OLYMPIA — Starting with New Year’s Day, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is offering citizens 12 “free days” in 2016, during which visitors will not be required to display a Discover Pass to visit a state park.
The no-fee days are held as part of the legislation that created the Discover Pass.
The pass costs $30 to be used on two vehicles, or $10 for a one-day permit. It is required for any vehicle to access recreation sites managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.
However, fishing and hunting license buyers get a vehicle access pass which is good for lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Discover Pass legislation allowed State Parks to designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit their lands.
But the free days apply only at state parks; the Discover Pass is still required on WDFW and DNR lands on those days.
The 2016 State Parks free days are on the following:
Jan. 1 — (Thursday) New Year’s Day and State Parks’ First Day Hikes Day
Jan. 17 and 18 — (Sunday and Monday) Martin Luther King Jr. Day
March 19 — (Saturday) Washington State Parks’ 103rd birthday
March 26 — (Saturday) A springtime free Saturday
April 22 — (Friday) Earth Day
May 8 — (Sunday) A springtime free Sunday
June 4 — (Saturday) National Trails Day
June 11 — (Saturday) National Get Outdoors Day
Aug. 25 — (Thursday) National Park Service 100th birthday
Sept. 24 — (Saturday) National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 — (Friday) Veterans Day
More information about the Discover Pass is at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
