Fields Spring State Park
Fields Spring State Park in Washington State is a beautiful 792 acre camping park. It is completely forested and is located in the Blue Mountains of Southeastern Washington in the town of Anatone, Washington. Part of the park sits on top of Puffer Butte at an elevation of 4,500 feet. The top gives you a view of three states, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and the Grande Ronde and Snake River basins. There are many opportunities to observe lovely wildflowers in the spring and summer months. The winter offers many different winter sporting activities.
There are several areas located in the park which have been designated as metal detector areas and there is a ball field located in the park.
The Beauty of Dash Point State Park
If you are looking to get out and explore the natural beauty of Washington State, either alone or with your entire family, you should consider a trip to the beautiful Dash State Park. It has many things that you can do to enjoy the outdoors; some of them will allow you to just relax and bask in the natural beauty, while others will help you get exercise and enjoy the feeling of getting out and participating in physical activity in the natural world — something that is all too hard to do in the cities. No matter what the reason is that you want to visit Dash State Park, you will find that it will provide a great atmosphere and a fun-fill place to have an escape.
Enjoying the Water
Dash State Park is located along Puget Sound, so there is a lot of coastline and all of the activities that come along with it. Visitors can walk along the shoreline and admire the water and the sea life that flourishes just off shore; children will enjoy picking up shells and pieces of driftwood that have come in with the waves to lay upon the sand. Canoes and kayaks can be put in anywhere along the beach, since you will not need a boat launch for such small craft. Larger boats can be rented nearby, as these will have power and can take you a lot farther; they can be rented for the entire day or by the hour.
Columbia Hills State Park
Located in southern Washington along the Columbia River, Columbia Hills State Park boasts beautiful rock formations and a long river shoreline. The park has 3,338 acres of Washington wilderness and has a rich Native American history. The park features unique rock formations, including Horsethief Butte, and a large freshwater lake. This park is quite popular due to its beautiful scenery and wealth of outdoor activities available.
Visitors to Columbia Hills State Park can enjoy 12.4 miles of hiking trails suitable for all ability levels. Visitors can also view some of the many wildlife native to the area, including bobcats, foxes, deer and elk. Bird watching is also a popular activity here; enthusiasts may catch glimpses of woodpeckers, eagles, doves, chukars, ospreys, and more. There is also rock climbing available in certain areas in the park; ask at the ranger’s station which areas are off-limits before climbing. Additionally, visitors can swim, boat, and fish in Horsethief Lake, which has two boat ramps. Finally, the park has several picnic spots and toilets for visitor’s day use. The park also has several large, grassy areas for visitors to play and relax in, and they have one horseshoe pit as well.
Centennial Trail State Park
As the name implies, Centennial Trial State Park is created around the Centennial Trail that runs alongside Spokane River. This wide path is paved and stretches from the border of Idaho to northwest Spokane, ending at Nine Mile Falls in Washington. Most of the trail follows the meandering banks of the Spokane River, but includes a slice of downtown Spokane, as well as eastern and western rural branches.
Frequented by hikers and bikers, as well as by roller-bladders, it is enjoyed for its natural beauty. No motorized recreational activities are permitted. While some consider it the ideal place for a stroll, others consider it the best place for an aerobic power walk or a challenging bike ride.
Anderson Lake State Park
The Anderson Lake State Park is a beautiful area located in the northeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington, just south of Port Townsend.
Anderson Lake itself is a 70 acre lake with seasonal fishing and boating available. The lake is open for fishing, mostly trout, from the last Saturday in April to August 31. Catch and release is also allowed through the months of September and October. There is a watercraft launch site which allows for single boat loading and unloading. This launch site is closed for periods of time, but is usually available for use at the same time as fishing season. A permit is required for the use of the watercraft launch site. The cost of this permit is seven dollars per day, though year long permits can also be purchased. These permits are available at the park, at the State Park Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, or online. Boaters must use caution, however, due to the shallow depth of the lake; its deepest point is only 25 feet.
The surrounding forest is on 410 acres of land and has various trails accessible for hiking, biking, and for equestrian use as well. In addition to the main parking lots that Anderson Lake State Park has to offer, there are also specialized parking lots for horse trailers. There are trails, such as the lakeside trail, which are available for hiking, but not for bike or horse riding. Other trails in and around the forest, such as the Anderson Trail or the Olympic Trail, are made for bikers and horses; trail users have been impressed by the quality and consistency of the trails. There have been some reports of muddy spots in various places along the trail during the winter, but for the most part the trails are relatively well drained.
Although there is no camping allowed in the park, the park closes from dusk until 8:00am, there are several picnicking areas around the park that visitors may use and enjoy. These picnicking areas have tables and benches, and there are also two restroom facilities located in the park. Visitors should know that there is no running water anywhere in the park. Also, watch out for the wildlife! There are various kinds of birds, including eagles, woodpeckers and ducks, as well as woodland creatures, such as chipmunks, deer, and raccoons.
For individuals or groups looking spend a day enjoying all that Anderson Lake State Park has to offer, be sure to check online to see if there are any events being held at the park in the near future. Also, the lake is sometimes closed to boating and swimming due to the levels of toxicity in the lake. This information is updated online at http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/.