The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has released its schedule of days in 2015 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park.
The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass — a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Natural Resources.
The legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required. The free days apply only at state parks, like Lake Sammamish State Park or the Tiger Mountain State Forest; the Discover Pass is still required to access WDFW and DNR lands.
The free days are:
- Jan. 1 — New Year’s Day and State Park’s First Day Hikes Day
- Jan. 18 and 19 –Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- March 19 –Washington State Parks’ 102nd birthday
- April 4 – A springtime free Saturday
- April 22 – Earth Day
- May 10 – A springtime free Sunday
- June 6 – National Trails Day
- June 13 – National Get Outdoors Day
- Aug. 25 – National Park Service 99th birthday
- Sept. 26 – National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
Learn more about the Discover Pass at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.