State Parks offers ‘free days’ to park visitors in 2014

Washington State Parks will offer several “free days” in 2014 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park, including Dash Point State Park in Federal Way.

Washington State Parks will offer several “free days” in 2014 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park, including Dash Point State Park in Federal Way.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state-managed recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required to access DFW and DNR lands. The 2014 State Parks free days are as follows:

• March 19 – Washington State Parks birthday

• April 19 – A spring Saturday “free day”

• April 22 – Earth Day

• May 11 – A spring Sunday “free day”

• June 7 and 8 – National Trails Day and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife free fishing weekend

• June 14 – National Get Outdoors Day

• Aug. 25 – National Park Service birthday

• Sept. 27 – National Public Lands Day

• Nov. 11 – Veterans Day