12 Free Days On State Recreational Lands In 2023

OLYMPIA, WA — Washington State Parks this week unveiled next year's Discover Pass free days, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy recreation lands managed by the state park system, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The annual free days are mandated by the 2011 legislation that created the Discover Pass, which costs between $30 and $35 annually. One-day vehicle access permits range from $10 to $11.50. The free days apply only to day trips, and visitors planning to camp will still need to pay the associated fees.

Continuing the tradition from this year, Billy Frank Jr.'s birthday, Juneteenth and World Mental Health will once again be on the list in 2023.

Washington State Parks explains:

• Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) was an environmental activist and former chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. His lifelong dedication to protecting endangered salmon and restoring justice for the Nisqually Tribe helped shape Washington’s environmental laws and expand treaty rights for Native Americans nationwide.
• Juneteenth has been celebrated in Black communities since June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. The news reached them two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Last year, Juneteenth became an official state holiday.
• World Mental Health Day was designated as a free day to acknowledge the power of nature to restore mental health. Studies show time spent in nature boosts serotonin, dopamine and vitamin D levels and lowers blood pressure and cortisol, helping our bodies combat stress.

Here are the 12 free days on state lands in 2023:

• Sunday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day and First Day Hikes
• Monday, Jan. 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Thursday, March 9 - Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday
• Sunday, March 19 – Washington State Parks’ birthday
• Saturday, April 22 – Earth Day
• Saturday, June 10 – National Get Outdoors Day
• Sunday, June 11 – Free Fishing Weekend
• Monday, June 19 - Juneteenth
• Saturday, Sept. 23 – National Public Lands Day
• Tuesday, Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day
• Saturday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
• Friday, Nov. 24 – Autumn Day