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 Drumroll, please! Concerts and events are coming to parks!
Summer concerts are off to a great start at Cape Disappointment, with more outdoor music at Lincoln Rock and Lake Wenatchee beginning July 4 weekend!
We?ve also got the Skandia Midsommarfest at Saint Edward June 30 and United Communities of Laos Summer Festival at Lake Sammamish July 27. Save the dates and see the Folk & Traditional Arts Program event page or download/print a PDF of the calendar!
From ranger talks and tours, to craft workshops and interactive learning, this is the season for family-friendly programming in parks. Check our events calendar and time your trips to get the most out of your state park visit!
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Celebrate National Camping Month with us |
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 Got wiggle room in your schedule? Check out the flexible dates feature on our reservations system!
Last month we brought you good news of our same-day reservation program, which expanded from three to 26 parks.
Now we?re introducing another nifty addition, the flexible dates feature!
If your schedules have some give, the flexible dates feature makes it easier to pick a campsite without having to search through a bunch of dates. Visitors can also add filters to accommodate specific needs.??
How it works: Visit our reservations website and choose "flexible dates.? Then pick a time period up to four months in advance. Select your park, add group size and equipment, hit ?search? and, voila!, see all the dates and sites available at your park of choice. Finally, you can snag a spot on the day that works best for you.
For more information, please reach out to the Parks Information Center by calling (360) 902-8844 or emailing [email protected].???
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 Become a Park Host
Park hosting is one of the most popular volunteer opportunities at Washington State Parks. Hosts help Parks achieve our mission, to connect all Washingtonians to their diverse natural and cultural heritage and to provide memorable recreational and educational experiences.
Hosts assist park staff in campground and park operations and assist visitors by providing park information, answering questions and explaining rules. Hosts are provided a designated host campsite and available utilities during their volunteer service. As a host, you will be joining a supportive community of volunteers and staff who serve the public and our public lands.
Check out our website to see the current Park Host openings and learn how to apply! We also periodically post openings on Facebook.
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 Schafer commemorates Centennial, opens new campground
Though the Schafer Logging Company donated what is now Schafer State Park to us in 1924, the company still held extravagant community picnics there into the late 1930s. In fact, they used to dam the Satsop River for log rolling and logging-themed competitions.
We don?t dam rivers or offer log rolling at Schafer anymore, but that doesn?t mean we?re not fun! (We still think we?re fun!) We?re partnering with the Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia (FOSLS) to host a Centennial commemoration on Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, family-friendly event includes live music, a food truck, yard games, kids? activities, historical displays, a raffle and square dancing.
Book an overnight stay and try the park?s new campground. Though summer weekends get busy, Schafer is part of the same-day reservation program ? for all you last-minute planners out there.
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It?s hard to believe it?s nearly the Fourth of July!?
Many people love to celebrate Independence Day with a trip to the beach.?Washington State Parks encourages everyone who celebrates to be safe and good stewards of the environment.?
We remind everyone that fireworks are illegal on all state park lands, including beaches in front of state parks.?Discharging fireworks on state park lands can result in a $99 ticket.????
We also ask that people respect any beach driving closures in areas designated to protect wildlife and marine habitat. Although it?s legal to drive onto the beach in several areas, all the rules of the road apply. The speed limit is 25 mph. Pedestrians and horses are always granted the right of way.???
Please note:
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You should only drive on hard-packed sand. We recommend finding a nearby paved parking lot and walking to the beach to avoid getting stuck in the sand.
- No parking is permitted along the entry to beach access points. Please obey all posted "No Parking" signs. Keep beach and beach approach roads clear. Congestion at access points limits the response ability for emergency vehicles.
- Cars parked below the high tide line may get stuck or washed out to sea. Tow support will be limited or unavailable.
- It's always illegal to use drugs or alcohol and get behind the wheel. Open container laws apply to beaches. Keep safety belts buckled when moving.?
Finally, we ask visitors to dispose of their litter in designated receptacles. If one is not available, please plan to bring trash bags to pack it out yourself.?
The holiday increases traffic and visitation to our coastal beaches, which means we see a spike in amounts of litter. Last year, volunteers collected more than 111,087 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during Parks? annual July 5 beach cleanup. That?s equivalent to the combined weight of seven adult orca whales.?
Any litter left behind?on the beach threatens the safety and future of beach wildlife and marine life and can be unsafe for people and pets.??
Participate in our July 5 beach cleanup
If you are interested in doing more to help keep our beaches clean and safe, join us on July 5 for a beach cleanup volunteer event. Washington?CoastSavers?will be putting a list of participating beaches and check-in locations on their?website. Stay tuned!
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Tips for a great summer outdoors
Question: What do dog safety, summer groovin? and pickle chicken sandwiches have in common?
Answer: They?re all recent topics in our Field Guide Blog!
Read our ideas to keep your pooch safe in our parks, our lineup of concerts and festivals, and a tangy, meaty sandwich idea to make for your picnic.
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