Washinton State County Fairs. Living In Washington

Washinton County Fairs. Things To Do In WA. Living In Washington

July 30 - August 3 - Thurston County Fair, Olympia - Each day during Fair Week features a variety of activities including musical entertainment, home arts demonstrations, 4-H and FFA events, rides for kids of all ages, and the always Fabulous Fair Food. Wed - Sat, 10:00 am - 10:00 pm; Sun, 10:00 am - 8:00 pm (360)786-5453 Thurston County Fairgrounds

August 1 - 10 - Clark County Fair, Ridgefield - Each year over a quarter of a million people attend the fair making it the largest single-location event in the Vancouver and Portland metropolitan area! Big-name entertainment with a Kids Center, an Action Zone, community stages, free featured attractions, a huge carnival, a midway, and great food! (360) 397-6180

August 6 - 10 - Grays Harbor County Fair, Elma - Poultry In Motion! A hypnotist, ventriloquist, deep fried Twinkies, finger steaks and jumbo turkey legs are just some of the new additions. Carnival is here, business vendors and this year a free kiddie train will give rides around the fairgrounds. Food court will offer an abundance of food and the FREE concert series this year brings you countrymusic artist Joe Nichols, Contemporary Christian Artist Trevor Morgan and more. Car races are always a favorite. This is truly an old fashioned family event and shouldn't be missed by anyone. (800)621-9625 Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds

August 7 - 10 - Pierce County Fair, Graham - Join us in our yearly celebration of rural life, agriculture, and good ol' family values. The Pierce County Fair is situated amongst the firs and green grass of beautiful Frontier Park. Sit back and enjoy a wide selection of tasty fair foods while viewing some of our many free entertainment acts and attractions. Join us in our yearly celebration of rural life, agriculture, and good ol' family values. The Pierce County Fair is situated amongst the firs and green grass of beautiful Frontier Park. Sit back and enjoy a wide selection of tasty fair foods while viewing some of our many free entertainment acts and attractions. (253) 847-4754 Frontier Park

August 8 - 10 - Jefferson County Fair, Port Townsend - An old fashioned country Fair with fun for the whole family. Draft Horse pulls, 4H/FFA exhibits, animals, Barrel Races, 4 x 4 Mud Drags, lots of free entertainment and much more. Fri & Sat 10:00 am - 10:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (360)385-1013 Jefferson County Fairgrounds

August 6 - 9 - Yakima Valley Fair and Rodeo, Grandview - This event will be held again this year at Country Park in Grandview, WA. This will be our 78th Annual Fair and our 5th Annual Rodeo! (509)786-8250 Country Park

August 11 - 16 - Northwest Washington Fair, Lynden - Annual Fair featuring 4H, FFA, and Open Class exhibits in livestock, arts and crafts, photography, horse events, baking and canning, horticulture, agriculture, home arts, variety of foods and commercial vendors, grandstand entertainment, Kids Zone, and carnival. (360)354-4111 Northwest WA Fairgrounds

August 13 - 17 - Skamania County Fair, Stevenson - Free fair, entertainment, carnival, animals, and timber carnival. (509)427-3979 Skamania County Fair Grounds

August 14 - 17 - Island County Fair, Langley - Bring the whole family to an authentic old-fashioned, country-style fair. Enjoy livestock, craft competitions,rides, and ongoing entertainment. Gates open at 9:30 am Thursday-Sunday, and close at 10pm Thursday, 10:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 9pm on Sunday. (360)221-4677 Island County Fairgrounds

August 19 - 23 - Benton Franklin Fair, Kennewick - A time-honored tradition in the Tri-Cities, showcasing the agricultural diversity of the region while providing great entertainment for the whole family. Tues - Thurs - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Fri/Sat 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. (509)586-9211 Fairgrounds

August 20 - 24 - Kitsap County Fair and Rodeo, Bremerton - (360)337-5650 Kitsap County Fairgrounds

August 25 - 28 - Lincoln County Fair, Davenport - The Annual Lincoln County Fair has a lot to see: Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Chickens, Canned Goods, Baked Goods, Crafts, Quilts, Food, and lots more. (509)725-5161 Lincoln County Fairgrounds

