a forest with some burnt stumps visible Chelan 235 95  
Twin Harbors Ocean with breaking waves under a dark and stormy sky Grays Harbor 172 70  
Wallace Falls A large waterfall flowing between green forests Snohomish 4,735 1,916  
Wenatchee Confluence Columbia River 5129.JPG Chelan 197 80  
Westhaven   Grays Harbor 79 32  
Westport Light GraysHarborWestportLightNpsPhoto2000.jpg Grays 212 86  
Willapa Hills Willapa Hills Trail, Chehalis Trailhead.jpg 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 Willie Keil's Grave State Park Heritage Site 02.jpg Pacific County 0.34 0.14 Site is accessible to users of the Willapa Hills Trail
Yakima Sportsman Shrubs and trees next to a river with brown hills in background Yakima 247 100  

Former State Parks

Some parks that used to be part of the Washington State Park System are now managed by other groups. Here are a few examples:

Name County Area Image Remarks
acres ha
Central Ferry Park Whitman 185 75   Administered by USACE; formerly Central Ferry State Park (?–2002)
Chief Timothy Park Asotin 198 80   Administered by USACE; formerly Chief Timothy State Park (?–2002)
Crow Butte Park Benton 275 111   Administered by Port of Benton; formerly Crow Butte State Park (?–2002)
Damon Point Grays Harbor 61 25 Bubo scandiacus Damon Point 4.jpg Administered by Washington Recreation and Conservation Office
Fay Bainbridge Park Kitsap 17 6.9 Fay Bainbridge Park, Washington, USA.JPG Administered by Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District
Fort Okanogan Okanogan 45 18 Site of Fort Okanogan.jpg 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 Mukilteo Lighthouse.jpg 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.

See also

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