Remember when using Washington State and other parks, trails, and recreational areas that it is crucial to maintain social distancing in 2020. Your behavior affects the health of our entire community. And what we do as a community protects us all. Listed below is a list of guidelines for using parks and trails safely and responsibly. Consider this guidance while enjoying public parks and recreational lands in Washington State:
Before you go
- If you or anyone in your household is sick, stay home.
- Practice physical distancing and good hygiene at all times.
- Plan day trips only, with household members only.
- Restroom services may be limited. Bring your own supplies (soap, water, hand sanitizer, TP).
- Pack water, any food, and other supplies as needed, along with a trash bag so you can “pack it in and pack it out”.
- Bring a face mask, bandana, or other facial covering with you.
- Get gas before you go.
Getting to the park
- Do not carpool with people other than your immediate household.
- Do not make additional stops to or from your destination for any reason: gas, food, or restrooms.
- If your destination is crowded, be prepared to go somewhere else or come back at another time.
- Leave at least one parking space between your vehicle and the vehicle next to you.
At the park
- Enjoy the outdoors with your immediate household members only.
- Keep six feet between you and those outside your immediate household.
- Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth if you find yourself near others.
- Signal your presence to others: use your voice, a bell, or horn.
- When on a single-track or natural surface trail, maintain the six feet distance from others and step off the trail to allow others to pass.
- Do not gather. Do not host or attend gatherings like cookouts or barbeques.
- Do not congregate at trailheads, restrooms, or other facilities.
- Keep your dog on a leash at all times.
- When boating, launch one boat at a time to give others enough space to launch safely.
- Remain aware of high-traffic areas and often touched surfaces. Avoid them whenever possible.
- Wash your hands often and try not to touch your face.
- Please be respectful of our public lands and facilities. With facilities just reopening there may not be staff or services such as trash collection.
- Leave No Trace. If you bring it in, take it out. This includes any garbage, disposable gloves, and masks.
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Virtual National Parks Day May 16
National Park Trust has decided to take the 10th anniversary of Kids to Parks Day digital and celebrate May 16, 2020, as Parks to Kids Day–bringing a much-needed infusion of the outdoors to kids and families as they isolate at home and practice social distancing. Kids and families are encouraged to celebrate and join the fun, virtually! Find fun, feature resources on the National Parks Day website, such as Backyard Bingo and Backyard Scavenger Hunt.
NPT’s free ParkPassport mobile app is the perfect companion to your outdoor adventure. The app has been updated with new resources for Parks to Kids Day – including virtual park experiences and new digital badges. Discover new parks, earn badges, share photos, and connect with friends while virtually exploring the great outdoors! Let the digital guide help you track park visits and share your experience with a community of outdoor enthusiasts.
National Parks to Kids Day May 16, 2020
List of Washington State Parks opening May 5
Washington State Parks and public lands re-open for day-use only on May 5, 2020. See the list of parks re-opening below. Note that all camping and other overnight accommodations remain closed.
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’.
Alta Lake State Park
- Alta Lake
- Battle Ground Lake
- Bay View
- Belfair
- Birch Bay
- Blake Island
- Blind Island
- Bridgeport
- Bridle Trails
- Brooks Memorial
- Cama Beach
- Camano Island
- Centennial Trail
- Clark Island
- Columbia Plateau Trail
- Conconully
- Curlew Lake
- Cutts Island
- Dash Point (reduced capacity)
- Deception Pass
- Doe Island
- Dosewallips
- Eagle Island
- Federation Forest
- Fields Spring
- Flaming Geyser
- Fort Casey
- Fort Ebey
- Fort Flagler
- Fort Townsend
- Fort Worden
Ginkgo Petrified Forest
- Ginkgo Petrified Forest / Wanapum Recreation Area
- Hope Island – Mason
- Hope Island – Skagit
- Ike Kinswa
- Illahee
- Jackson House
- James Island
- Jarrell Cove
- Joemma Beach
- Jones Island
- Joseph Whidbey
Joseph Whidbey State Park
- Kanaskat-Palmer
- Kinney Point
- Kitsap Memorial
- Kopachuck
- Lake Chelan
- Lake Easton
- Lake Sammamish (reduced capacity)
- Lake Sylvia
- Lake Wenatchee
- Larrabee
- Lewis & Clark
- Lewis & Clark Trail
- Lime Kiln Point
- Lincoln Rock
- Lyons Ferry
Manchester State Park
- Manchester
- Matia Island
- McMicken Island
- Miller Peninsula
- Millersylvania
- Moran
- Mount Pilchuck
- Mount Spokane
- Mystery Bay
- Nine Mile Recreation Area
- Nisqually
- Nolte
- Obstruction Pass
- Olallie
- Olmstead Place
- Palouse Falls
- Palouse to Cascades
- Paradise Point
- Patos Island
- Peace Arch
- Pearrygin Lake
Penrose State Park
- Penrose Point
- Posey Island
- Potholes
- Potlatch
- Rainbow Falls
- Rasar
- Reed Island
- Riverside
- Rockport
- Sacajawea
- Saddlebag Island
- Saint Edward (reduced capacity)
- Saltwater
- Scenic Beach
- Schafer
- Seaquest
- Sequim Bay
- Shine Tidelands
- Skagit Island
- South Whidbey
- Spencer Spit
Squak Mountain State Park
- Squak Mountain
- Squilchuck
- Steamboat Rock
- Steptoe Battlefield
- Steptoe Butte
- Stuart Island
- Sucia Island
- Sun Lakes-Dry Falls
- Tolmie
- Triton Cove
- Turn Island
- Twanoh
- Twenty-Five Mile Creek
- Wenatchee Confluence
- Willapa Hills Trail
- Yakima Sportsman
The following parks will remain closed:
- Anderson Lake
- Beacon Rock
- Big Eddy Scenic River Access
- Bogachiel
- Bottle Beach
- Cape Disappointment
- Camp Wooten
- Cedar Falls Trailhead (on Palouse to Cascades Trail)
- Columbia Hills (limited fishing access)
- Crawford State Park and Gardner Caves
- Daroga
- Doug’s Beach
- Fisk
- Fort Columbia
- Fort Simcoe
- Goldendale Observatory
- Grayland Beach
- Griffiths-Priday
- Klickitat Trail
- Kukutali Preserve
- Leadbetter Point
- Loomis Lake
- Ocean City
- Pacific Beach
- Pacific Pines
- Peshastin Pinnacles
- Pleasant Harbor
- Maryhill (watercraft launch will open)
- Spring Creek Hatchery
- Twin Harbors
- Westport Light
- Wallace Falls
Willapa Hill State Park Trail
For more information on the phased “Smart Start” approach to resume recreational, social, and business activities, read What’s open/closed: updates to stay-at-home order.
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