August 28 - September 1 - Kittitas County Fair, Ellensburg - From the first organized fair in 1885 to the modern event, the fair has always been about agriculture. (800) 426-5340

September 5 - 14 - Spokane County Interstate Fair, Spokane - This county fair features juried animal exhibits, crafts, agricultural displays and competitions, antique machinery exhibits, a fine arts and more. There will be commercial exhibits, as well as, food booths galore with all of your favorite fair morsels. For action, there will be a carnival,a PRCA Rodeo, around the clock entertainment and a demolition derby. (509)477-2772 Spokane County Fair and Expo Center

September 5 - 21 - Puyallup Fair, Puyallup - The Fair has been bringing people together for over 100 years. Don't miss the entertainment, animals, rides, displays and, of course, the food!. Enjoy the State 4-H Fair, ToonzVille, the expanded SillyVille, tons of free entertainment, the Puyallup Pro Rodeo and shows and our nightly concert series. (253)841-5045 Puyallup Fair & Events Center

September 26 - October 5 - Central Washington State Fair, Yakima - Central Washington State Fair is back featuring animals, agricultural displays, home arts, photography, fair farm, entertainment, northern sprint and tour car racing, Hispanic rodeo, P.R.C.A. rodeo, demolition derby and local and regional acts. (509)248-7160 Central Washington State Fairgrounds at State Fair Park

Klondike Gold Rush-Seattle National Historic Park

Klondike Gold Rush-Seattle National Historic Park

Seattle Gateway to Gold

Gold! read the headlines in July of 1897. After years of struggling through a depression, the people of the nation were intrigued by the possibility of riches. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the 1897-98 stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle’s role in this event. The park offers a glimpse at the stories of adventure and hardship of the gold rush.

Klondike Gold Rush-Seattle National Historic Park Park Information
Hours/Seasons: The Seattle unit of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The park is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Directions: Take the James Street exit from I-5. Proceed down the hill and turn left at Second Avenue, then veer right onto S. Washington Street. Street parking is available, but difficult to find during business hours; parking meters are free on Sundays and major holidays. Public parking lots can be found throughout the neighborhood.

Fees: Free!

Weather: Seattle has a marine-type climate. Winters are cool, and summers are mild and pleasant. The average annual temperature is 53 degrees, with an average low of 36 degrees in the winter and an average high of 69 degrees in the summer. The average annual rain fall is 39 inches, with 100 rain free days per year, and an average of 49 percent sunshine during the daylight hours.

History
In July 1897, the steamship Portland arrived with a cargo of gold. In the weeks that followed, and throughout the Klondike Gold Rush, Seattle dominated the outfitting trade. Thousands of people from across the United States and around the world arrived to purchase tons of food, clothing and equipment and to book passage north. Guidebooks and newspapers lauded Seattle’s facilities. The Chicago Record boasted that "the outfits purchased in Seattle by twenty experienced miners on the way to the Klondike are regarded as models by miners who have returned from that region."

Many stampeders arrived in Seattle by train and left for the gold fields on a ship. Seattle’s role in the gold rush was defined, in part, by its role as a transportation center. Until the coming of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads, Seattle’s most reliable connection to the outside world was by sea. City leaders lobbied for a transcontinental rail link to ship timber and imported goods east in exchange for finished goods and passenger service. By 1897, the region had steamship service north to Alaska and rail service over the Cascade Mountains as well as north to Vancouver, British Columbia and south to San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.

Seattle’s success as an outfitting and transportation center was due in part to geography and economic conditions. The rest was due to an aggressive marketing campaign. Seattle’s merchant community recognized the opportunity that the Klondike Gold Rush represented and embarked upon a media blitz with an extraordinary reach. In the weeks following the arrival of the S.S. Portland in Seattle, the Chamber of Commerce and merchants formed a Klondike Advertising Committee. The wealth and fame that Seattle gained during the gold rush is, in large part, the result of this committee and the efforts of its intrepid leader, Erastus Brainerd.

