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Washington State Parks Fee Free Days!

Stay close to home and visit 3 Eastside State Parks

January 14, 2022


Washington State Parks are open and ready to welcome you for a fun day with the family! 

It is recommended for visitors to opt for day trips close to home and luckily we have three wonderful state parks a hop, skip, and jump away! Visit three of our closest state parks:

  1. Bridle Trails State Park offers a 28-mile trail system for horseback riding and hiking bordering Kirkland, Bellevue, and Redmond. 5300 116th Ave NW, Kirkland, WA 98033
  2. Lake Sammamish State Park is 512 acres and located at the south end of Lake Sammamish. 2000 NW Sammamish Rd, Issaquah, WA 98027
  3. Saint Edward State Park was once a seminary and is a 319-acre day use park in Kenmore. 14445 Juanita Drive NE, Kenmore, WA 98028

Planning a day getaway? Here are some tips.

  • Bring your own TP. Hand washing supplies and toilet paper may have limited availability at certain sites.
  • Before you go, confirm it's open. Check here.
  • Stick with your household. Continue practicing 6 feet of physical distancing with all others.
  • Don't forget your sanitizer. Or bring your own water and soap.
  • Clean up. Keep our lands clean and remember to take your garbage with you.
  • Enjoy the fresh air and change of scenery. You deserve it!

Get a Discover Pass

When visiting a WA State Park, you will need a Discover Pass. You can either buy an Annual Pass for $35 or a One-Day Pass here.

Washington State Parks offers the following 12 "free days" when a Discover Pass is not required to visit a state park:

  • Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
  • Jan. 17 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • March 9 -- Billy Frank Junior's Birthday
  • March 19 — State Parks’ 108th Birthday
  • April 22  — Earth Day
  • June 11 — National Get Outdoors Day
  • June 12 — Free Fishing Day
  • June 19 — Juneteenth
  • Sept. 24 — National Public Lands Day
  • Oct. 10 -- World Mental Health Day
  • Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
  • Nov. 25 — Native American Heritage Day

Please note, free days apply only to day use (not overnight stays or rented facilities). A Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by the Washington state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife on these days. Sno-Park permits are still required on free days at designated Sno-Parks during the winter season.

Visit discoverpass.wa.gov for more info.


The Eastside Macaroni Kid is a free weekly e-newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information. We gather together all kinds of local family activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, school and camp guides, and more. We proudly serve families in Bellevue, Redmond, Mercer Island, Kirkland, Bothell, Woodinville, and Kenmore!

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