Washington's state parks hit 40 million visitors in record-breaking 2025

Washington's state parks had another strong year in 2025, welcoming more than 40 million visitors across all state parks - a number that has climbed nearly 7 million over the past decade.

"Ten years ago, we were at just under 33 million," said Meryl Lassen, a communications consultant with Washington State Parks. "Jumping from 33 (million) to 40 (million) in 10 years, that's a big jump."

Contributing to that jump are countless state parks, especially Washington's 10 most-visited ones, as determined by data from Washington State Parks and whether the park had its own 'Find Parks' page on Washington State Parks' official website.

Deception Pass, an iconic destination for tourists and locals alike, came in first on last year's visitation list, drawing 2.75 million visitors despite a slight dip from 2024. The park, featuring a historic bridge spanning the tidal strait between Whidbey and Fidalgo islands, has held the top spot on the list for at least a decade.

"I personally think it's national park quality scenery," Lassen said of Deception Pass. "It's kind of on the sightseeing circuit from Seattle and from Bellingham; people come from Olympia and the east side just to visit and take visitors there."

The parks at the top of this list come as no surprise to Washingtonians. They're the places we've been dragging our families and out-of-town guests to for generations, and as Washington's population has continued to grow, so has the foot traffic in its state parks.

"Washington's population has grown significantly, and our outdoor life is often listed as one of the draws for people moving here," Lassen said.

If you've yet to check out these popular Washington state parks, let this be the encouragement you need to do so.

Top Washington state parks

10. Mount Spokane State Park

• Visitors: 701,894
• Location: 25211 N. Mount Spokane Park Drive, Mead, Spokane County
• One-year change: +27.4%
• Known for: Being a year-round recreational area, offering skiing and snowboarding in the winter months, and hiking and biking trails in the spring and summer.

9. Saint Edward State Park

• Visitors: 818,293
• Location: 14445 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore, King County
• One-year change: +0.67%
• Known for: Its historical seminary and buildings, and forested hiking trails.

8. Birch Bay State Park

• Visitors: 835,181
• Location: 5105 Helweg Road, Blaine
• One-year change: +1.3%
• Known for: Its shorelines that are perfect for hiking, boating and swimming.

7. Fort Worden Historical State Park

• Visitors: 842,635
• Location: 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend
• One-year change: +0.7%
• Known for: More than 100 historical structures, breathtaking beaches, campgrounds and trails.

6. Moran State Park

• Visitors: 884,422
• Location: 3572 Olga Road, Olga, San Juan County
• One-year change: -4.2%
• Known for: Campgrounds, lakes and plenty of hiking trails, with Mount Constitution offering the highest viewpoint accessible by car in the archipelago.

5. Cape Disappointment State Park

• Visitors: 920,912
• Location: 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco, Pacific County
• One-year change: -9.9%
• Known for: Historic lighthouses, surfing, hiking and where the Lewis and Clark Expedition first reached the ocean.

4. Riverside State Park

• Visitors: 1,321,371
• Location: 9711 W. Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls, Spokane County
• One-year change: -0.7%
• Known for: An expansive park situated along the Spokane River, with trails, whitewater and the popular Centennial Trail running through.

3. Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail

• Visitors: 1,986,431
• Location: Riverside State Park, 9711 W. Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls, Spokane County
• One-year change: +12.4%
• Known for: A 40-mile paved trail connecting Spokane to the Idaho border, running through river canyon scenery and popular with cyclists and runners.

2. Lake Sammamish State Park

• Visitors: 2,436,372
• Location: 2182 N.W. Sammamish Road, Issaquah, King County
• One-year change: +13.5%
• Known for: A large freshwater lake in the heart of Issaquah, with swimming beaches that draw massive summer crowds from all over the Seattle area.

1. Deception Pass State Park

• Visitors: 2,753,314
• Location: 41229 Highway 20, Oak Harbor
• One-year change: -2.1%
• Known for: Being one of Washington's most iconic state parks, featuring a historic bridge that spans the tidal strait between Whidbey and Fidalgo islands.