We love our state parks, and the Puget Sound region is full of beautiful options within easy reach of Seattle. These 11 state parks near Seattle shine in fall and winter, when crowds thin out and the season brings dramatic waterfalls, active wildlife, and moody, storm-washed beaches.
Visiting State Parks Near Seattle in Fall & Winter
- Discover Pass: Most Washington state parks require a Discover Pass for day use. A pass costs $50 for the year or $11.50 for a day and can be purchased online before you go.
- Winter Conditions: Mountain weather changes quickly in the colder months. Always check the Washington State Parks winter schedule, park alerts, and road conditions before heading out.
- Cabins & Camping: Several parks near Seattle offer cabins and year-round camping, making it possible to turn a simple day trip into an easy overnight adventure, even in winter.
- What to Bring: Waterproof boots, extra layers, and a thermos of something warm go a long way on rainy hikes and blustery beach walks.
Best State Parks Near Seattle for Winter Hikes
Squak Mountain State Park (Issaquah)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 45 minutes
- Address: Squak Mountain State Park, 201430 Southeast May Valley Road, Issaquah, WA 98027
There are currently no fires allowed due to a burn ban. Set amid the zone of Cascade foothills known as the Issaquah Alps, this big, rugged, forested park has a 13-mile network of trails to explore. Small hikers will appreciate the short Pretzel Tree Trail lined with signs depicting the adventures of a field mouse who meets local forest creatures.
Wallace Falls State Park (Gold Bar)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 1 hour
- Address: Wallace Falls State Park, 14503 Wallace Lake Road, Gold Bar, WA 98251
Waterfalls are at their best in the cold months, and if you have waterfall fans in your family, you’re going to want to visit this park. The main trail takes you through old-growth forest, up the Wallace River to Wallace falls, which drops 265 feet in three tiers. The trail to get to the falls is relatively tame, and you can turn around satisfied at that point. If your party has the energy to climb the steep slope up to the upper viewpoint, that’s an option too. The park has cabins, which take reservations all year.
Larrabee State Park (Bellingham)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 1.5 hours
- Address: Larrabee State Park, 245 Chuckanut Dr, Bellingham, WA 98229
Cleator Road is closed January 7-1, 2026 due to weather. When you go to this big park near Bellingham, you have options. You can take a route like the Fragrance Lake Trail and explore the wild country up on Chuckanut Ridge. Or you can go down to the shoreline, which is lined with gray sandstone in amazing undulating patterns. Short side trip for November: stop at nearby Arroyo Park and watch the chum salmon fighting their way up Chuckanut Creek.
Where to Find Winter Waterfalls Near Seattle
Olallie State Park (North Bend)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 45 minutes
- Address: Olallie State Park, 51350 SE Homestead Valley Rd, North Bend, WA 98045
This park has one of the area’s best hikes for children: the Twin Falls Trail. The walk totals 2.5 miles there and back. It winds through dripping woods along the south fork of the Snoqualmie River, and finishes at a spectacular waterfall.
Also worth a stop: Wallace Falls State Park in Gold Bar offers a family-friendly trail to a dramatic, three-tiered waterfall that’s especially powerful after winter rains. You’ll find trail details, driving time, and current conditions in the full listing above.
Beaches and Storm Watching in State Parks Near Seattle
Saltwater State Park (Des Moines)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 30 minutes
- Address: Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198
Campground currently closed due to flooding. Escape to the beach while right in the city (the city of Des Moines, that is). This park is packed on sunny spring and summer days, but it’s also a scenic spot for a rainy walk or to watch a storm. The beach usually has lots of driftwood for fort-building kids, and there’s a flat, paved waterfront trail in addition to some more hilly, forested trails deeper into the park. People frequently buy takeout fish and chips or teriyaki in town and eat at the park’s tables or even in their cars, enjoying the view.
