No fee required: nine days to park for free at Washington State Parks

It's two down and nine more to go, at this point, with the next "free day" (no parking fee required) slated for March 19, in recognition of state Parks 102nd birthday. See below for a state Parks "free day" schedule.

March 5, 2015 4:41 pm
Sometimes overshadowed by the appearance of killer whales offshore
Sometimes overshadowed by the appearance of killer whales offshore

There may indeed be no free lunch, but a free outing at Washington State Parks?

Well, that’s a different matter.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission set aside a dozen days in 2015 in which parking fees are not required at any state park.

It’s two down and nine more to go, to date, with the next “free day” slated for March 19, in recognition of state Parks 102nd birthday (see below for a state Parks “free day” schedule).

“These free days are great way for people to explore a new park or return to an old favorite,” said Commission Chairwoman Pat Lantz of Gig Harbor. “Once people realize just what they have in Washington state parks, we hope they consider buying a Discover Pass. Revenues from the pass are so important; they help keep our parks open and accessible.”

Free days are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.

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. A Discover Pass is required to access DFW and DNR Lands on state Parks free days.

For information about Discover Pass, visit online at; http://discoverpass.wa.gov/

State Parks Free Day calendar:

• April 4 – (Saturday) A springtime free Saturday

• April 22 – (Wednesday) Earth Day

• May 10 – (Sunday) springtime free Sunday

• June 6 – (Saturday) National Trails Day

• June 13 – (Saturday) National Get Outdoors Day

• Aug. 25 – (Tuesday) National Park Service’s 99th birthday

• Sept. 26 – (Saturday) National Public Lands Day

• Nov.11 – (Wednesday) Veterans Day

The Discover Pass allows for daytime access to parks. Overnight visitors are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations; day access is included in the overnight fee. The Discover Pass does not replace the Sno-park permit requirement for use of Sno-Park winter recreation sites.