Hello, and thank you for being part of such a wonderful community. The last several weeks have been challenging for all of us, and so I wanted to reach out and say a few things as we continue our response to the coronavirus.

I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude for all that you do to support our public lands. Every time you’ve visited a park, volunteered for trail work, contributed to outdoor education, or practiced Leave No Trace, you have contributed to making parks the vibrant places they are today. The strength of your contributions are ever-present in our minds. Thank you.

I also want to let you know that we are working as hard as we can to respond to this pandemic in the safest, healthiest way possible. Sometimes this will mean trade-offs between access and public health. Please know that with every decision we make, we are keeping your health – and the health of our employees – at the forefront.

Finally, you, and our shared passion for the outdoors, are the reasons we exist. Please stay safe.

Don Hoch

Director, Washington State Parks

This week, we announced the temporary full closure of all Washington state parks for at least two weeks. This decision follows Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order issued on Tuesday. We want to do our part to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19.  The measure adds to our March 22 decision to close state parks to camping through April 30.

As of yesterday, entrance gates and facilities are closed, and onsite public services, such as restrooms, are also closed. Parks staff will continue to work, and essential staff will be onsite to preserve and protect park resources.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this unprecedented time. Like you, we look forward to the day we can reopen parks and enjoy these wonderful outdoor spaces — together!

Get updates on our response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wishing you good health!

If you made a reservation to stay at a Washington State Park through April 30, you will get a full refund — with no cancelation fee. You should be getting an email with further information within a week.

If you’re a parent or guardian with young kids at home, you may be wondering what you can do to keep them busy and engaged. We’re here to help! Our Junior Ranger Program has more than a dozen fun (and educational) activities your kids (and you) can do at home!

Learn about the 40^th anniversary of Mount St. Helens’ eruption, craft a critter, complete a word search, or gaze into the constellations. Some activities can be done indoors, while others can be done outside in nature, if you have a safe outdoor space to visit while staying away from other people.

Once your kids have completed their age-appropriate activities, print off the Junior Ranger certificate and have your very own Junior Ranger ceremony congratulating the young ones for learning about nature and doing their part to keep everyone safe!

 Check out these great activities for the Junior Ranger in your life!