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.

Motorized boat on Snake River

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.
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Get involved
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Places news & important dates

A trailing blackberry bramble laden with berries
Find your next adventure — one bite at a time!

This month in our Life Outdoors resources, we’re highlighting wild berry picking in Washington. In our latest blog, we share info on the most common berry species people pick in Washington to help you get started or maybe get introduced to a new species.

 

Read the blog
The Big Bend Wildlife Area
Fire risk restricts use of Eastern Washington wildlife areas to day use only

In response to increased fire risk and nationally depleted firefighting resources, all eastern Washington wildlife areas, including water access areas within wildlife areas, managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will be open for day use only, starting Friday, July 23.

Learn more
More news

Visit your WDFW lands

Students learn how science helps conservation efforts in rural Washington
More than 60 fifth grade students visited the Scotch Creek Wildlife Area for a field day to learn about sharp-tailed grouse conservation.
Read our blog
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