By Douglas Scott
The State of Washington is home to some of the most beautiful places in the world, and the majority of them are just a few shorts hours form most of our homes. Our extended backyards lead to majestic mountains, tranquil beaches and old growth forests, many of which are located in State Parks or other protected lands. While typically the purchase of a Discover Pass or a $10 per day fee is required to visit Washington’s State Parks, the agency has designated nine more days in 2015 as “Fee Free” entry days.
During the nine “Fee Free” days at Washington State Parks, a Discover Pass is not required to visit a park, providing free access for all who choose to visit. The waived fees do not cover camping or rented facilities in the park, but do cover entry and the chance to explore some of Washington State’s most celebrated lands free of charge. The dates for 2015 are as follows:
March 19: State Parks’ 102nd birthday
April 4: Saturday Spring Day
April 22: Earth Day
May 10: Sunday Spring Day
June 6: National Trails Day
June 13: National Get Outdoors Day
Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday
Sept. 26: National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Washington has 117 state parks spread throughout every corner of state, which makes finding the perfect park for your day off or weekend vacation a challenging job. Luckily, the State Park Department not only has a map of individual regions, but an interactive way to search for a park by region and even see a map of the park before you get there. In and around Grays Harbor, those looking to take advantage of a fee free can see a handful of the state’s best sights, just a short trip from home.
6 Great Grays Harbor Region Parks
With two miles of hiking trails, 56 camping sites and numerous outdoor exhibits detailing the park’s history and culture, Schafer State Park is a great place to walk in the woods or enjoy a day of fishing on the Satsop River. The park is lined photos and descriptions of the Schafer’s pioneer settlement, highlighted by the “Life of the River” exhibit, which explains flooding, geology, fish habitat, and other features at the park. In 2010, the park was listed on the National Historic register and the National Register of Historic Places.
With over five miles of hiking trails, a half-mile ADA approved trail, kayaking, swimming and opportunities to fish in a gorgeous lake, Lake Sylvia State Park is hard to pass up. With 37 spots to camp, as well as kayak rentals in the summer months, staying or visiting Lake Sylvia is sure to be a fun experience for all. Lake Sylvia State Park is rich with logging history. Huge, old-growth stumps are a common sight, but the highlight for many is the giant wooden ball carved from a single log by a local logging legend. According to the State Park’s website, the logger who carved the ball could stand atop it while it was floating in the lake and walk it from one end of the lake to the other.
Often overlooked for the larger state parks along the coast, Ocean City State Park’s 170 acres are a fantastic place to explore the beaches and rivers of the southern Olympic Peninsula. While there isn’t much hiking to be done at Ocean City, the bird watching, beach combing and sunsets alone make this an excellent park to visit. With clamming, fishing and animal watching possible near the crashing waves, Ocean City also offers 178 camping spots. Even if you decide not to camp, stay here for a sunset along the always pretty Washington Coast.
Offering over a mile and a half of saltwater shoreline along the Pacific Ocean and nearly two miles of freshwater shoreline on the Copalis River, Griffith-Priday Ocean State Park is a fantastic place to spend a day along the southern Olympic Coast. The northern end of the Copalis Spit is part of a designated wildlife area for birds, while the park itself lies to at the northern edge of the National Marine Sanctuary. In the spring months, this is an excellent location to see the migration of Gray Whales heading north.
The Westport Light State Park awaits your exploration, just south of the town of Westport. With 1.3 miles of ADA accessible trails, hiking, beach combing, fishing and wave jumping are all possible in the shadow of a tall lighthouse. The lighthouse, built in 1898, served as a navigation aide for the southern entrance of Grays Harbor. The park has 15 unsheltered picnic tables, which are first come first serve. The trail, which is paved, leads to Westhaven State Park, 1.3 miles away.
Many of us in Grays Harbor may overlook our port rivals to the south, but Leadbetter State Park at the tip of the Long Beach Peninsula is one of the more underrated State Parks around. With nearly eight miles of hiking trails, opportunities for boating, fishing and clamming, Leadbetter is a great place to escape on the Washington Coast. Located near the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, the park gives visitors an amazing chance to see migratory birds of all shapes and sizes. Pair this state park with Cape Disappointment to the south of the Longbeach Peninsula, and you will witness one of the more unique stretches of the Washington Coast.
