Get outside & enjoy winter fun in Washington!
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 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.
The Winter Recreation Grooming Map application has been taken down due to application maintenance issues. The program is assessing alternatives for future public use. Click here for the Winter Recreation Map.
Sno-Parks
The Winter Recreation Program manages Sno-Parks (cleared parking areas) in close proximity to groomed and backcountry trails.
- Snowmobile Sno-Parks are open to both motorized and non-motorized winter recreation.
- Non-motorized Sno-Parks are only open to winter recreation sports such as cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and snow play.
Have you visited a Sno-Park and would you like to share your thoughts? Sno-Park on-site evaluation forms can now be done completely online.
Pass & permit information
Sno-Park permits are available for purchase online from Nov. 1 through April 30. Sno-park permits are non-refundable. Sno-Park permits are required to park at all Sno-Parks between Dec. 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities.
A Sno-Park permit is always required to park at a Washington Sno-Park between Dec. 1 and March 31, and may be required in November and April at land manager discretion, including the 12 annual State Parks free days when no Discover Pass is required for parking at Washington state parks.
The Discover Pass is no longer required to accompany the daily or seasonal Sno-Park permit, even in Sno-Parks on Washington State Parks land.
In addition to the seasonal permit, a special groomed sticker is required to park at Crystal Springs, Cabin Creek, Hyak, Lake Easton, Lake Wenatchee, Chiwawa, Nason Ridge, and Mount Spokane. The special groomed sticker is not required with the daily Sno-Park permit, even on these properties.
Revenue generated by the special groomed sticker pays for more frequent trail grooming, lot clearing, sanitation and staffing at these high-use Sno-Parks.
Please note: Many DNR trailheads over the winter season (December through April) are official WA State Sno-Parks, and Sno-Park Permits are required, and the Discover Pass is not required. This includes Ahtanum, Rattlesnake, Nile, Mount Tahoma Trails 1 Road, 92 Road, and Radar Dome parking locations. A Discover Pass is not required over the winter period at the DNR locations listed above and at official sno-parks managed by the State.
