Posted in Washington
December 29, 2015
These 15 State Parks In Washington Will Knock Your Socks Off
Washington is an awe-inspiring place, and you can admire some of the most magnificent scenery at our state parks. Since we have a total of 186 state parks throughout our region, our previous list didn’t even put a dent in all of the areas to head out and explore. Here are 15 more amazing places that you’ve got to check out:
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Being one of the largest parks in our state, the size alone will blow your mind at 13,919 acres. In comparison, the largest building in the world (Boeing Factory in Everett) is only about 98.3 acres! The forested park offers wonderful trails & outdoor recreation year-round, as well as a historic vista house on the summit.
This huge park on Orcas Island offers miles of trails for hikers & bikers to travel along. It also has beautiful sites by the lake to camp at, and a stone observation tower on top of Mount Constitution where you can catch a striking view of the mountains.
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This unique park is located at the international border we share with Canada. On our side, there's a beautiful state park in Blaine, and on the other side is a Provincial Park. In the center, there's a giant 67-foot-high peace arch memorial. Visitors to the park are free to visit both sides without having to worry about any border formalities.
If you're looking for one of the best places in the world to spot wild orcas, this park on the western shore of San Juan Island is the perfect destination. It also features an iconic lighthouse and a network of walking trails to discover.
This historical park was once part of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad, and now features miles of scenic trails in between Cedar Falls and the Columbia River. Pictured is the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, which travels east along the old Milwaukee Road.
Whether you're looking to go hiking or you just love to see Evergreen scenery, you'll be amazed by this park south of our state's capital. It features 3,300-feet of freshwater shoreline along Deep Lake, a number of scenic trails, as well as old-growth Cedar & Fir trees.
Boasting 2 miles of shoreline, this park along the Green River is perfect for a relaxing day trip. It has an abundance of places where you can go picnicking, hiking, biking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and even kayaking & rafting.
This huge camping park features over 6,000-feet of shoreline on Potholes Reservoir, also known as O'Sullivan Reservoir. The desert & marsh area serves as a wonderful place to go fishing, camping, hiking, or just for an evening picnic.
Between the miles of trails, picnic tables, wildlife, and jaw-dropping beach scenery, you'll definitely want to plan a trip to this forested park near Olympia. It's located on Nisqually Beach overlooking the picturesque Puget Sound.
Located on Port Orchard Bay, this marine park is an amazing place to go for a stroll. It offers year-round camping, plenty of parking space, and access to a variety of water activities. "Illahee" means "earth" or "country" in the Indian tradition, and the views of Puget Sound from the beach will really give you a sense of how it got its name.
One of our state's most incredible natural wonders can be seen at this park near Coulee City. Formed by the Missoula Floods, Dry Falls was once ten times larger than Niagara Falls. Today, the tall cliff overlooks a desert landscape filled with lakes, places to go camping, a nine-hole golf course, and a miniature golf course.
There's a little something for everybody at this place on Whidbey Island! It features miles of trails, picnic areas, and three campgrounds to choose from. The photogenic park also has sand dunes, a variety of wildlife, saltwater & freshwater shoreline, and an iconic bridge where you can admire a jaw-dropping view.
The sandy beaches and water recreation aren't the only reason why you should check out this park in western Washington. There are plenty of trails around here and an abundance of wildlife to spot, from rabbits to hummingbirds.
Fort Flagler is surrounded on three sides by 19,100 feet of shoreline and features areas for camping, hiking, boating, kite flying and more. It's located on the site of a former United States Army fort at the northern end of Marrowstone Island.
This treasure in Pend Oreille County is home to Gardner Caves, which is the third longest limestone cave in the whole state. It's full of fascinating stalactites, stalagmites, rimstone pools and flow stone.
What are some of your favorite state parks in Washington? Add to this list below!
