Washington State Parks Offer 2 Free Days In April

As the weather warms and the flowers blossom, Washingtonians will have a couple of chances to check out one of more than 100 state parks for free in April.

Typically, vehicle access to state lands requires a $10 day-use fee or the $30 annual Discover Pass. When legislators approved the pass, they mandated Washington State Parks designate up to a dozen free days each year. In celebration of spring's arrival and Earth Day, April gets a double dose.

Free days to visit Washington State Parks in April:

• Saturday, April 3: Springtime free day
• Thursday, April 22: Earth Day

On free days, visitors do not need to pay for day-use parking at state parks, but fees will still apply for overnight use or camping. Free days at state parks are separate from those offered by the National Park Service, which offers a different schedule.

After April, there are still more than a half-dozen chances to visit a state park for free, including three weekend days in June.

Here are the remaining free parks days for 2021:

• Saturday, June 5: National Trails Day
• Saturday, June 12: National Get Outdoors Day
• Sunday, June 13: Free Fishing Day
• Wednesday, Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday
• Saturday, Sept. 25: National Public Lands Day
• Thursday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day
• Friday, Nov. 26: Autumn free day

Find a complete list of places to visit on the Washington State Parks website.