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.

Person looks through binoculars while sitting on hill slope with wildflowers.

In this section

WDFW Lands
WDFW manages more than 1 million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout 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 beaches
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.
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.
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.
Salmon viewing locations
Find areas across the state where you can see salmon migrating and/or spawning.
Weekender report
WDFW's Weekender report rounds up the month's fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation activities around the state.
Buy a license
Get involved
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Places news & important dates

Father with kid walking toward mountain
Welcome to your next adventure!

The outdoors fits into everyone’s life in unique and personal ways, and we here at WDFW want to foster connections with and appreciation of nature, the wide variety of Washington landscapes, and all forms of outdoor recreation.

 

Celebrate a Life Outdoors
Wetland habitat with trees and vegetation
The Conservation Fund purchases ranch in Tenino

The Conservation Fund announced its purchase of the 1,567-acres ranch just west of Tenino. This acquisition is a critical step to establish WDFW's future Violet Prairie Wildlife Area Unit.

Learn more
More news

Visit your WDFW lands

Camp site with fire pit, tent, and leashed dog
Where the wild things are: Camp Washington virtual event recording available now
WDFW and Washington State Parks partnered for a virtual live event from Millersylvania State Park. Presenters provided tips on how to make camping reservations, find ADA-accessible recreation opportunities, and camp around wildlife.
Watch it here
Heller Bar Water Access Area
Find a water access area near you
WDFW manages hundreds of water access areas throughout the state, providing recreational access to the state's lakes, rivers, and marine waters.
Learn more
A man in a wheelchair watches wildlife
Making nature accessible to all
WDFW partner makes hunting and wildlife watching accessible to people with disabilities.
Learn more

Share your outdoor adventures