The image of stampeders and merchants in Seattle as white males of European descent is only partially true. Seattle by 1897 was home to Asian, African-American, and diverse European cultures, many of whom worked as outfitters or left to go to the Gold Fields. Women who made the trek north found jobs in a variety of places, including saloons and dance halls; many also started their own businesses including bakeries, laundries, restaurants, and hotels. In Skagway and along the northern trails, many coastal Indians worked as guides, packers, and traders. The choices below tell the stories of several people involved in the Rush.

As a result of the Gold Rush, Seattle earned a reputation as the commercial center of the Pacific Northwest. In the decade following the rush, the population doubled and the city expanded to the surrounding hills. Gold Rush tax revenues financed comprehensive water and sewage systems, the locks between Lake Washington and Lake Union, and regrades of the steep hills and wetlands in the downtown area. In 1909, Seattle celebrated its new fame with the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.

Programs

Audio Visual Programs
Throughout the year, the park offers to visitors a number of audiovisual programs that tell the stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. Are offerings include:

Days of Adventure, Dreams of Gold (27 minutes): Using vintage photographs, this film provides a broad overview of the events of the Klondike Gold Rush. Narrated by Hal Holbrook, the program follows the stampede north to Skagway, telling the story of the arduous journey over the mountain passes and down the Yukon river to Dawson City and the gold fields. The film is available in open captions for those with hearing impairments

Seattle: Gateway to the Goldfields (15 minutes): This slide program focuses on the role that Seattle and Pioneer Square played as the chief outfitting and transportation center during the Klondike Gold Rush. Using vintage and contemporary photographs, the program helps visitor understand the pivotal role Seattle played in preparing the stampeders for their arduous journey north to the Klondike Gold Fields.

Hiking the Chilkoot Trail (15 minutes): For many of the stampeders headed to the Klondike Gold Fields, ascending the Chilkoot Pass was the defining moment of their journey. Today, thousands of adventures retrace the steps of the miners, making the Chilkoot Trail one of the most popular trails in Southeast Alaska. This slide program gives potential hikers a taste if what it is like to hike over this historic trail. The program has open captions for the hearing impaired.

Interpretive Programs
Gold Panning Demonstrations are offered throughout the year; on request from September to June and on a set schedule June through Labor Day. These demonstrations illustrate the historic prospecting techniques that were used by the stampeders in the Klondike gold fields. Learn about who made the fortunes and who lost it all in the gold rush. 15 to 20 minutes.

Walking Tours of Pioneer Square Historic District are offered every morning during the summertime at 10:00 am. The ranger's take small groups of visitors on a sixty minute stroll through the streets and alleys of the historic district, recounting the role that the neighborhood played in the development of early Seattle and the Klondike Gold Rush.

All children must be accompanied by adults. No reservations are taken in advance and groups cannot exceed twenty four people. The tour is wheel chair accessible. PLEASE NOTE: This is not the Seattle Underground Tour. For information on Seattle's underground, please call (206) 682-4646 or 1-888-608-6337.

Ranger Programs are offered every morning during the summer, including slide programs that tell the many stories of the Klondike Gold Rush including readings of Robert Service's poetry.

A Junior Ranger Program is available throughout the year for children age 6 through 12. The workbook is available at the front desk of the visitor center; feel free to pick one up when you visit the park.

A Short History of the Klondike Gold Rush

“GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!” screamed the banner headline of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on July 17, 1897. Smaller headlines following told of "Sixty-Eight Rich Men on the Steamer Portland" and "STACKS OF YELLOW METAL!" The news of the gold strike on the Klondike River, a tributary of the Yukon River in northwestern Canada, near the border with Alaska, excited people across the globe, especially in North America. By noon that July day eager fortune seekers had booked the last berth on the Portland for the return trip to Alaska.Once there, they headed by riverboat up the Yukon to a mining camp near the gold strike called Dawson City, soon, though briefly, to become a boomtown.

