The U.S. Forest Service and Washington State Parks are waiving fees at their day-use recreation sites on Saturday for National Get Outdoors Day.
Washington State Parks' Discover Pass, $10 daily or $30 annually, or the U.S. Forest Service's Northwest Forest Pass, also $30 annually, is usually required for parking at state park or national forest trailheads.
The money generated from these passes help offset steep reductions in general tax support for parks and other recreation lands.
Hikers can take advantage of several free park days this year; just last week, state parks and many trails were free because of National Trail Day. The occasion on Saturday is National Get Outdoors Day.
Here are some of the participating state parks in Washington state:
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Olympic National Park
The fee waiver includes many picnic areas, boat launches, trail heads and visitor centers that operate under the Forest ServicThe free days only apply to day-of use and not overnight stays.
“The Pacific Northwest is blessed with incredible natural beauty and world-class recreation opportunities,” regional forester Jim Peña said in a news release. “Whatever your interest or skill level, there’s something for everyone, so get outdoors and enjoy your public lands.”
If you’re already busy this weekend, here’s the full list of free state park days for the rest of 2017.
- June 10 — National Get Outdoors Day
- Aug. 25 — National Park Service 101st Birthday (Excludes Northwest Forest Pass)
- Sept. 30 — National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
- Nov. 24 — Autumn day (Excludes Northwest Forest Pass)
Before you lace up your hiking boots, you might want to pack some rain gear. Stay updated on weather while you're on the go with the free KIRO 7 Weather app. Download here.
Cox Media Group
