enews template header 2




*September 2025*





A row of poplar trees turning yellow at the shore of a calm lagoon with reflection and brown hills in the background

Fall colors reflect in the calm lagoon at Daroga State Park.

What our staff love about fall in state parks

Can you feel the crisp morning air and the back-to-school buzz? Are you craving warm beverages? Have you noticed the leaves turning color?

There’s so much to love about autumn, especially at our state parks, so we asked our staff to share their favorite part of the season change. Here’s what they said:

*State Parks Director Diana*


* Bird migration season, August through November! Grab your favorite warm beverage, scarf and binoculars, and head out to log our seasonal visitors.

*Brinna (Sacajawea)*


* Getting to wear warm, comfy clothes, eating soup, watching the leaves change, and enjoying the outdoors without the annoying bugs!

*Anne (Southwest Region)*


* The return of REAL campfires once fire danger has passed.

*Ranger Amber (Birch Bay)*


* The fall colors!

*Ranger Ann (Fields Spring)*


* The smell of dry plants and dirt getting wet again in the early fall rains. I'm in the Blue Mountains, but I bet each eastside park has its own special flavor once the rain comes back.

*Sara (Eastern Region)*


* A brisk walk in the Horan Natural Area at Wenatchee Confluence is always a welcomed moment in the fall.

*Ranger Aaron (Moran)*


* The seasonal mountain bike closure at Moran State Park is ending! Trails open to biking Sept 15 - May 15. Come ride some loamy Orcas Island singletrack!





*You can make a difference: Upcoming volunteer opportunities*






A volunteer shows off her spoils from a State Parks beach cleanup, a small fraction of the trash her group collected.

Are you ready to sea a change?

"Join the last beach cleanup of 2025, next Saturday, Sept. 20"

Each year, State Parks and our partners host three beach cleanups along Washington’s Pacific coast and Salish Sea.

The last cleanup of the year will take place on Saturday, Sept. 20.

In the first two cleanups of 2025, we removed 155,003 lbs. of marine and firework debris. That’s just shy of last year’s total for all three cleanups. These escalating numbers year over year serve to remind us that protecting our coast is more important than ever. 

Marine debris poses one of the greatest threats to our oceans. Left unchecked, trash can entangle or be ingested by birds, fish and marine mammals, and microplastics work their way into the food chain. It’s a big problem but one we can help solve together. 

You can make a difference!

Visit CoastSavers.org [ [link removed] ] to see the full list of beaches participating in the fall cleanup, pick a beach near you and pre-register for the Sept. 20 event. 



Wood piles in a creek

One example of the woody material in Issaquah Creek that will help the salmon along their journey

Lake Sammamish trails reopen after big restoration project

Our salmon habitat restoration project on Issaquah Creek at Lake Sammamish has gone swimmingly. We’re finishing work on the last small closure area of the Homestead Trail, but the rest of the trails have reopened.

In partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, we've improved the creek, adding large woody material that give the fish places to rest, find shade and hide from predators.

Stop by to hike Issaquah Creek and keep an eye out for salmon using the stream. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see one!

*Tree planting Oct. 11*

Even though the in-stream construction is finished, there’s still work to be done along Issaquah Creek!

On Saturday, Oct. 11, the Greenway Trust will plant up to 2,000 trees on the banks, and they could use some help! Register here [ [link removed] ] to join this volunteer event from 9 a.m. to noon, and celebration from noon to 2 p.m. Dress for all weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring water and snacks. Planting supplies will be provided.

If you can’t make the date, check for more fall volunteer opportunities at Lake Samm [ [link removed] ].

Learn about the project in this blog [ [link removed] ] from our friends at the Greenway Trust.






________________________________________________________________________







A fiery sunrise over a coastline with a cliff and a lighthouse in silohuette

Ranger Shane Miller captured this fiery sunrise over Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.






Parts of Cape Disappointment will close for construction this month





Beginning Sept. 16, Cape Disappointment will be getting a makeover, and you will not be disappointed by these improvements!