Prospectors had tried their luck for decades in the wilderness of the Yukon River valley, finding only small amounts of gold. But on August 16, 1896, a member of a local Tagish tribe named Keish (known as Skookum Jim Mason by English Speakers), his nephew Kaa Goox (called Tagish Charlie or Dawson Charlie), and his American brother-in-law, George Washington Carmack, struck pay dirt on a tributary of the Klondike they named Bonanza Creek. They filed claims the next day, triggering a scramble among prospectors already in the area for similar rich claims. Within a few months every potentially valuable claim along Bonanza Creek and nearby streams and hillsides had been staked, All this took place before word of the great discovery reached the outside world. When it did, almost a year later, the Klondike Gold Rush began.

Gold fever affected people from all walks of life. Even Seattle's mayor quit to join the stampede. Most were Americans and Canadians, but some came from almost every corner of the globe. Few had any idea of the hardships that awaited them on the way to, and in, the frozen north: climbing the steep, 3,000-foot Chilkoot Pass 40 or 50 times, for example, each time laden with a heavy load on one's back in order to bring into the desolate Yukon region enough food and supplies to last a year. Nor was taking the treacherous White Pass alternative any better. So many horses perished on this narrow, boulder-strewn route that it became know as the Dead Horse Trail. Once in the Yukon region, imagine yourself and a partner spending a dark and frigid winter chopping down trees so the logs could be whipsawed into planks or boards for a boat or raft. Such watercraft would be needed when the ice broke in the spring on the Yukon. Then you'd load your boat or raft with food and supplies, get in, push off, and hope you'd safely negotiate dangerous rapids, sandbars, and other obstacles. Finally, some 560 downstream miles later, you'd reach Dawson City. Imagine discovering, soon after arriving, that your dreams of riches are mostly just that: dreams. Historian Pierre Berton put it this way: "One hundred thousand persons, it is estimated, actually set out on the Klondike Trail; some thirty or forty thousand reached Dawson... a few hundred found gold in quantities large enough to call themselves rich. And out of these fortunate men, only the merest handful managed to keep their wealth."

The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 and 1898 increased the awareness of Americans and Canadians to the possibilities of developing mining, timber, and other resources in the vast lands of Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. It provided an economic shot in the arm to merchants, especially in Seattle, who supplied the naïve but determined stampeders. In so doing it helped bring to an end, at least in the Pacific Northwest, the terrible effects of the Panic of 1893, one of America's worst economic depressions. It also enriched many of the men and women who participated in the Klondike Gold Rush and who returned home with scarcely a nugget or ounce of precious dust. Many spoke glowingly long afterwards of the grandest adventure they had ever experienced.

Klondike Gold Rush NHP - Seattle Unit
117 South Main Street
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 553-7220 ext 0

Mount Rainier National Park Washington. Mount Rainier National Park Info

Mount Rainier National Park Washington. Mount Rainier National Park Info

Mount Rainier National Park Washington Description
Established in 1899. 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows. Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997 as a showcase for the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. Whether hiking on its flanks, climbing its summit, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on its slopes, camping along its glacier-fed rivers, photographing wildflower displays in subalpine meadows, or just admiring the view, nearly two million people come to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Mount Rainier each year.

Mount Rainier National Park Washington Park Information
Hours/Sesons: Mount Rainier National Park is open all year, but access is limited in winter. Facilities at Longmire are open daily year-round. Facilities at Paradise and Ohanapecosh are open daily from late-May to mid-October. Facilities at Sunrise are open July to early-October. In winter, access is by the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park only. The Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is open weekends and holidays in winter. Most visitors come on sunny summer weekends and holidays. Try to schedule your visit mid-week in summer, if possible, since parking is limited in many areas of the park.

Directions: Year-round access to the park is via SR 706 to the Nisqually Entrance in the SW corner of the park. Limited winter access is available via Hwy. 123 in the SE corner of the park. The Carbon River/Mowich Lake area (NW corner) is accessed via SR 165 through Wilkeson. Summer access is available via Hwy. 410 on the N and E sides of the park.

