The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced that Sept. 27 is a state parks ‘free day.’ Day-use visitors will not need a Discover Pass to visit state parks including at Bridle Trails State Park in Kirkland and Saint Edward State Park on the boundary between Kirkland and Kenmore.

The ‘free day’ is in recognition of the 21st anniversary of National Public Lands Day—the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. State Parks ‘free days’ are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on lands managed by Washington State Parks and the Washington departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and  Fish & Wildlife (WDFW). The Discover Pass legislation provided that State Parks could designate up to 12 ‘free days’ each year when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The Discover Pass is still required to access lands managed by WDFW and DNR on these days.

‘Free days’ apply only to day use, not overnight stays or rented facilities.

Washington State Parks will have one more ‘free day’ in 2014: Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit: http://www.publiclandsday.org/about