In addition to a new entrance and welcome center, we’ll be repairing roadways, building trails and boardwalks, restoring wetland and more.

Parts of the park will close this month, including:

* Campground loops A, B and C
* Waikiki Beach
* North Jetty

Parts of the park will stay open, including:

* North Head Lighthouse
* Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
* Beard’s Hollow
* The lightkeepers’ residence [ [link removed] ]s near North Head, for overnight bookings

Campground Loop D will temporarily remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until construction progresses. Please call the park office at (360) 642-3078 [ tel:%28360%29642-3078 ] and check park alerts [ [link removed] ] before heading to Cape D for the latest updates and availability!

If you’re looking for a sure thing on the coast, the officer’s home and former hospital at Fort Columbia [ [link removed] ] will also be open for overnight bookings, and Grayland Beach [ [link removed] ] and Twin Harbors [ [link removed] ] have camping, cabins and yurts 90 minutes north.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming you back to Cape Disappointment camping, cabins, yurts and day-use next spring!






________________________________________________________________________







A Discover Pass surrounded by ferns




Buy now for $30, gear up for a full year of adventure





The price of the annual Discover Pass will increase to $45 on Oct. 1. But no matter when you buy, the Discover Pass is a great deal. Passes like this cost $100-$500 in other states, including states that don’t have the many natural wonders that we do in Washington. 

Your Discover Pass gets you unlimited access to over 100 state parks, 350 recreation sites, 700 water access spots, 80 natural areas and 33 wildlife areas. And your dollars stay right here – 100% of Discover Pass revenue goes back into maintaining parks and public lands. Your purchase directly supports trail upkeep, facility improvements and habitat protection.

*Buy your Discover Pass today* [ [link removed] ]






Park alerts

*Always check for park alerts and closures before heading out on an adventure!*

When you’re putting together your pre-trip checklist, make sure it includes checking the conditions at your intended destination. Here are a few parks with active alerts:

Pass Lake in Deception Pass State Park [ [link removed] ] is closed to all recreational access due to toxic algae levels. The lake will remain closed until levels are below recreational guidelines.

The Swale Canyon portion of the Klickitat Trail [ [link removed] ] is currently under its seasonal wildfire closure. It will tentatively reopen Oct. 8.

Due to recent wildfire damage, a portion of the Rex Derr Trail [ [link removed] ] in Pearrygin Lake State Park is closed until further notice. For your safety, do not enter the closed section. 

Check the full list of alerts here [ [link removed] ].











Trip resources





*What is toxic algae & what we can do about it* [ [link removed] ]




*Who's who at Washington State Parks* [ [link removed] ]




*Washington outdoor passes explained * [ [link removed] ]






A stone tower on a hill at sunrise

Mount Constitution at sunrise, by Elsa Thorp






Three Discover Pass-free days left this year!

Every year we designate 12 days when you don’t need a Discover Pass [ [link removed] ] to park. There are three free days left in 2025:


* Saturday, Sept. 27 (in honor of National Public Lands Day)
* Friday, Oct. 10 (in honor of World Mental Health Day)
* Tuesday, Nov. 11 (in honor of Veteran's Day)

And it’s not too early to save the date – Jan. 1, 2026 – the first free day of the new year and a chance to take a First Day Hike guided by a ranger.

Stay tuned for our First Day Hike announcements in the coming months!








Washington State Parks [ [link removed] ]     [ [link removed] ] Facebook [ [link removed] ] YouTube [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ] blog [ [link removed] ]    

Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]  |  Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ]  |  Help [ [link removed] ]  |  Contact Us [ [link removed] ]  |  Subscribe [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission 1111 Israel Road S.W. · Tumwater · WA 98501-6512 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;} p, li, h1, h2, h3 { overflow-wrap: normal; word-wrap: normal; word-break: keep-all; -moz-hyphens: none; -ms-hyphens: none; -webkit-hyphens: none; hyphens: none; mso-hyphenate: none; }