Fees:
Individual - $5 - 7 Days
Vehicle - $10 - 7 Days
Climbing Fee - $15 per person per climb
Climbing Annual Pass - $25 Annual

Weather: Weather patterns at Mount Rainier are strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, elevation, and latitude. The climate is generally cool and rainy, with summer highs in the 60s and 70s. While July and August are the sunniest months of the year, rain is possible any day, and very likely in spring, fall, and winter.

Backpacking Mount Rainier National Park Washington

Wilderness Camping Permits and Use Limits

Climbers pay a $15 per person, per climb, Mountaineering Cost Recovery fee upon arrival in the park, in order to obtain their Climbing Permit, which also serves as their Wilderness Camping Permit. An annual climbing pass is available for $25. Backpackers, and anyone else who camps outside of auto campgrounds, must obtain a free Wilderness Camping Permit before camping. Permits are required year-round and are issued in person only after you arrive in the park. The permits may be obtained at the Wilderness Information Centers at Longmire and White River, at the Paradise Ranger Station, and at the Wilkeson Ranger Station (beginning in late May).

Use Limits: Use limits exist and are enforced throughout virtually all of the Mount Rainier wilderness (97% of the park) from May 1 through September 30 only.

Trailside Camping: Camping along trails is confined to designated trailside campgrounds only. A trailside campground has from one to eight improved sites, each of which will accommodate one "individual" party of 1-5 people. Many of the trailside campgrounds also have a group site for "group" parties of 6-12 people. All campgrounds have a primitive toilet and a nearby untreated water supply.

Crosscountry Camping: Backpackers may choose to venture into rough trailless areas, far away from maintained trails, and choose their own location to camp, using "leave no trace" camping ethics and camping where there are no improved campsites out of sight and sound of other parties. These vast areas are segmented into zones for management purposes, and each zone has a capacity for numbers of allowable parties per night camped in that zone. Party size may not exceed 5. Choose crosscountry camping only if you are adept with map and compass and in excellent physical condition for enduring the additional challenge of crosscountry travel. There are both lower forest and subalpine crosscountry zones.

Alpine Camping: Mountain climbers generally choose to camp in these tree-less, snow- and ice-covered areas on the slopes of Mount Rainier itself. Like crosscountry areas, the alpine area is also segmented into zones, most of which have capacities on the number of parties camped per night. Party size may not exceed 12 if camping on snow. If camping on bare ground, party size may not exceed 5. Within the alpine zones, there are two popular high camps on the two most popular climbing routes (Muir Corridor and Emmons Glacier). Each camp and the adjoining alpine zones have capacities based on allowable people per night. Never camp on exposed vegetation or the partially vegetated "islands" of rare alpine plants as these plants struggle to survive here. In particular, camping is illegal in the Muir "fellfields" on either side of the Muir Snowfield, which leads to Camp Muir.

Reserving Campsites Mount Rainier National Park Washington

An in-park Wilderness Reservation System is available for climbers and backpackers planning trips during the May 1 to September 30 period. A reservations office is staffed and maintained at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center during the summer months. Beginning April 3, reservations can be made by phone (360) 569-HIKE, Fax (360) 569-3131, or mail: Wilderness Reservations Office, Tahoma Woods Star Route, Ashford, WA 98304. There is a $20 reservation fee for advance reservations. Reservations can be made up to two months in advance of the day you start your trip (i.e., a reservation for July 4 may be made no earlier than May 4) and are for trips between May 1 and September 30 only.

Up to 60% of all trailside campsites, crosscountry zones, and alpine zones throughout the park will be reservable no earlier than two months in advance of the first day of one's climb or backpacking trip. The remaining sites are available to first-come, first-served users. Reservations are available during the use limit season of May 1 through September 30 only, and are not available for other times of the year. The $20 fee per party per trip covers the cost of operating the reservation system. One itinerary change or readjustment before and during one's trip is permitted without additional charge. The $20 fee is non-refundable.

