— from Washington State Parks —
Washington State Parks turns 105 years old on Monday, March 19, and visitors are invited to help celebrate by enjoying a state park for free that day.
With the 2018 spring and summer seasons just around the corner, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission reminds the public that recreation opportunities abound in more than 100 parks and recreation sites and on park trails statewide. March 19 is the third of 12 State Parks “free days” in 2018, when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day use visits to a park.
The free days are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs $30 for an annual pass or $10 for a one-day pass and is required for vehicle access to state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required on WDFW and DNR lands.
The remaining 2018 State Parks free days are:
Saturday, April 14 — Springtime free day
Sunday, April 22 — Earth Day
Saturday, June 2 — National Trails Day
Saturday, June 9 — National Get Outdoors Day
Sunday, June 10 — Free Fishing Day
Saturday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday
Saturday, Sept. 22 — National Public Lands Day
Sunday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Friday, Nov. 23 — Autumn free day
The Discover Pass provides daytime access to parks. Overnight visitors in state parks are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations; day access is included in the overnight fee. For information about Discover Pass, visit www.DiscoverPass.wa.gov.
Note: The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks. During the winter season, December through March, visitors to Sno-Parks will need Sno-Parks permits. For more information about winter recreation permit requirements, visit: https://parks.state.wa.us/winter
