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 Make the most of summer events in state parks!
Summer is officially underway and we’re ready for all the outdoor fun we can handle!
Are you the spontaneous type?
Choose from several great events in our parks on Sat., July 20:
(Or, if Friday evening is your jam, attend the brand-new concert series at Lincoln Rock!)
Need a little planning time?
Lake Sammamish and Saltwater are hosting exciting international events on July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 24 and Sept. 1! Attend the Lao, Cambodian, Iu Mien and African festivals to learn about your neighbors and their rich cultural traditions!
Take a look at our Calendar of Events for more fun activities in state parks this summer.
Photo: Ubuntu Nerudo African Heritage Festival is at Lake Sammamish, Sept. 1. By Deborah Shibanda Photography
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Safety tips for land and water this season! |
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 Beat the heat in our parks with these tips:
It’s getting hot out there! And those of us from the PNW – especially on the west side of the mountains – might be struggling. Not to fear! We have helpful tips to keep you safe and healthy while that big yellow ball in the sky shines so bright.
- First off, drink lots of water – and maybe save that beer or mixed drink for the evening in camp after things cool off. Dehydration can make you feel icky at best and dangerously ill at worst. Nobody likes being sick on vacation!
- Second, wear (waterproof) sunscreen and reapply it often. Like dehydration, a bad sunburn can ruin your vacay.
- Heed all burn bans and practice fire safety in camp. As our buddies at DNR say, “Don’t set the state on fire."
- Put out cigarettes in water
- Park on pavement or gravel – not on dry grasses
- Be careful when lighting camp stoves
- Douse all campfires before you leave camp or go to bed (if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave)
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Recreate Responsibly during wildfire season.
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 Coming up: Paddle Safe Week!
It’s an exciting time of year for paddlers, who may – at this exact moment – be hoisting kayaks and canoes onto roof racks and digging out pumps for inflatable pack rafts and paddleboards.
That’s why Paddle Safe Week takes place July 22-28! Before you jump in a lake, river or Puget Sound with your human-powered watercraft, please refresh your memory about how to stay safe on the water.
The single, most important safe paddling practice is this: Always wear a life jacket on the water.
State law requires all vessels to have at least one properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Participants under 12 are required to wear the life jacket at all times. But, really, we suggest everyone wear a life jacket on the water. It can’t help if it’s strapped to your board or tucked in your kayak compartment…
The State Parks Boating Program also recommends the following safety practices:
- Get educated
- Always use a leash with a standup paddleboard
- Carry essential gear
- Check and understand the weather
- Protect against cold water shock
- File a float plan
- Paddle with a group
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
- Learn to self-rescue
- Label your paddlecraft
- Be visible to other boaters
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 Summer/fall park closures - and reopenings
We don’t want to rush the summer vibes, but we want to give you a heads-up about a few closures this fall.
But first, some good news: The easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail, which was closed for repaving, reopened ahead of schedule! That means the 40-mile paved trail from Nine Mile Recreation Area to the Idaho border is open and ready for adventure.
In late September, much of Cape Disappointment State Park and all Cape Disappointment camping will close until spring of 2025. The North Head Lighthouse will be open, and folks can rent out the lightkeepers’ residences for overnight stays.
Seaquest State Park will close from Sept. 15 to mid-October for finishing touches to last spring’s major construction.
The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center will close from September to mid-May 2025 for a renovation of its exhibits. The Silver Lake Trail will remain open. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting development and outdoor programming this winter!
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A former colleague who worked at the beach parks famously told us the Fourth of July decimates a whole year's worth of conservation efforts in 24 hours at the coast.
TBH, we have no idea why anyone would want to show their love for their country by trashing one of its most sacred landscapes. What happened to "sea to shining sea"?
Call us Pollyanna, the eternal optimist, but we still hope to see positive change in our lifetime. As we continue to beat the drum of Leave No Trace, we want to thank our mighty partners and heroic staff, who keep rolling that proverbial boulder up the hill.
More than 1,000 amazing volunteers came to pick up 129,526lb (or 64.76 tons) of trash July 5. That's about 18,000 lbs. more than last July 5. (Seriously people, we have to do better!) Check out this video from Surfrider about the "Dirtiest Beach Day of the Year."
Thank you again to Coastsavers, Surfrider Olympia, Surfrider Grays Harbor and Grassroots Garbage Gang for their amazing efforts to recruit volunteers and help at our annual cleanup events.
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Good eats & good reads in our Field Guide Blog
Pickle chicken sandwiches, anyone? Banana S’mores? Check out our latest camp recipes in our Field Guide Blog.
Looking for a summer read in your campsite? Dive into the Life of Bessie, the true tale of a military wife, mother, grandmother and forever-curious adventurer born in the late 19th century. Find out what Bessie got up to, from her childhood near Leadbetter Point, through her young married years at then-active Fort Worden!
And, if you haven't made vacation plans yet, get inspo from this Kitsap Peninsula state parks itinerary!
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