Top state parks
State ParkPeace Arch Park
State ParkBeacon Rock State Park
State ParkGinkgo Petrified Forest State Park
State ParkLake Sammamish State Park
State ParkSun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park
State ParkMoran State Park
State ParkFort Flagler Historical State Park
State ParkCape Disappointment State Park
State ParkFort Simcoe
State ParkFederation Forest State Park
State ParkSaint Edward State Park
State ParkLake Easton State Park
State Parks by county
- Chelan County6
- Franklin County4
- Grant County4
- Grays Harbor County6
- Island County5
- Jefferson County4
- King County8
- Kitsap County4
- Kittitas County3
- Klickitat County5
- Lewis County4
- Mason County4
- Okanogan County3
- Pacific County5
- Pierce County5
- San Juan County7
- Skagit County3
- Spokane County3
- Whatcom County3
All state parks (104)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peace Arch Park | Whatcom County | — | Blaine | 5 |
| Beacon Rock State Park | Skamania County | — | Cascade Locks | 4 |
| Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park | Kittitas County | — | Mattawa | 3 |
| Lake Sammamish State Park | King County | — | West Lake Sammamish | 7 |
| Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park | Grant County | — | Soap Lake | 2 |
| Moran State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Fort Flagler Historical State Park | Jefferson County | — | Port Townsend | 5 |
| Cape Disappointment State Park | Pacific County | — | Long Beach | 3 |
| Fort Simcoe | Yakima County | — | Ahtanum | 3 |
| Federation Forest State Park | Pierce County | — | Enumclaw | 4 |
| Saint Edward State Park | King County | — | Inglewood-Finn Hill | 8 |
| Lake Easton State Park | Kittitas County | — | Cle Elum | 3 |
| Leadbetter Point State Park | Pacific County | — | Ocean Park | 2 |
| Pacific Pines State Park | Pacific County | — | Ocean Park | 2 |
| Rainbow Falls State Park | Lewis County | — | Chehalis | 3 |
| Rockport State Park | Skagit County | — | Darrington | 3 |
| Battle Ground Lake State Park | Clark County | — | Lewisville | 5 |
| Crawford State Park Heritage Site | Pend Oreille County | — | Sandpoint | 1 |
| Dosewallips State Park | Jefferson County | — | Seabeck | 4 |
| Fort Columbia State Park | Pacific County | — | Astoria | 3 |
| Fort Townsend State Park | Jefferson County | — | Port Hadlock-Irondale | 5 |
| Larrabee State Park | Whatcom County | — | Geneva | 4 |
| Palouse Falls State Park | Franklin County | — | Dayton | 2 |
| Wallace Falls State Park | Snohomish County | — | Gold Bar | 4 |
| Bogachiel State Park | Clallam County | — | Forks | 3 |
| Flaming Geyser State Park | King County | — | Black Diamond | 5 |
| Lake Wenatchee State Park | Chelan County | — | Leavenworth | 3 |
| Alta Lake State Park | Okanogan County | — | Brewster | 2 |
| Mount Pilchuck State Park | Snohomish County | — | Granite Falls | 4 |
| Nolte State Park | King County | — | Black Diamond | 5 |
| Conconully State Park | Okanogan County | — | Omak | 2 |
| Penrose Point State Park | Pierce County | — | Home | 5 |
| Riverside State Park | Spokane County | — | Town and Country | 5 |
| Sacajawea State Park | Franklin County | — | Burbank | 6 |
| Cutts Island State Park | Pierce County | — | Rosedale | 6 |
| Steamboat Rock State Park | Grant County | — | Electric City | 2 |
| Kanaskat-Palmer State Park | King County | — | Ravensdale | 5 |
| Millersylvania State Park | Thurston County | — | Tenino | 4 |
| Joemma Beach State Park | Pierce County | — | Longbranch | 5 |
| Mount Spokane State Park | Spokane County | — | Spirit Lake | 3 |
| Deception Pass State Park | Island County | — | Ault Field | 4 |
| Kitsap Memorial State Park | Kitsap County | — | Lofall | 5 |
| Kopachuck State Park | Pierce County | — | Rosedale | 6 |
| Bay View State Park | Skagit County | — | Anacortes | 4 |
| Belfair State Park | Mason County | — | Belfair | 5 |
| Birch Bay State Park | Whatcom County | — | Birch Bay | 5 |
| Goldendale Observatory State Park | Klickitat County | — | Goldendale | 4 |
