Jan. 1 is a free day for Washington’s state parks, and several Eastern Washington parks will host free staff-led and self-guided hikes and snowshoe events.  

Events in Eastern Washington state parks include: 

• Step into 2026, 1 p.m. at Camp Wooten State Park 

• Columbia Plateau Trail First Day Hike, 11 a.m. at Columbia Plateau Trail 

• Curlew Lake First Day Hike, 11 a.m. at Curlew Lake State Park 

• West Viewpoint Snowshoe Hike, 11 a.m. at Fields Spring State Park 

• Lake Easton First Day Hike, 10 a.m. at Lake Easton State Park 

• Lake Chelan First Day Hike, 10 a.m. at Lake Chelan State Park 

• Lake Wenatchee First Day Hike, 11 a.m. at Lake Wenatchee State Park 

• Mount Spokane First Day Hike: Smith Gap Snowshoe Hike, 9 a.m. at Mount Spokane State Park 

• Mount Spokane First Day Hike: Summit Snowshoe Hike, 9 a.m. at Mount Spokane State Park 

• Riverside’s Trautman Conservation Area First Day Hike, 9 a.m. at Riverside State Park 

• Lyons Ferry History Hike, 11 a.m. at Lyons Ferry State Park 

• Coulee Corridor First Day Hike, 10 a.m. at Steamboat Rock State Park 

Some events may require registration or Sno-Park permits. Go to: parks.wa.gov/find-activity/activity-search/first-day-hikes. 

Typically, a Discover Pass is required at state parks. Jan. 1 is one of 12 free days in 2026 when a pass is not required.  

Outside of these free days, a one-day pass costs $11.50, while the annual pass costs $50, including processing fees. The price for the Discover Pass, originally $30, increased to $45 in October, the first price increase since the pass originated in 2011.