Discover Pass free days now include all state public lands in Washington

Each year, there are 12 days when a Washington Discover Pass isn’t needed to access state recreational lands.

These are known as “free days,” and they give Washington’s outdoorsy types a chance to visit public lands without the need to buy a day-use permit or display an annual Discover Pass in their vehicle. Previously, free days only applied to certain areas. But that’s now changed.

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that extends free days to include all lands and recreation sites managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Natural Resources and the State Parks and Recreation Commission — some 6.7 million acres in total.

“This bill simply extends the Discover Pass free days … to all state recreational lands,” state Sen. Judy Warnick, the bill’s author, said during a floor speech in January. “This will help avoid confusion and create more equal access to all our public lands.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Natural Resources and the State Parks and Recreation Commission must now work together to designate 12 days each year in which access to their lands is free. Those days should — when possible — coincide with National Parks free days, and at least three of them must be on weekends.

Although the bill doesn’t technically take effect until later this year, Eryn Couch, a spokesperson with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the three agencies will honor the new policy during the remaining free days of 2022. Those days are April 22, June 11, June 12, June 19, Sept. 24, Oct. 10, Nov. 11 and Nov. 25.

Proponents of the bill said it clears up uncertainty among recreationists as to what state lands the Discover Pass free days apply to. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has said that it tried not to enforce penalties on free days because many visitors thought they didn’t need to display a pass in areas where they were actually required to. Those penalties include fees that range from $59 to $99.

The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.

The state Legislature and the governor’s office created the Discover Pass in 2011 to offset steep reductions in taxes that went to supporting Washington’s public lands. Day passes cost $10, and annual passes cost $30.