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.
Weekender report
WDFW's Weekender report rounds up the month's fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation activities around the state.
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.
Salmon viewing locations
Find areas across the state where you can see salmon migrating and/or spawning.
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.
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Places news & important dates

Snap shot of green dot map of L.T. Murray Wildlife Area
Provide input by March 14 on Southeast Region Green Dot maps

Together with DNR and private landowners, WDFW cooperatively manages many roads within Yakima and Kittitas counties to provide access for camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, and off-road vehicle riding. Each year, we update the maps and invite the public to provide feedback. 

Learn more
Aerial view of Island Unit
WDFW to restore critical salmon habitat at Skagit Wildlife Area Island Unit

The department is moving forward with a project at the Skagit Wildlife Area Island Unit to restore critical estuary habitat for struggling salmon populations.

Read the latest news
More news

Visit your WDFW lands

Winter Bank Fishing for Trout at Lake Roosevelt, Washington
This short film highlights the winter trout fishery at Lake Roosevelt, which is supported by an annual planting of 750,000 Rainbow Trout. Tactics on shoreline fishing are briefly discussed.
View of Mount Rainier from TransAlta propery.
Opportunity for new wildlife area in Lewis and Thurston counties
Proposed acquisition of TransAlta Centralia Mine Property would benefit fish and wildlife conservation and provide public access for recreation.
Read more
A pond in the Scatter Creek unit.
Welcome to the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area
Darric Lowery, the wildlife area manager for the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties, gives an overview of the plants, animals, and landscapes found at the 3,500-acre wildlife area.
Watch the video

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