clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

15 Nearby Free Washington State Parks To Visit On Earth Day

View as Map

Photo: Brian Sterling

Tuesday, April 22 in Earth Day. We suppose you could spend it sitting in a cramped office trying your best to make sure you recycle or you could take advantage of the fact that all Washington State Parks are free today (one of only 12 days in the year). We've compiled and mapped out fifteen Washington State Parks within driving distance from Seattle. Whether you're looking for mossy trails, sunny lakes, quiet campgrounds or historic buildings, you'll find something on this planet worth celebrating.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Blake Island State Park

Copy Link

Blake Island State Park is a 475-acre marine camping park with five miles of saltwater beach shoreline providing magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The park is only reachable by tour boat or private boat. Indian-style salmon dinners and demonstrations of Northwest Indian dancing are offered at Tillicum Village, a concession on the island.

Saint Edward State Park

Copy Link

A 316-acre park in Kenmore and Kirkland. Before becoming a Catholic seminary and later a state park, the area was logged in the 19th century and again in the 1920s. A series of trails runs through the park for bicyclists and hikers.

Bridle Trails State Park

Copy Link

Bridle Trails State Park, a 482-acre day-use park, is well-known for its horse trails and equestrian shows. The forested park is on the northeast edge of the Seattle metropolitan area. Sometimes called the wilderness in the city, this park is a popular getaway destination for Seattle and Eastside residents. The park is known for its riding and walking trails, weekend horse shows, evening music events, and the Bridle Trails Park Foundations community celebration Party in the Park.

Dash Point State Park

Copy Link

Dash Point State Park is situated on Puget Sound in Western Washington and is a popular destination for water recreation. This 398-acre camping park features 3,301-feet of saltwater shoreline. The beach provides unobstructed views of the Puget Sound and opportunities for sea-life study.

Saltwater State Park

Copy Link

Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet in the park as a symbol of an end to their mutual competition. The park offers beautiful views and wildlife-watching opportunities. The park features tide pools and marine life, including salmon spawning in McSorley Creek.

Lake Sammamish State Park

Copy Link

Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858-feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Native American tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features.

Squak Mountain State Park

Copy Link

Squak Mountain State Park is a 1,545-acre day-use park just outside of Issaquah and a short 15-minute drive from Seattle. This forested park, a wilderness with glimpses of Issaquah below, has miles of winding trails alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines. There are several trail loop options on this 2,024-foot-high mountain. With multi-use trails and a natural area, equestrians and hikers alike have plenty to explore.

Kopachuck State Park

Copy Link

Kopachuck State Park is a 109-acre marine park with 5,600-feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (Deadman's Island) is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. The park provides scenic views of sunsets, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.

Iron Horse State Park (Twin Falls Trailhead)

Copy Link

Iron Horse State Park is a 1,612-acre park that was once part of the path of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. More than 100 miles of trail extends from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River. High trestles provide spectacular views of the valley below.

Olallie State Park

Copy Link

Olallie State Park is known for the scenic beauty of its two waterfalls. Located on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains, this day-use park features 6 miles of hiking trail for visitors to explore the 2,500-acres of cliff formations and old-growth forest, teeming with huckleberries. An 80-foot bridge connects the park’s two main attractions: the Weeks Falls, at 77-feet high, and the spectacular Twin Falls, at 135-feet high. The winter is the best time of year to view the grandeur of these mighty cascading waterfalls.

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

Copy Link

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is a 320-acre camping park on a small, low plateau in a natural forest setting in the Green River Gorge. The park has two miles of shorelines on the Green River. Boat and raft launching is by hand only. River rafting and kayaking on the Green River is for expert-level enthusiasts only. Shoreline activities include nature appreciation, trout fishing, and picnicking.

Flaming Geyser State Park

Copy Link

Flaming Geyser State Park is a 480-acre day-use park with more than three miles of freshwater shoreline on the Green River. The park's most unique feature is its geysers, methane seeps. The Green River is popular for rafting and other summer activities. There is an area for remote-control model-airplane flying.

Nolte State Park

Copy Link

Nolte State Park is a 117-acre day-use park with 7,174-feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake in the Green River Gorge. Covered with forests and blessed with water, the land was a resort for many years before it was donated to State Parks. This summer day-use park is popular for its water activities and grassy lawns on the shore of a small lake. A one-mile hiking path winds around the water.

Penrose Point State Park

Copy Link

Penrose Point State Park is a 165-acre marine and camping park on the shores of Puget Sound. The park has over 2 miles of saltwater frontage on Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet. Wildlife, birds, and forested terrain make this a beautiful park. The park sets on the shores of Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet and offers a wide variety of water activities. Impressive stands of fir and cedar share space with ferns, rhododendrons, wildlife, and birds.

Federation Forest State Park

Copy Link

Federation Forest State Park is a day-use natural area. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of 600 acres of old growth Douglas Firs, with mature Western Hemlock, Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedar trees. Hike through five distinct ecosystems within a radius of just one mile. Short interpretive loops make this ideal for small children.

