Places to Go

There are countless ways to get outside in Washington. Whether hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, horseback riding, boating, or camping, the Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to make it easy for you to do the things you love, from Puget Sound and the Pacific coast to the Columbia Basin and the rolling hills of the Palouse.

Purplish blue lupine and yellow balsamroot flowers.
Photo by WDFW

In this section

  • WDFW Lands

    WDFW manages more than 1 million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state.

  • Weekender report

    WDFW's Weekender report rounds up the month's fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation activities around the state.

  • Life Outdoors

    Informative blog posts, the Weekender Report of monthly recreational opportunities in your area, links to state and federal lands to explore, and more.

  • Clam, mussel, and oyster harvest

    Find information about public clam, mussel, and oyster beaches, including harvest seasons, beach locations, and current Department of Health status.

  • Public fishing piers

    Dozens of fishing piers around Puget Sound let you fish Washington's marine waters, even without a boat.

  • Lowland lakes

    Washington's lowland lakes offer some of the best fishing opportunities in the state.

  • High lakes

    Without a doubt, high lakes trout fishing is one of Washington's premier recreational opportunities.

  • Marine areas

    Marine areas offer unique fishing opportunities to the adventurous angler.

  • License dealers

    Want to start your adventure today? Find a license dealer near you.

  • Salmon viewing locations

    Find areas across the state where you can see salmon migrating and/or spawning.

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Places news & important dates

Methow Sandhill crane pair
Photo by WDFW
Methow Wildlife Area partial closure for sandhill cranes

A section of the Big Valley Wildlife Area Unit is temporarily closed to provide undisturbed space for a pair of state endangered sandhill cranes to nest.

Learn more about sandhill cranes
Wildfire at dusk
Photo by WDFW
Eastern Washington fire restrictions in effect

Restrictions on campfires, target shooting, and other activities went into effect July 1 on WDFW-managed lands in Eastern Washington to reduce wildfire risk.

All restrictions and closures
Visit the Newsroom for more news

Visit your WDFW lands

Short-eared owl on the hunt
Photo by Richard Eltrich
Planning the future of the Skagit Wildlife Area

A new management plan for the Skagit Wildlife Area was approved in July 2024.

Read the plan
Dike-top trail on Nooksack Wildlife Area Unit
Photo by WDFW
Nooksack Unit of Whatcom Wildlife Area closed through Sept. 30

Popular wildlife and walking area near Bellingham closed to support vegetation on lower Nooksack River levee.

Read about the closure
Two people and a dog walking along a trail in the Methow WLA
Photo by WDFW
Collaboration in the Methow: WDFW’s Trails Ambassador Program

WDFW is working with Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the Methow Valley Trails Collaborative for the second year of the trailhead ambassador program.

Read the full story

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