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*January 2026*





A video screenshot of a map depicting the Ice Age Flood path from Missoula, Montana [ [link removed] ]

Check out this cool animated video of the Ice Age Floods!

The Missoula Ice Age Floods ... animated!

In partnership with the National Park Service [ [link removed] ] and the Ice Age Floods Institute [ [link removed] ], we’re eager to share an exciting look at the floods that reshaped landscapes across much of the Pacific Northwest thousands of years ago.  

Our very own Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park [ [link removed] ] was created by these floods. Though it has long dried out, it once held a waterfall that was five times the width and over two times the height of Niagara Falls. Today, you can visit the park and see the dry 400-foot-high, 3.5-mile-wide remnants of this ice age waterfall, which make up one of the largest cataracts on the planet. 

In 2023, the International Union of Geological Sciences, one of the world's largest scientific organizations, selected Dry Falls [ [link removed] ] to be part of The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, which includes areas designated by the geoscience community for their significant impact in understanding the Earth and its history. 

*View the animation here* [ [link removed] ]






*EMPLOYMENT & ITINERARIES*






A group of staff stands beside a State Parks work truck.

This is your caption. Click CC to edit.

Our 2026 Park Aide recruitment is ON!

Ready to embark on the coolest job of your career? We’re hiring more than 300 park aides to work in Washington state parks for the 2026 season.   

If you love the outdoors, enjoy working independently and as part of a team and prefer work where no two days are the same, this may be the job for you! 

We’ve got positions all over Washington, so choose a park close to home or explore a new part of the state this season.  

Many former park aides say their summer with us was their all-time favorite job.  Learn more [ [link removed] ].  

A park aide gives the thumbs-up from within their booth at a park welcome station

*Apply Today!* [ [link removed] ]



A starry night over a snowy tree and ground.

Mt. Spokane shines under a starry sky. By Camryn Harbert.

Where to go to play in the snow

The holidays are over, but snow season’s just getting started.  

This month, staff weighed in on their favorite spots to ski, snowshoe, try fat-tire biking, or throw snowballs: 

“Normally Mount Spokane [ [link removed] ], but this winter has been a bit of a dud so far. That's all about to change this week.”  "Editor’s note: About two feet of snow have fallen since this response!"⛷️ 

“Central Washington is the place to be! I love snowshoeing at Lake Easton [ [link removed] ], Easton Reload [ [link removed] ] and along the Palouse to Cascades Trail at Hyak [ [link removed] ]. I plan on snowshoeing at Gold Creek since it's open for winter.” 

”MTTA Sno-Park [ [link removed] ] above Ashford for hut-to-hut snowshoeing. You can book anight in a hut and hike to fire lookouts and magnificent views of Rainier.”  

“Crystal Springs [ [link removed] ] is our family's favorite. We love to bring friends and spend the day snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. There are so many beautiful trails, and always a treat to see dogsleds too!” 






A mountain lodge in the sun and snow.

Wohelo Lodge at Fields Spring State Park is the ultimate winter escape!

Wohelo Lodge welcomes you!

Book a midweek stay at Fields Spring State Park

There’s no shame in wanting a roof over your head as you enjoy the Pacific Northwest, but not everyone has an RV or a camper van.   

That’s why our cabins and yurts are popular options – and you can sometimes find last-minute availability in January and early February, especially during the week.  

*A winter retreat in Southeastern WA*: 

Invite your friend group, your whole family – or just a few besties and rent the historic Wohelo Lodge for a fun winter retreat. 

Originally built for the Campfire Girls in 1935, the lodge at Fields Spring sleeps up to 20. Trails leave from the front door, and one of the best sledding hills in the state is steps away.  


* Bring snowshoes and hike to a sweeping view of the Wallowa Mountains and Grand Ronde River from this park in the Blue Mountain range. 

* Watch for wildlife and their tracks – you may see grouse, snowshoe hare and more! 

* Bundle up for a night hike to photograph the stars and the Milky Way, or depending on when you visit, bright moonlight on snow. 

* Pack sleds for sledding by the lodge. You may have the long, steep hill to yourself midweek. 

* Make hot cocoa and cider for your crew and spend cozy evenings by the fireplace.  

*How to reserve:* 

Wohelo must be reserved three days in advance with a 2-night minimum stay. To reserve Wohelo Lodge on our reservations site [ [link removed] ], click on “Vacation Houses,” then “Group Vacation Rentals,” and enter “Fields Spring State Park” and your dates.

Wohelo Lodge reservation example

A screengrab of how to book the Wohelo Lodge in the State Parks reservation system

*Book Wohelo today!* [ [link removed] ]






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Visitors on a guided snowshoe along a forested road.

