State Parks Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

No Letup Expected This Summer In Crowding At Northwest Parks And Trailheads

By Tom Banse May 28, 2021

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the beginning of the summer camping, vacation and recreation season. Last summer, Pacific Northwest public lands and trailheads were overrun by people seeking COVID-safe getaways in the fresh air. The pandemic may be winding down, but it doesn't look like the crowds are abating.Read More

Washington State Parks Commission Changes Plan On Navy Usage For SEAL Training

By Courtney Flatt February 11, 2021

Deception Pass State Park, on the north end of Whidbey Island. CREDIT: Washington State Parks

During a special meeting Thursday, the commission voted to let the state parks director decide if daylight restrictions can be lifted or modified after the Navy’s nine-month trial period is up, as long as the Navy complies with limits on when and where it will conduct training operations.Read More

Washington Approves More SEAL Training In State Parks, But Not As Much As Navy Requested

By Courtney Flatt January 28, 2021

The permits would expand the five parks previously used for Navy SEAL training to 16 or 17. The Navy had requested access to 28 state parks as a way to diversify its training sites. Officials had said a small number of sites can become too familiar to trainees overtime.Read More

Navy Seeks More SEAL Training Areas In Washington By Sea, Air, Land…And State Parks

By Courtney Flatt November 20, 2020

You’ve seen the movies: Navy SEALs slowly emerge from the water and walk up a beach. In real life, the Navy is hoping to conduct special operations training exercises at 28 Washington State Parks. But many park users say it ups the “creepiness” factor.Read More

Like A Scene Out of ‘Mad Max’: Washington And Oregon State Parks Struggle To Address Crowds

By Anna King May 14, 2020

Palouse Falls State Park is home to Washington's official state waterfall -- and large crowds in the spring runoff season.

Northwest state officials are struggling to contain crowds in parks in the time of coronavirus. Washington opened most parks on May 5, Oregon on May 6. Now, the states are trying to fine tune their response for future sunny-day crowds.Read More

‘Enjoy. Enjoy!’ Washington State Parks Reopen, And Humans Rejoin The Geese And Deer

By Courtney Flatt May 5, 2020

Washington State Parks area manager Audra Sims removes the “Emergency Closure” sign from the gate at Sacajawea Historical State Park, outside Pasco. The park re-opened to the public on May 5, after a nearly six-week closure. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

For the last six weeks, if you followed a winding road past the Port of Pasco and the start of a recreational trail, you’d come to a closed gate. A large orange “Emergency Closure” sign tacked to its front. Today, the sign came down, and the gate opened.Read More

Most Washington State Parks Set To Reopen Tuesday, With Gorge And Coast Areas Waiting Longer

By Tom Banse May 3, 2020

Steamboat Rock State Park is one of more than 100 Washington parks slated to reopen on Tuesday, May 5. CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

More than 100 Washington state parks made the cut to reopen for day use beginning Tuesday, but aficionados of Pacific Coast and Columbia River Gorge getaways will have to wait a while longer.Read More

Locals Only, Please. Reopening Of Some Washington State Parks Greeted With Concern

By Tom Banse April 29, 2020

Lime Kiln Point State Park on San Juan Island CREDIT: Tom Banse/N3

Outdoor enthusiasts in Washington may be looking forward to the reopening of many shuttered state parks and public lands next week. But a few of Washington's most popular state parks could stay closed because the surrounding communities are worried about crowds and renewed disease spread.Read More

Washington Moves Toward Reopening Fishing, Hunting, Golfing, State Parks Beginning May 5

By NWPB News April 27, 2020

Fishing, hunting and golfing can resume on May 5 in Washington, at which time people can also return to state parks and other state lands for day trips, Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday.Read More

Sept. 28 Public Lands Day Means Free Admission To State And National Recreation Sites

By Meerah Powell September 27, 2019

Mount Rainier National Park could soon have cellphone access at Paradise and on nearby hikes. CREDIT: EILIS O'NEILL

The 26th annual National Public Lands Day is this Saturday, Sept. 28. That means free visits to recreational sites around the nation. Read More

Washington’s Newest State Park Is In The Works Along Nisqually River Near Eatonville

By Tom Banse May 17, 2019

The new entrance sign telegraphs the state-tribal partnership to manage the new state park. CREDIT: WA STATE PARKS

Washington is getting its first new full-service state park in many years. The planned park build-out is on land the state owns along the Nisqually River near Eatonville, Washington. Nisqually State Park will be developed thanks to $3 million included in a state construction budget to be signed into law by Washington's governor Tuesday.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Pass Budget To Avert Imminent Government Shutdown

By Austin Jenkins June 30, 2017

CACOPHONY / WIKIMEDIA – TINYURL.COM/N3AC2EV Listen If you have a reservation at a Washington state park this weekend or you rely on state services, you can breathe a sigh of […]Read More