Our 2025 is off and running. Come join the fun!





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*January 2025*





A group of musicians in traditional Vietnamese dress play traditional instruments before a background mural with leaves.
Events light the way between winter and spring

From Vietnamese performance art [ [link removed] ] (indoors) at Tolmie; to guided snowshoe hikes at Lake Wenatchee [ [link removed] ] and Lake Easton; [ [link removed] ] to educational hikes at Deception Pass [ [link removed] ]; our great events will keep you busy through springtime.

Visit Ginkgo Petrified Forest [ [link removed] ] Museum for Sunday activities, South Cle Elum Depot [ [link removed] ] for Monday mid-morning open hours and Olmstead Place [ [link removed] ] to see the historic cabin on Saturdays. Or make a difference for your favorite Spokane destination by joining a volunteer event at Riverside. [ [link removed] ]

Our parks often add activities to the Calendar of Events. [ [link removed] ]Look for updates as you plan your winter schedule.






*Our year is off and running. How about yours?*






Man leaning on fence in forest
First Day Hikes were a hit

For those of you who joined us on First Day Hikes in our parks, thank you for spending the first day of 2025 with us!

Over 30 state parks held 45 activities, including hikes, bike rides, horse rides and snowshoes.

1,847 people participated, covering a collective 2,754.8 miles of distance.

Maryhill and Lake Sammamish also held polar plunges. Brrrr!

We’d call that a great start to a new year!

People snowshoe by a lake

A brilliant sunrise over a body of water with a boat at a dock.
Construction projects

*Bomb cyclone storm repairs*

Thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers, Wallace Falls [ [link removed] ] and several trails at Squak Mountain [ [link removed] ] state parks have reopened after sustaining damage in the Nov. 19 “Bomb Cyclone” storm.

A few trails at Squak Mountain remain closed, however. They are the Old Griz, Eastside and Phil’s Creek trails.

*Nisqually State Park*

An exciting new phase of development starts this month at Nisqually State Park [ [link removed] ]. The park will close Jan. 26 through the summer while crews begin a forest health thinning project. This work is part of the development of the park, which is being completed in phases.

Learn more about the Nisqually development plan [ [link removed] ].






Four people stand elbow to elbow in front of an RV and a picnic table.
Low season means last minute getaways

The holidays are over, but it’s still dark and cold out. What’s a Washingtonian to do?

We're in our low season, but that means hardy souls who enjoy wintry outdoorsing can often find last-minute camping, cabin and yurt availability.

Use our reservations system [ [link removed] ] to book your experience of choice! Look for parks that offer same-day [ [link removed] ] and next-day reservations, and check out the flexible dates feature in case your chosen park is full on your preferred dates.

You can also try primitive snow camping (with proper gear, of course) at Lake Easton [ [link removed] ], Lake Wenatchee [ [link removed] ] and Fields Spring [ [link removed] ] state parks! Learn more about the ins and outs of winter camping here [ [link removed] ].

And, for all you master planners booking fall trips already, check out our Tree ID blog [ [link removed] ] in which we pay homage to our golden treasure, the larch tree.

*Reserve today* [ [link removed] ]






A person in an orange jacket stands on a dock looking out on a bay under blue sky.
Help! What pass do I need?

Are you new to Washington’s outdoors, or are you a pro who still scratches their head trying to match the proper pass with the corresponding destination?

If so, you’re not alone. And we’re here for you.

Check out this handy guide [ [link removed] ] that parses out the pass systems for state and federal lands.

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A group of hikers on a rock plateau overlooking forest and water


Find your next adventure!

*What are your New Year's resolutions?*

Maybe they involve visiting a new park, learning about our state's history, attending a concert on the beach, making the perfect S’more over a campfire or just getting outside more often!

Find what you are looking for on our website:


* Find Parks [ [link removed] ]
* Find activities [ [link removed] ]
* Events calendar [ [link removed] ]







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