Four "free admission" dates remain in 2012 at Washington State Parks

Four more "free admission" days remain at Washington State Parks in 2012. Most coincide with free days offered by the National Park Service.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state-managed recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days only apply at state parks. A Discover Pass will still be required to access DFW and DNR lands.

Following are the remaining 2012 State Parks “free days.”
• March 18 and 19 – In honor of Washington State Parks’ 99th birthday on March 19
• June 9 – National Get Outdoors Day
• Sept. 29 – National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 10 through 12 – Veterans Day weekend

Washington State Parks is on Twitter at WaStatePks_NEWS and YouTube at WashingtonStateParks.

New camping coming near St. Helens

The May 18, 1980 Mount Saint Helens volcanic eruption blew the top off the mountain -- and blew away a popular Washington State campground. Harry Gardener Park, an 80-acre park vanished under three feet of mud and debris. Now Cowlitz County officials want to resurrect the campground portion of the park and encourage more visitation to the nearby mountain.
The county says the "new" park will be a bit smaller than it was before, with 11 RV sites, 12 for tenters, and a dump station, as the RV sites will be partial utility sites. Work on the new/old park will get underway in just a few weeks, and the park could open as early as June--a few weeks after the volcano's anniversary date.
The park is already operational as a 17 acre day-use park. You'll find it on the south fork of the Toutle River off Fiest Road in Castle Rock. The park has walking trails, roads, picnic tables, benches, fire pits, barbecues, play area with swings, horseshoe pits and beach volley ball.