April 2025

2024 Washington Coast Cleanup, Chimacum Corner Farmstand check-in location

Help celebrate Earth Day on April 19 by caring for our beaches

Read our Field Guide Blog

Bright yellow Balsamroot at Riverside State Park

Where to see wildflowers — and avoid the crowds

From April to August, Washington’s landscapes burst into bloom. While iconic spots like Dog Mountain (June) and Mount Rainier (July) draw the crowds, several WA state parks offer stunning displays without the traffic jams.

If you're dreaming of:

• Hillsides painted with wildflowers
• Singing "The Hills Are Alive" to birds and squirrels
• Peaceful trails with plenty of photo ops (and no crowds)...

These underrated wildflower hikes are for you.

Just remember — protect what you love:

• Stay on marked trails
• Park only in designated areas
• Pack out all trash
• Don’t pick the flowers

• Skip seed scattering — it spreads invasive species

Let’s keep these wild places wild — and beautiful for everyone to enjoy!

Photo credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Help us protect snowy plovers

It’s nesting season on the coast, and that means snowy plovers are back!

Have you ever seen one? Probably not — and that’s no surprise. These tiny, endangered shorebirds nest right on the sandy stretches of Washington’s beaches, blending in almost perfectly with their surroundings. Their chicks are even harder to spot — think tiny, fluffy cotton balls darting across the sand.

Snowy plovers have been listed as endangered since 1981. Without our help, future generations might never get to experience their quiet charm — or feel that instant “awww” when they do.

Here’s how you can protect snowy plovers and their fragile habitat:

• Stay out of marked nesting areas
• Keep dogs leashed and away from nesting zones
• Watch where you walk and recreate
• Pack out everything you pack in
• Spread the word — awareness is powerful

With your help, we can give these little birds a fighting chance to thrive.

Beautiful sunny day at Blake Island State Park

Experience the beauty of our parks this spring

As the days lengthen and warm up, you’ll find more events in parks near you:

Near Seattle
Kick off spring with adventure at the Lake Sammamish Outdoor Festival on May 3! Enjoy a 3k walk, outdoor yoga, local art, adoptable dogs, delicious food trucks and so much more.

Near Anacortes
Take guided walks and ranger talks on birds, beaches, mammals and more at Deception Pass on Fridays and Saturdays through April, including an Earth Weekend event April 19. 

Near Port Townsend
Learn about beach bluffs and birds at Fort Worden during pop-up programs on April 16 and 18.

Near Ellensburg
Visit the historic Smith House and cabin at Olmstead Place Saturdays and take part in kids’ geology activities Sundays at Gingko Petrified Forest through April.

Near Spokane
Participate in the scenic course of the Spokane River Run through Riverside, where you’ll dash along single-track trails with pine-scented air, basalt cliffs and the Spokane River roaring in the background.

In the Columbia River Gorge
For the second year in a row, Beacon Rock is hosting a living history event at the Lower Picnic Area’s CCC-era Kitchen Shelter, in partnership with the Roosevelt’s Tree Army Living History Group.

Check our Event Calendar for newly added activities!

Learn more about the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, Kittitas County

Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, May 6 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to learn more about the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. Our staff will present on a variety of projects, activities and trail impacts planned for 2025. The presentation will also include a sneak peek at the Kittitas Depot renovation (east of Ellensburg) and Seabury Trestle improvements (west of Tekoa). Use this link to register. 

Background:
The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is a 251-mile, “rail-to-trail” that runs from Cedar Falls near North Bend east to the Idaho border. The trail is a converted rail line within a portion of the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which operated from 1909 to 1984. Today, the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail gives hikers, cyclists, and equestrians a taste of Washington’s scenic diversity from the forested Cascade Mountains to the arid scrublands of eastern Washington. Learn more about the history of the trail here.

Adaptive Cycling Center reopens at Lake Sammamish

Action Trackchair being used at Lake Sammamish State Park

The Adaptive Cycling Center (ACC) reopens at Sunset Beach in Lake Sammamish State Park on April 17, where Outdoors for All Foundation will once again loan out Parks’ motorized all-terrain Action Trackchair for free. The ACC will be open 10 a.m to 6 p.m., daily and is closed on holidays. Use of the chair is first come, first served. Borrowers need to sign a waiver and bring a friend to help them transition between their regular chair and the Trackchair. In addition to the Trackchair, the ACC also has free adaptive bicycle rentals for cyclists age seven and up.

Park alerts

Always check for park alerts and closures before heading out on an adventure!

When you’re putting together your pre-trip checklist, make sure it includes checking the conditions at your intended destination. Here are a few parks with active alerts:

• Steptoe Butte is currently closed for a road washout
• Nisqually is closed for development of a trail system and building construction

Check the full list of alerts here.

Trip resources

Get ready for summer with Moorage & Natural Investment Permits

Mooring areas and boat launch at Beacon Rock State Park

Did you know Washington State Parks has the largest state-managed mooring system in the nation, with more than 40 marine parks and 8,500+ feet of public moorage space for your enjoyment of Washington's waterways?

As you plan your summer adventures, don’t forget to secure your Moorage Permit. These permits give you access to designated mooring spots (piers, docks, anchor buoys, mooring buoys) at state parks.

Additionally, the annual Natural Investment Permit waives fees for watercraft launches, trailer dump stations and day-use parking, making it a great option for frequent park visitors. It's valid for one year and can be used across multiple vehicles.