| Fort Ebey State ParkEbey's Landing | Island County | — | Coupeville | 4 |
| Manchester State Park | Kitsap County | — | Manchester | 7 |
| Maryhill State Park | Klickitat County | — | Goldendale | 2 |
| Bottle Beach State Park | — | Westport | 3 | |
| Bridgeport State Park | Douglas County | — | Bridgeport | 2 |
| Bridle Trails State Park | King County | — | Yarrow Point | 8 |
| Camano Island State Park | Island County | — | Camano | 5 |
| Lake Sylvia State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Montesano | 5 |
| Lewis & Clark State Park | Lewis County | — | Napavine | 3 |
| Lime Kiln Point State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Twanoh State Park | Mason County | — | Allyn | 4 |
| Wenatchee Confluence State Park | Chelan County | — | Sunnyslope | 6 |
| Tolmie State Park | Thurston County | — | Tanglewilde | 5 |
| Anderson Lake State Park | Jefferson County | — | Port Hadlock-Irondale | 5 |
| Ocean City State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Ocean Shores | 3 |
| Olallie State Park | King County | — | Riverbend | 4 |
| Paradise Point State Park | Clark County | — | La Center | 5 |
| Pearrygin Lake State Park | Okanogan County | — | Okanogan | 2 |
| Posey Island State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Fields Spring State Park | Asotin County | — | Asotin | 2 |
| Saltwater State Park | King County | — | Des Moines | 8 |
| Scenic Beach State Park | Kitsap County | — | Seabeck | 5 |
| Schafer State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Elma | 3 |
| Seaquest State Park | Cowlitz County | — | Castle Rock | 4 |
| South Whidbey State Park | Island County | — | Freeland | 4 |
| Squilchuck State Park | Chelan County | — | South Wenatchee | 4 |
| Steptoe Battlefield State Park Heritage Site | Whitman County | — | Cheney | 3 |
| Grayland Beach State Park | Pacific County | — | Westport | 3 |
| Illahee State Park | Kitsap County | — | Enetai | 7 |
| Jarrell Cove State Park | Mason County | — | Home | 4 |
| Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail | Whitman County | — | Plummer | 3 |
| Lake Chelan State Park | Chelan County | — | Granite Falls | 4 |
| Lyons Ferry State Park | Franklin County | — | Dayton | 2 |
| Blind Island Marine State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Cama Beach Historical State Park | Island County | — | Camano | 5 |
| Lincoln Rock State Park | Chelan County | — | Sunnyslope | 4 |
| Twin Harbors State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Westport | 3 |
| Westport Light State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Westport | 3 |
| Stuart Island State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Pacific Beach State Park | Grays Harbor County | — | Ocean Shores | 2 |
| Columbia Hills | Klickitat County | — | Goldendale | 3 |
| Columbia Plateau State Park Trail | Franklin County | — | Connell | 2 |
| Peshastin Pinnacles State Park | Chelan County | — | Cashmere | 4 |
| Daroga State Park | Douglas County | — | Entiat | 3 |
| Spencer Spit State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail | Spokane County | — | Otis Orchards-East Farms | 5 |
| Ike Kinswa State Park | Lewis County | — | Morton | 3 |
| Olmstead Place State Park | Kittitas County | — | Kittitas | 4 |
| Columbia Hills Historical State Park | Klickitat County | — | Dallesport | 4 |
| Spring Creek Hatchery State Park | Skamania County | — | Hood River | 5 |
| Potholes State Park | Grant County | — | Cascade Valley | 3 |
| Lake Lenore Caves State Park | Grant County | — | Soap Lake | 2 |
| Triton Cove State Park | Mason County | — | Seabeck | 4 |
| Rasar State Park | Skagit County | — | Sedro-Woolley | 3 |
| Obstruction Pass State Park | San Juan County | — | Friday Harbor | 3 |
| Willapa Hills State Park Trail | Lewis County | — | Chehalis | 5 |
| Brooks Memorial State Park | Klickitat County | — | Goldendale | 2 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph state parks
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.