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Senior Discounts in Washington State Parks

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With 124 state parks, five state recreation areas and three national parks, Washington is an outdoor paradise. Ranked among the top five in the country, Washington’s state parks offer everything from eye-popping beaches to scenic hikes to pristine lakes begging for swimmers and boaters. One park even made the travel guide expert, Fodor’s, list of the top ten state parks in the United States. If you are looking to explore, take advantage of these senior discounts to visit the top Washington state parks.

Senior Citizen Limited Income Pass

The senior citizen limited income pass is good for a 50% discount on nightly camping or moorage and includes free watercraft launching, trailer dump and day-use entry. Valid year round. To qualify, you must be a Washington state resident, 62 years and older, with a yearly adjusted gross income of $40,000 or less. If you are married, your spouse’s income must be included. Applicants who own property must also meet the requirements for a property tax exemption under the Revised Code of Washington 84.36.381. This pass is valid for five years and can be used year round. Senior Citizen Limited Income Pass Application (PDF or Word document)

Off-season Senior Citizen Pass

This pass offers free nightly camping or moorage from Oct. 1 to March 31, and Sunday through Thursday in April. There is a $10 per-night fee for utility sites. Passes are available for $75 for Washington state residents 62 years and older. Washington State Resident is defined as a resident of Washington State for at least the past three consecutive months. Dual-state residency will not be considered.
Off-season Senior Citizen Pass Application (PDF)

Disability Pass

The disability pass is offered to Washington state residents who are legally blind, profoundly deaf, developmentally disabled, or who meet the disability definition used by the U.S. Social Security Administration. The pass is good for a 50% discount on nightly camping and moorage including free watercraft launching, trailer dump and day-use entry. The pass is valid year round and is available for one-year (short-term disability) or five-year (permanent disability) periods.
Note: A Permanent Disability Parking Permit, issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing, also entitles you to the 50% disability discount on camping and moorage and waives the trailer dump, boat launch and day use entry fee. Simply show your license plate or issued wallet card along with matching ID directly to the park ranger. Combined 1- and 5-Year Disability Pass Application (PDF or Word Document)

Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass

Disabled vets can receive free camping or moorage and campsite reservations through the State Parks central reservations system plus watercraft launching, and trailer dump and day-use entry. The pass is valid year-round and offered to Washington state residents with a documented service-connected disability of at least 30%. The pass holder must provide proof of identification when checking in. Lifetime Disability Pass Application (PDF or Word Document)

Discovery Pass

For $30, the Discovery Pass allows unlimited access to any Washington state park, primitive recreation site, designated water and land recreation areas and natural and wildlife areas. The pass is valid for one year and is displayed on your vehicle’s the rearview mirror. (The pass can be transferred between two different vehicles.) No senior discounts apply.

Washington’s Most Visited State and National Parks

Every year over 40 million people visit a Washington State or National Park. Here is a list of the most visited parks:

  1. Olympic National Park – Over 3 million yearly visitors
  2. Deception Pass – Over 2 million yearly visitors
  3. Mt. Rainier National Park – Over 1.5 million yearly visitors
  4. Cape Disappointment State Park
  5. Steamboat Rock State Park
  6. Lake Wenatchee State Park
  7. Birch Bay State Park

Washington’s Top Reviewed State Parks on Trip Advisor

Here are the top ten Washington State Parks that received the best reviews on Trip Advisor:

  1. Point Defiance State Park – Tacoma
  2. Lime Kiln State Park – Friday Harbor (San Juan Island)
  3. Moran State Park – Orcas Island
  4. Deception Pass State Park – Whidbey Island
  5. Fort Warden State Park – Port Townsend
  6. Cape Disappointment State Park – Ilwaco (Olympic Peninsula)
  7. Fort Casey State Park – Coupeville (Whidbey Island)
  8. Palouse Falls State Park – Washtucna (Eastern Washington)
  9. Peace Arch State Park – Blaine
  10.  Riverside State Park – Nine Mile Falls (Spokane)
Olympic Ntl. Park

Port Angeles Olympic Peninsula

Olympic National Park offers a wide variety of wilderness experiences. Hurricane Ridge and Mount Olympus provide winter recreation opportunities for snowshoers, backpackers and mountaineers; Hoh Rain Forrest is one of the most popular and scenic hikes in all of Washington; and Rialto and Ruby Beaches provide stunning views of the Pacific.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Mt Rainier Ntl. Park

Ashford

One of the most iconic sights in Washington,
Mt. Rainier is the center of one of the most
scenic national parks in the US. With over
six different hiking regions, Mt. Rainier is a
year-round paradise for day hikers,
backpackers and mountaineers. The park
offers accommodations from full service
campgrounds to high mountain camps to
historic lodges.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
No
Limited

Deception Pass

Oak Harbor - Whidbey Island

Washington's most visited state park covers 3,854 acres with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on three lakes. Deception Pass features hiking, beachcombing, cool coves, a draw-dropping suspension bridge and beautiful cliffs above Puget Sound.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Steamboat Rock

Electric City - Grand Coulee Dam

Steamboat Rock is located near the north
end of Banks Lake in the Grand Coulee
area and features hiking, biking, and
equestrian use as well as water activities
including boating, swimming, waterskiing
and fishing.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Cape Disappointment

Ilwaco - Washington Coast

Located at the end of Long Beach Peninsula, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, Cape Disappointment State Park features old-growth forests, freshwater lakes, oceanside tidelands, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, North Head Lighthouse, and Cape Disappointment Lighthouse.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Lime Kiln Point

Friday Harbor - San Juan Islands

One of the best places on land to view whales in the world, Lime Kiln Point is a 41-acre day-use park that is easily accessed by car or by bike from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
No
No

Palouse Falls

Washtucna - Eastern Washington

Palouse Falls State Park is a 105-acre camping park with a unique geology and history. The park is located on the Palouse River in Franklin and Whitman counties and offers a dramatic view of one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
No
No
No

Lake Wenatchee

Leavenworth - Central Washington

Lake Wenatchee State Park, a 492-acre
camping park with 12,623 feet of waterfront,
is a year-round recreation paradise. Activities include hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and much more. Leavenworth - with its outdoor festivals, shops, restaurants and wine tasting - is less than a half hour away.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Olallie State Park

North Bend - Seattle area

Less than an hour drive from Seattle, Olallie
is known for scenic waterfalls, lush forests
and soaring cliffs. This day-use park is home to the very popular Twin Falls and Iron Horse hiking trails and also a destination for rock climbers, mountain bikers and fisherman.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

No
Yes
No
No

Moran State Park

Orcas Island - San Juan’s

The home of Mount Constitution that offers
breathtaking views of the San Juan Islands
and beyond, Moran State Park offers abundant camping, five freshwater lakes for
swimming and non-motorized boating and
more than 30 miles of hiking, bicycling,
mountain biking and equestrian trails.




Camping
Hiking
Boating
Beach

Yes
Yes
Yes
Limited

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Methodology

Hello Krystof compiled a list of the ten top Washington state parks using lists from the following sources: Trip Advisor, the Matador Network, All Trails.com, Washington Trails.com, Only in Your State.com and Vacation Ideas.com. A state park would receive a point for each list they appeared on. In addition, data from Washington State Parks indicating the most visited areas was taken into account with parks listed receiving an additional point. Points were tabulated and