No. 303 2015 Washington State Discover Pass Free Days

Washington State Parks and Recreation turns 102 this year.

Website: http://www.parks.wa.gov/

List of 2015 “Discover Pass Fee free days” in 2015 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a Washington State Park. 

• Jan. 18-19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• March 19: State Parks' 102nd birthday
• April 4: Saturday Spring Day
• April 22: Earth Day
• May 10: Sunday Spring Day
• June 6: National Trails Day
• June 13: National Get Outdoors Day
• Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday
• Sept. 26: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

In 1913 Washington State legislature creates the Washington State Board of Park Commissioners. The first two were formed from donated land in 1915 : The John R. Jackson House, a pioneer heritage site near Chehalis, and the Chuckanut State Park. In 1947 the State Park Committee was renamed to the Washington State Park and Recreation Commission and given the authority to oversee the state park system, purchase land and collect fees. 

PARK PRESERVES THE 1845 LOG CABIN OF ONE OF THE VERY EARLIEST PIONEERS TO SETTLE IN WASHINGTON. THIS WAS THE FIRST U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN 1850 AND WAS A STOPPING PLACE ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL

As of June 2011 there are 117 State Parks covering 138,000 acres which includes uplands, lowlands, aquatic and marine life areas. The Washington Department of Natural Resources owns an additional 3,000,000 acres throughout the Evergreen State. 

Checkout the WSPR list for further information and to reserve a campsite 

List of 2014 "Fee Free Days"

If you plan on visiting and exploring Washington State-managed land this year outside of the Fee Free Days you will need to have a Discover Pass. Fine for not displaying the pass is $99. 

Here is a list of some of my favorite State Parks 

Click on the links below to learn more about each park

North Sound State Parks

Bay View State Park 

Deception Pass State Park 

Fort Casey, Whidbey Island

Fort Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island

Moran State Park, Orcas Island

Western Washington

Fort Flagler

Seattle Area State Parks

Wallace Falls State Park

Lake Sammamish State Park, Issaquah Washington

Southern Washington 

Rainbow Falls State Park

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

North Head Lighthouse, Cape Disappointment, WA

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No.188 North Creek Park, Mill Creek, Washington

North Creek Park
1011 183rd Street SE
Mill Creek, WA 98012
 MAP IT
Driving Directions
From the city of Mill Creek, follow the Bothell-Everett Hwy. south to 183rd Street; turn right; travel approximately 1/4  mile; park is on the right.

Mill Creek's floating Boardwalk offers a quick getaway and side of nature in suburbia

North Creek Park features a modern play ground area and around 80 acres of wetlands adjacent to the former homestead of the Bailey Farm. The Baily Farm, founded in 1891 by pioneer John Bailey, had 160 acres of farmland that once was home to cattle, dairy cows, and horses.  Ruth Bailey, the founders daughter-in-law, was the last person to work the farm and a steadfast proponent against the fast moving urbanization happening in and around Mill Creek. She did not want to see her families farm turned into asphalt parking lots and homes so she shooed away eager property buyers until her death in 1999.
By 2003 the entire homestead had been sold. Snohomish County purchased around 80 acres and private investors bought up the rest of the property.
Currently there is a 400 unit townhouse and condo complex being built at the south end of North Creek Park named Bailey Farms.
North Creek begins as a bubbling brook 12 miles away in south Everett and eventually drains into the Sammamish River. The wetlands of North Creek park act as a giant 80 acres flood plane for the Mill Creek area. The wetlands is home to many varieties of birds including ducks, herons, hawks, eagles and tiny song birds.
In 2012 Snohomish County refurbished and fitted the 3/4 mile long boardwalk with floatation allowing the boardwalk to rise and fall with the current water table within the wetlands.

Gear Used:
 

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