State Parks offers two final free days in November

Recreation and outdoor enthusiasts have two more opportunities to visit Washington’s state parks for free in 2017. On these free days, day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass for vehicle access on Saturday, Nov. 11 and Friday, Nov. 24.

Since the free days were first designated in 2011, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has set aside Nov. 11, Veterans Day, as one of its free days to honor those who served in the armed forces. This year, the agency moved one of its two spring free days to Nov. 24, as a way to encourage people to visit a state park in autumn.

State Parks free days are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on lands managed by Washington State Parks and the Washington departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Fish & Wildlife (WDFW). The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 free days each year when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by WDFW and DNR on these days.

Free days apply only to day-use access by vehicle, not overnight stays or rented facilities.