Washington State parks & public lands open for recreation

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages more than 160 recreation sites and 1,200 miles of trail. Campsites are available first come, first served at no additional cost for vehicles with a valid Discover Pass, making it easier than ever to find your new favorite outdoor destination.

Washington State Olympic National Park features several rain forests – iStockPhotos.com

Tips for recreating safely

It is so important that we all continue to practice physical distancing and proper hand hygiene while vising our favorite recreation areas. When visiting, it is up to you to be a responsible recreationist and know that there is always a risk of infection when venturing from the safety of your home. However, below are tips from Washington State for you and your family to minimize risk of infection:

• Plan Ahead – Check first whether a location you want to visit is open and what restrictions may be in place. Pack food or snacks and get gas before you go to minimize stops to or from your destination.
• Come Prepared – Expect to find reduced or limited restroom services. Bring your own soap, water, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper with you. Be prepared to mask up if encounter others at your destination or on trails.
• Be flexible: If your destination is crowded, be prepared to go somewhere else or come back at another time. Also, make sure to enjoy the outdoors with your immediate household members only. Recreation with those you don’t live with continues to create new avenues for transmission.
• Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks – Health care workers and first responders are working really hard right now to keep us safe during this health crisis. Do your part. Avoid large gatherings like cookouts or barbeques.
• Practice Physical Distancing and Good Hygiene – Keep six feet between you and those outside your immediate household. Launch one boat at a time to give others enough space to launch safely. Leave at least one parking space between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you. 
• Practice good hygiene – Wash your hands often and try not to touch your face. Always carry a mask or appropriate facial covering with you. Be aware of any high-traffic surfaces and avoid them.
• Leave No Trace – Take any garbage with you, including disposable gloves and masks. There is limited staffing and trash collecting is reduced. Be respectful of our public lands and facilities and pack out what you brought with you.

View of Fidalgo and San Juan Islands on Mount Erie in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands ACFL – DepositPhotos.com

Eastern Washington Public lands are closed as of July 23, 2021 due to extreme fire danger. All recreation and public access to DNR-managed lands in eastern Washington will be temporarily closed starting July 23, 2021, and lasting until fire conditions improve. This temporary closure will apply to DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community forests and any associated roads, trails, campgrounds, recreational sites or recreational facilities. Across Washington State, over 900 fires have burned more than 140,000 acres.

“This summer is smashing all our records and leaving the state bone dry, leaving eastern Washington to face an ongoing, tremendous risk of wildfire,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “Over the past year and a half, we have been reminded just how important our public lands are, so closing them is not a decision we take lightly. But with the drought leaving the region as dry as ever we must do all that we can to prevent human-caused fires.

Learn more about the 2021 Eastern Washington closure

Find a Washington State recreation area

Find your next campground, trailhead, or day use area using the Interactive Recreation Map.  More info: Where to go, what to do | WA – DNR

Although many DNR-managed lands and campgrounds are open, some facilities may not be available.  Check the dnr.wa.gov/open page for more details on what day-use areas and campsites are open. 

Get information by region for Washington State DNR recreation sites:  

Washington Trails Association (WTA) invites you to use its extensive WTA trail library to get creative and go beyond the usual, crowded suspects. If you are unsure whether your chosen destination is on state land, if a hike requires a Discover Pass, then it’s on state land. To easily find nearby hikes on state land, on the WTA Hike Finder Map, you can filter your search by ‘Discover Pass’.