Visitor walk on a sparkly staff-led snowshoe hike at Lake Easton.

Find indoor and outdoor adventures this season

Winter is a time to slow down, but here in Washington that can mean clopping around a lake on snowshoes or scanning the forest to see a new bird. It can mean ducking into an interpretive center for a fun history or geology lesson or feeling accomplished after a morning of volunteer work.

Whatever “slowing down” means to you, you will find it in our parks!

*Near Cle Elum:
*Join guided snowshoe hikes at Lake Easton [ [link removed] ]
Explore railroad history at South Cle Elum Depot [ [link removed] ]
Do geology activities at Ginkgo Petrified Forest [ [link removed] ]

*North Central WA:
*Take guided snowshoe hikes at Lake Wenatchee [ [link removed] ]

*Northwest WA:
*Take a guided bird walk at Deception Pass [ [link removed] ]

*Puget Sound:
*Join a work party to improve the trails at Dash Point [ [link removed] ]

*Spokane:
*Sign up to use the Action Trackchair at Riverside [ [link removed] ].

A picnic area in a park.

The CCCpicnic shelters at Twanoh are a great place to gather. But remember to pack out what you pack in this year!

Trash-free Twanoh

Visiting Twanoh State Park? Here’s what to bring: 


* Reusable food containers 
* A small trash bag 
* A plan to pack it all out 

Beginning this year, Twanoh State Park [ [link removed] ] will not have trash service in its day-use areas. That means  you’ll need to pack out everything you pack in during your next visit. 

We also encourage you to unbox and recycle new gear and gadgets at home – packaging is one of the largest contributors to in-park waste. 

A little planning goes a long way to reduce waste, protect wildlife and keep our parks beautiful for years to come.

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A park ranger leads a hike, showing props as he goes.

First Day Hikes, like this one at Cape Disappointment, combined walking and learning activities.






Thank you for joining our First Day Hikes!

We want to give a big thanks to everyone who chose to spend New Year’s Day with us on a First Day Hike!  

*By the numbers:* 

* On Jan. 1 Washington State Parks hosted 43 First Day Hikes.  
* Park staff and volunteers welcomed 1,765 participants from around the Pacific Northwest to our parks.  
* These hikes collectively covered 3,204.45 miles. 

These guided and self-guided activities meandered on lakes, through forests, down long-distance trails, through Ice Age Flood-carved scablands and on islands, wetlands and wild beaches. And they weren’t just hikes! Some involved snowshoeing, horseback riding, tree plantings and historic tours.   

A shoutout goes to the Washington State Parks Foundation [ [link removed] ] for sponsoring the 2026 collector’s button and light refreshments at most parks. 






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:

Cape Disappointment's [ [link removed] ] camping remains closed for renovations.

Cama Beach's [ [link removed] ] lower park is closed due to sea wall damage.

Steptoe Butte [ [link removed] ] remains closed for a washout.

Check the full list of alerts here [ [link removed] ].






Trip resources





*Washington outdoor passes explained* [ [link removed] ]




*The "10 Essentials" to take on every outdoor adventure* [ [link removed] ]




*Your guide to building a safe campfire* [ [link removed] ]






A group of people, including several in traditional Vietnamese dress with traditional musical instruments.




How parks help us find our humanity

Have you told stories around the campfire? Read a book, listened to music, talked with a friend about aging parents, cranky teens, a new love, or recent travels? That means you’ve participated in the humanities.

It sounds fancy, but the "humanities" are the way we explore and document the human experience — through art, music, language and stories. And thanks to State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program Coordinator Makaela Kroin, we keep upping our game on that front.

Humanities Washington [ [link removed] ] recently presented Makaela with a prestigious statewide award for emerging leadership.

Makaela was nominated by the executive director of Arbutus Folk School [ [link removed] ], which, in partnership with FTAP has brought Senegalese drumming, Japanese calligraphy, Swedish fiddling, Quinault cedar bark weaving and more to Tolmie [ [link removed] ] and Millersylvania [ [link removed] ].

The 20-year-old FTAP program includes cultural festivals [ [link removed] ], theatrical productions, oral history projects, interpretive programs and the four signature concert series [ [link removed] ] in our parks, which were funded last year by the Washington State Parks Foundation and Friends groups.

Please keep watching the FTAP Calendar of Events [ [link removed] ] and plan to attend one of these wonderful concerts or festivals in 2026!

"Photo caption: Makaela, at far left, stands with staff and partners at a performance of Vietnamese traditional music at Tolmie."








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