Dash Point State Park (Federal Way)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 45 minutes
- Address: Dash Point State Park, 5700 SW Dash Point Rd, Federal Way, WA 98023
Dash Point State Park is easily accessible from Federal Way. Its beach is longer and sandier than the one at Saltwater, popular for family excursions and for skim-boarding, sort of a cross between surfing and skateboarding. The park also has camping, tiny cabins for rent and miles and miles of biking and hiking trails.
Deception Pass State Park (Oak Harbor)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 1.5 hours.
- Address: Deception Pass State Park, 41229 State Rte 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
See current updates below. There are several good reasons why Deception Pass State Park may be the most popular in the system. There’s the pass where high cliffs frame a narrow inlet full of powerful tidal waters. And the rest of the park is lovely too, full of coves and rocky headlands, with gnarled madrone trees leaning out on the shore. Inland areas have old-growth woods, and you can spend a lot of time on the trail system. It has cabins.
As of December 30, 2025, approximately 150 feet of the northeast corner of the West Beach ADA Trail has been washed out due to recent storms, and is no longer accessible. Also, due to unsafe conditions, the Bowman Bay pier is closed indefinitely. The boat launch is also closed indefinitely to trailered vessels. Kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes have access to the launch.
The trail between Lottie Point Loop and Lighthouse Point Loop at Bowman Bay has sustained storm damage. Part of the trail has been washed away, and the walking bridge has been damaged by rising tides and large driftwood. You may walk around this area on the beach.
No trailers, motorhomes, buses, or other vehicles over 25 feet long will be allowed to enter the West Beach parking area due to limited parking resulting from winter storm damage. Buses may drop off passengers at the West Beach Parking lot and park in the East Cranberry Lake Parking lot. This closure includes the Cranberry Lake boat launch area.
Fort Flagler Historical State Park (Norland / Marrowstone Island)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 2.25 hours, depending on what ferry sailing you catch
- Address: Fort Flagler Historical State Park, 10541 Flagler Rd, Nordland, WA 98358
This park on Marrowstone Island, near Port Townsend has a lot to do. There’s a stunning beach that juts out into Puget Sound. Even on calm days it’s good for kite flying. On blustery days it’s a wonderful vantage point to see the majesty of a stormy sea. You can explore an array of abandoned bunkers and fortifications. (Along with Fort Ebey, Fort Casey and Fort Worden, it was once part of a system of fortifications defending Puget Sound from potential naval threats). And there are birds galore, from wintering ducks to graceful flocks of shorebirds, here for the winter. It has some overnight accommodations in historic buildings.
Note: Fort Flagler’s beach campground now takes reservations year-round. Previously, camping was first-come, first-served from October to April. Book your spot by the shore.Â
Scenic Day Trips and Wildlife Watching Near Seattle
Saint Edward State Park (Kenmore)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 30 minutes
- Address: Saint Edward State Park, 14445 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
This park is situated around a gorgeous 1930s-era former seminary that has been transformed into an upscale hotel. It makes a great centerpiece for a park that has ballfields, an excellent playground and some unexpectedly rugged hikes down to the shores of Lake Washington. The park has 3,000 feet of tree-lined lakefront. Day use only.
Camano Island State Park
- Driving Time from Seattle: 1 hour
- Address: Camano Island State Park, 2269 Lowell Point Rd, Camano, WA 98282
Camano Island is a great destination for a winter day trip. Not too far, stunningly scenic and full of open spaces to explore. Along with the woodland walks and the 6,700 feet of shoreline to take in at Camano Island State Park, there’s nearby Cama Beach State Park.
Dosewallips State Park (Brinnon)
- Driving Time from Seattle: 2.25 hours, depending on what ferry sailing you catch
- Address: Dosewallips State Park, 306996 US-101, Brinnon, WA 98320
The Day Use Area is closed thru April 30, 2026 due to flooding issues. If your criterion for a park is abundant wildlife, this haven on the shore of Hood Canal may be your best choice. You can see a run of chum salmon thrash their way up the Dosewallips River. You can observe eagles and other wildlife gather for the fishy feast. And as if all that wasn’t enough, a herd of elk routinely saunters around the place. It has cabins, too.
