Discover Pass: Visitors to Washington state parks and state recreation lands
managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Natural
Resources are required to display the Discover Pass on their vehicles. Exemption: If you have
a current seasonal Sno-Park permit, you will not need to purchase a Discover Pass to use a
designated Sno-Park between Nov. 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities. However,
your Sno-Park permit may not be used to access other state recreation lands.
Please note: If using a daily Sno-Park permit, you also will need a one-day
Discover Pass or an annual Discover Pass when visiting Crystal Springs, Easton Reload and Hyak
sno-parks, Fields Spring, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee and Mount Spokane state parks and DNR's
Mt. Tahoma Trail System. For more information or to purchase an annual Discover Pass, please visit
www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
For more details, please review the attached chart
(200kb PDF), which summarizes passes needed for the different winter recreation sites.
Opportunities Abound!
Winter sport enthusiasts and families can spice up the cold months with a variety of snow
activities sponsored by Washington State Parks' Winter Recreation Program. The Evergreen
State is "ever green" only in parts. The Olympic, Cascade, Blue and Selkirk mountains
provide great opportunities for all types of outdoor winter fun.
Cross-country and downhill skiing, skijoring, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing and
tubing are available at a variety of locations across the state. In concert with federal agencies,
private landowners and other state agencies, Washington State Parks administers this program in
three national parks, seven national forests and blocks of state and private forest land. Five
major highway passes, kept open to normal traffic in winter, provide easy access to play sites
and trailheads.
Plan before you go
For weather and avalanche conditions, please visit the Northwest
Weather and Avalanche Center website. For mountain pass and road conditions, visit the
Department of Transportation website.
Winter Recreation Program
This program was created to open winter recreation opportunities across the state to everyone.
Program priorities include safety, wildlife awareness and protection, and cooperation in accord
with the Winter Recreation Code of Ethics (scroll down this page to access links with important
information on program priorities mentioned, as well as permits, publications, and trail signs).
Two citizen advisory committees advise State Parks in the administration of the Winter
Recreation Program, development of facilities and winter sport opportunities. If you would like
to know more about the work of these groups or are interested in a future appointment as a
committee member, call the Winter Recreation Program at (360) 902-8684.
The Winter Recreation (Sno-Park) Advisory Committee
assists in the administration of non-motorized sports Sno-Parks, while the
Snowmobile Advisory Committee helps manage snowmobile
Sno-Parks.
The advisory committees have the following meetings scheduled in 2012.
- Snowmobile Advisory Committee: 7 to 9 p.m. July 27 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28, State Parks Eastern Region Office, 270 Ninth Street N.E., Suite 200, East Wenatchee, WA 98802
- Winter Recreation Advisory Committee: 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 25, State Parks Eastern Region Office, 270 Ninth Street N.E., Suite 200, East Wenatchee, WA 98802
Sno-Park Program
The Sno-Park program, begun in 1975, is the core of the Winter Recreation Program. Sno-Parks
provide cleared parking areas for winter recreationists in close proximity to groomed and/or
backcountry trails.
There are two kinds of Sno-Parks (a few Sno-Parks offer both types of activities):
- Snowmobile Sno-Parks
Information on Washington state's snowmobile Sno-Parks including seasonal trail grooming reports
(see link at right for a directory of snowmobile Sno-Park locations).
- Non-motorized Sports Sno-Parks
Information on non-motorized sports, including cross-country skiing, dogsledding, snowshoeing and
snow play, and seasonal trail grooming reports (see link at right for a directory of non-motorized
Sno-Park locations).
Who Pays to Maintain the Winter Recreation Program?
The program is funded solely by snowmobile registration fees, a percentage of the state fuel tax,
Sno-Park permit revenue and thousands of volunteer hours. Snow removal, trail grooming, sanitation
facilities, mapping, trail signs, safety education, enforcement and program administration are paid
for by user dollars.
Important Information
- Trail Signs
- Trail sign emblems and explanations.
- Permits
- All you need to know about how to be legal.
- Publications
- Trail guides and other informational pamphlets – what's available and where to get it.
- Winter Safety
- How to stay warm and safe in the snow – including avalanche information.
- Winter Wildlife
- What you'll see while playing in the great outdoors, and how to protect it.
- Wilderness Areas
- Information about Wilderness Areas on National Forest lands within Washington state.
Code of Ethics
Maximize your winter enjoyment by following this Winter Recreation Code of Ethics:
- I will respect all public and private property and the rights of all winter recreationists to
enjoy the beauty.
- I will park considerately without blocking other vehicles or impeding access to trails.
- I will keep to the right when meeting other winter recreationists and yield the right of way to
downhill traffic.
- I will slow down and use caution when approaching or overtaking another.
- I will respect designated areas, trail use signs, and established ski tracks.
- When stopping, I will not block the trail.
- I will not disturb wildlife and will avoid areas posted for its protection or feeding.
- I will not litter and I will pack out everything I packed in.
- I realize that my destination and travel speed are determined by my equipment, ability, terrain,
weather and traffic on the trail. In case of an emergency, I will volunteer assistance.
- I will not interfere with or harass others, recognizing that people judge all skiers or
snowmobilers by my actions.
More Winter Activities
Overnight Camping
Overnight camping is allowed at all Sno-Parks except Hyak, Fields Spring and Mount Spokane. Many
state parks remain open for camping during the winter months.
Downhill Skiing
Downhill skiing is offered at Mount Spokane State Park. Five chair lifts, two lodges, a restaurant,
equipment rental, ski training programs, a gift shop and other amenities are available in the park.
For information, call (509) 238-2220.
Snow Play
Designated areas are available for tubing and general snow play at Fields Spring Sno-Park, Lake Wenatchee
Sno-Park, Hyak Sno-Park, Rose Springs Sno-Park and the Oldman Pass Sno-Park. In addition,
tubing and general snow play are permitted in non-designated areas in many Sno-Parks and in state parks
that are open in the winter. For safety's sake, snow players should stay off designated snowmobile and
non-motorized sport trails. Ice skating is not available in any location. Due to the mild Washington
climate, lakes do not freeze hard enough to permit safe skating.
For More Information
For information on the Winter Recreation Program, call (360) 902-8684 or e-mail
winter@parks.wa.gov.
For information on current trail grooming conditions, select the Sno-Park locations link at left for
snowmobile and non-motorized sports Sno-Parks. Trail grooming information is updated weekly, beginning
Dec. 1, during the winter.
To receive alerts and updates via Twitter, sign up today to follow the Winter Recreation
Twitter account.