Blake Island State Park

Blake Island State Park is a 475-acre marine camping park with five miles of saltwater beach shoreline providing magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The park is only reachable by tour boat or private boat. Indian-style salmon dinners and demonstrations of Northwest Indian dancing are offered at Tillicum Village, a concession on the island.

Saint Edward State Park

A 316-acre park in Kenmore and Kirkland. Before becoming a Catholic seminary and later a state park, the area was logged in the 19th century and again in the 1920s. A series of trails runs through the park for bicyclists and hikers.

Bridle Trails State Park

Bridle Trails State Park, a 482-acre day-use park, is well-known for its horse trails and equestrian shows. The forested park is on the northeast edge of the Seattle metropolitan area. Sometimes called the wilderness in the city, this park is a popular getaway destination for Seattle and Eastside residents. The park is known for its riding and walking trails, weekend horse shows, evening music events, and the Bridle Trails Park Foundations community celebration Party in the Park.

Dash Point State Park

Dash Point State Park is situated on Puget Sound in Western Washington and is a popular destination for water recreation. This 398-acre camping park features 3,301-feet of saltwater shoreline. The beach provides unobstructed views of the Puget Sound and opportunities for sea-life study.

Saltwater State Park

Saltwater State Park is an 88-acre marine camping park with 1,445 feet of saltwater shoreline on Puget Sound. The park is located halfway between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle. The cities jointly and literally buried a hatchet in the park as a symbol of an end to their mutual competition. The park offers beautiful views and wildlife-watching opportunities. The park features tide pools and marine life, including salmon spawning in McSorley Creek.

Lake Sammamish State Park

Lake Sammamish State Park is a 512-acre day-use park with 6,858-feet of waterfront on Lake Sammamish. The area around the lake was an important culture zone for local Native American tribes for centuries. The park provides deciduous forest and wetland vegetation for the enjoyment of visitors. A salmon-bearing creek and a great-blue-heron rookery are additional features.

Squak Mountain State Park

Squak Mountain State Park is a 1,545-acre day-use park just outside of Issaquah and a short 15-minute drive from Seattle. This forested park, a wilderness with glimpses of Issaquah below, has miles of winding trails alongside bubbling creeks and narrow ravines. There are several trail loop options on this 2,024-foot-high mountain. With multi-use trails and a natural area, equestrians and hikers alike have plenty to explore.

Kopachuck State Park

Kopachuck State Park is a 109-acre marine park with 5,600-feet of saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay. One portion of the park, Cutts Island (Deadman's Island) is a half mile from shore and reachable only by boat. The park provides scenic views of sunsets, the Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound.

Iron Horse State Park (Twin Falls Trailhead)

Iron Horse State Park is a 1,612-acre park that was once part of the path of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. More than 100 miles of trail extends from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River. High trestles provide spectacular views of the valley below.

Olallie State Park

Olallie State Park is known for the scenic beauty of its two waterfalls. Located on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains, this day-use park features 6 miles of hiking trail for visitors to explore the 2,500-acres of cliff formations and old-growth forest, teeming with huckleberries. An 80-foot bridge connects the park’s two main attractions: the Weeks Falls, at 77-feet high, and the spectacular Twin Falls, at 135-feet high. The winter is the best time of year to view the grandeur of these mighty cascading waterfalls.

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park

Kanaskat-Palmer State Park is a 320-acre camping park on a small, low plateau in a natural forest setting in the Green River Gorge. The park has two miles of shorelines on the Green River. Boat and raft launching is by hand only. River rafting and kayaking on the Green River is for expert-level enthusiasts only. Shoreline activities include nature appreciation, trout fishing, and picnicking.

Flaming Geyser State Park

Flaming Geyser State Park is a 480-acre day-use park with more than three miles of freshwater shoreline on the Green River. The park's most unique feature is its geysers, methane seeps. The Green River is popular for rafting and other summer activities. There is an area for remote-control model-airplane flying.

Nolte State Park

Nolte State Park is a 117-acre day-use park with 7,174-feet of freshwater shoreline on Deep Lake in the Green River Gorge. Covered with forests and blessed with water, the land was a resort for many years before it was donated to State Parks. This summer day-use park is popular for its water activities and grassy lawns on the shore of a small lake. A one-mile hiking path winds around the water.

Penrose Point State Park

Penrose Point State Park is a 165-acre marine and camping park on the shores of Puget Sound. The park has over 2 miles of saltwater frontage on Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet. Wildlife, birds, and forested terrain make this a beautiful park. The park sets on the shores of Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet and offers a wide variety of water activities. Impressive stands of fir and cedar share space with ferns, rhododendrons, wildlife, and birds.

Federation Forest State Park

Federation Forest State Park is a day-use natural area. Enjoy the beauty and diversity of 600 acres of old growth Douglas Firs, with mature Western Hemlock, Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedar trees. Hike through five distinct ecosystems within a radius of just one mile. Short interpretive loops make this ideal for small children.