Spring has sprung with new events, updates and more!





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*March 2024*





Admiralty Head Lighthouse
Admiralty Head opens in mid-April
with new exhibits

The Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey Historical State Park will open later than usual this year with an exciting update to its exhibits. New, more easily readable interpretive panels are being installed, and the lighthouse will reopen *in mid-April*. Visitors will find an improved experience by which to learn the history of lighthouses and new ways to interact with the two lenses on display.

A few steadfast Fort Casey partners helped make this happen. The Lighthouse Environmental Program [ [link removed] ] group of volunteer docents contributed $50,000 to the project, using proceeds from the gift shop they run at Fort Casey, and Keepers of Admiralty Head Lighthouse [ [link removed] ] played a big role.

In addition to the stunning lighthouse, Fort Casey [ [link removed] ] on Whidbey Island offers access to an intact early 20th Century coastal military fort with impressive batteries, historic disappearing guns, a parade lawn and great camping by the beach.






*Travel planning tips: events and alerts*






A boat floats in a lake at sunset, and a great blue heron stands in the foreground at Lake Samammish.
Spring events bloom at Parks

In springtime the sun makes more frequent appearances, the flowers begin to pop, and you'll find more events at state parks.

Do you live near the beach and love birds? Get trained as an observer and sign up to survey on WA beaches once a month! On March 24 at 8 a.m [ [link removed] ]., the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Training Team (COASST [ [link removed] ]) will teach you to be a seabird surveyor. Register now!

Make a difference on Earth Weekend by joining the Washington Coast Cleanup April 20, 9 a.m. to noon! Check the Washington CoastSavers [ [link removed] ] website and stay tuned for locations and registration. Bring family and friends to remove marine debris from our shores.

Also on Earth Day, the Washington State Parks Foundation brings you the Happy Little 5K "Run for the Trees"? [ [link removed] ]from April 22 to Arbor Day, April 26. Run, walk or roll a 5K to raise funds for tree plantings at WA State Parks. You can do your kilometers anywhere during that timeframe, including at a WA state park. Your registration fee gets you a t-shirt, bib and medal. Sign up by April 1 to get your swag in time. Deadline is April 15.

Looking farther out, the Foundation invites you to attend a Mariners game at T-Mobile Park on Friday, May 10. A new Foundation fundraiser with the Mariners offers tickets through this special nonprofit page [ [link removed] ] ($39 Main Level, $22 View Level). Five dollars per ticket goes to the Foundation to support projects for WA state parks.

Check out St. Patrick?s Day events at Lake Sammamish [ [link removed] ] and Spokane River Centennial Trail? [ [link removed] ]and use our Calendar of Events [ [link removed] ] for updates and trip ideas!



People fish from a lake on a bridge, with spring blooms in the background
Check alerts when planning park trips?

As we strive to keep our parks updated, safe and friendly, sometimes we need to close areas or parks for construction. While it?s a temporary inconvenience, doing this work is an important part of stewardship and will help everyone enjoy these lands for generations to come.

A couple notable closures this year:


* Lake Sylvia State Park [ [link removed] ] will close June 10 to Sept. 30 to replace a culvert beneath the entrance road with a new bridge and road. We encourage you to check out neighboring Schafer State Park [ [link removed] ] for camping and day use.
* Cape Disappointment [ [link removed] ] camping and much of the park will close from Sept. 2024 to spring 2025 for entrance, office, road and trail construction and wetland restoration. North Head Lighthouse, Beard?s Hollow, Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and all of neighboring Fort Columbia [ [link removed] ] will be open. The lightkeepers? residences [ [link removed] ] are also still open for lodging.

Other parks are also experiencing closures, partial closures or impacts from work such as road construction and buoy replacements. Please check park alerts [ [link removed] ] for updates before you head out.

Big waves crash under a lighthouse at Cape Disappointment with beach wood in the foreground




Park aide recruitment: a summer job or a new career?

Two park aides, one in an orange jumpsuit, stand on a trail, digging in the dirt.

If you take a job as a WA State Parks park aide, you may have a memorable season working outdoors, or you may find a whole new career path.

Our South Sound Area Manager, Olyvia Buday changed majors after volunteering at a state park for a summer. After college she took a park aide job and has since worked her way up to management. Read her story [ [link removed] ] here.

Pro golfer Rex Schultz retired early but took a winter park aide job at Mount Spokane. He has since been promoted twice, most recently to Inland Northwest/Blue Mountain Area community engagement coordinator. Read his story here. [ [link removed] ]

If these stories inspire you, consider becoming a park aide and apply ASAP [ [link removed] ]. Most positions start in March or April.







Skip spring cleaning! How about spring shopping at Parks' online store?

Pendleton blankets with State Parks logo for sale at our online store

Shop the Washington State Parks online store and show your love for Parks. Check out our newest merchandise just in time for Spring and let it put you in the mood for 2024 outdoor adventure planning!

Browse [ [link removed] ] t-shirts, beanies, hats, blankets and more!?







Two walkers stroll the Centennial Trail


Help us help you: we want to make working with state government easier.

The State of Washington wants to learn more about your interactions with its government services to better support your needs. Please take this 15-minute survey [ [link removed] ]?for a chance to win a $200 gift card (your choice of 1,000+ options)!








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