About Us > Ecotourism

Outdoor recreation and ecotourism in Washington state

Washington state has an abundance of publicly owned parks, beaches, wildlands, and waters. They’re a major attraction for our residents and visitors who love the outdoors.

Without even leaving Washington, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, hunting, kayaking, white water rafting, mountaineering, mountain biking, boating, bird-watching, wildlife viewing, snow sports, horseback riding and much more.

Being outdoors is a big reason why we love the Northwest. It’s also a very important driver of Washington’s economy and jobs. Here are some ways to explore Washington’s publicly owned lands and waters before you go:

• “Get Out West” – helpful tips on enjoying the West, from the Western Governors’ Association
• Discover Pass – allows you to enjoy nearly 7 million acres of Washington state-managed recreation lands, including state parks, nature trails, heritage sites and water access points.
• Public beach access – don’t know which beach you want? Or if it might be closed to swimming? This searchable database gives you everything you need to know – with photos of beach views, campsites, trailheads and more.
• Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant's guest blog about the Coastal Atlas for Governor Gregoire
• Washington’s BEACH Program -- tells you when our beaches are safe from water-borne illness
• “One Front Door to Washington’s Outdoors” – a one-stop portal for information about all that Washington’s natural resource agencies have to offer.