Submitted by Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission announces that Sunday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 16 are the next state parks free days when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day visits at state parks. The free days are to honor the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The free days for 2017 are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on lands managed by Washington State Parks and the Washington departments of Natural Resources and Fish & Wildlife. The Discover Pass legislation provided that state parks could designate up to 12 free days each year when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by WDFW and DNR on these days.
In 2017, State Parks offers 12 free days, the first of which was on Jan. 1. The remaining free days for 2016 are:
- Sunday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 16 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Sunday, March 19 — State Park’s 104th birthday
- Saturday, April 15 — Springtime free day
- Saturday, April 22 — Earth Day
- Saturday, June 3 — National Trails Day
- Saturday, June 10 — National Get Outdoors Day
- Friday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service 101st Birthday
- Saturday, Sept. 30 — National Public Lands Day
- Saturday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
- Friday, Nov. 24 — Autumn free day
State Parks hopes the free days will encourage people to get out and discover a new park or revisit an old favorite and then consider supporting recreation on state lands by purchasing a Discover Pass. More information about the pass is at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks. During the winter season, December through March, visitors to Sno-Parks will need Sno-Parks permits. For more information about winter recreation permit requirements, visit http://parks.state.wa.us/winter.
For a list of all the free days for 2017, visit http://parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=262.