Reservations are optional. They are often not needed, especially early and late in the summer and on some weekdays during mid summer, or if you keep your options very flexible upon arrival in the park. Poor weather also radically affects demand. However, climbers and backpackers are generally advised to make reservations for weekend climbs and backpacking trips, including Friday nights. Out-of-state visitors may wish to make reservations to avoid interruptions in their trip plans. Those going on extended backpacking trips are also advised to make reservations.

Reservations may be requested by phone (voice mail messages may be left), fax, or letter no earlier than April 1 for trips starting June 1. If, for example, your hike or climb doesn't begin until July 15th, don't request a reservation before May 15th. Reservations may be requested as late as 24 hours before a trip is to begin. Reservations are not confirmed until your payment has been received (Visa or Mastercard by phone, mailed check, or in-person payment). Depending on volume of phone calls, staff will attempt to help you with trip planning if needed.

The Longmire Wilderness Information Center will be open daily for in-person hiking and backpacking information, wilderness permits, and wilderness reservations beginning May 22.

To make reservations:
360-569-HIKE (4453)
FAX: 360-569-3131

Day Hiking Mount Rainier National Park Washington

There are no limits on party size, numbers of people per party, or what trail you may choose for your hike, and there is no charge (beyond the park entrance fee) for day hiking throughout the park. Day hikers are encouraged to stay on designated trails throughout the park, and are required to do so in the heavily used Paradise, Sunrise, and Tipsoo Lake meadows. Please choose a spot for a lunch stop carefully. Avoid fragile flower fields and stream banks.

Day hikers are advised to keep hiking plans flexible because some trailhead parking lots may be full, and overflow parking is not permitted, in order to avoid impeding traffic and to provide a less crowded, higher quality experience for hikers. Alternative trailheads may have space available.

Biking Mount Rainier National Park Washington

Bicycles are allowed on the roads in the park and cyclists will find both challenging and scenic cycling opportunities. Bicycles are not permitted on any of the foot trails and there are no designated bike trails. Bicycling equipment in or near the park is very limited. Cyclists are advised to be equipped to make needed repairs on their own. Helmets are essential.

September and early October are generally excellent times for cyclists to visit Mount Rainier as there are fewer vehicles on the roads. This enhances the opportunity to enjoy the fall colors, although many facilities and services are reduced or discontinued in scope after Labor Day.

Ride safely and enjoy a pleasant and safe ride in Mount Rainier National Park!

Road and Touring Cyclists:

Road and touring cyclists will find park roads quite challenging as they are steep, narrow, winding and have unpaved shoulders. There are several significant elevation gains and losses. The road from the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park to Paradise is 19 miles one way with a gain in elevation of 3,400 feet. Travel from the northeast park boundary to Sunrise is 20 miles with an elevation gain of 3,650 feet. Use exceptional care on the descents as excess speed can make the winding roads quite dangerous. The Redmond Cycling Club sponsors RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier One Day), an annual bicycle ride in July in which 750 cyclists test themselves on the 154 mile course with 10,000 feet of total elevation gain.

Mountain Bike Enthusiasts:

Mountain bikers have three areas to choose from in the park:

The Westside Road is just inside the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park. The entire length is unpaved and provides an exceptionally scenic challenge. The first three miles of the road are open to all vehicles. There is a small parking area at the end of this three mile section and many mountain bikers choose to leave their cars at this point. The ten mile stretch to Klapatche Point is restricted to cyclists and hikers. There are two challenging climbs and the views offered are spectacular.

The Carbon River Road is in the northwest corner of the park. It provides an opportunity to ride through a rain forest. Use caution as there is vehicle traffic on the road.

A third option for mountain bikers is the road behind the old campground in Longmire. Vehicle parking and access to this road are at the Community Building in Longmire. This road accesses Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek or Kernahan Road) and makes a loop back to the park via Ashford.

Camping Mount Rainier National Park Washington

Cougar Rock Campground
Location: SW corner of the park, 2.3 miles north of Longmire.
Elevation: 3,180 feet
Campsites: 200 individual & 5 group sites (10 to 24 campers per group site)
Season: Late May to mid-October
Availability: Late June - Labor Day: Reservations only. Make reservations online or call 1-800-365-CAMP. Reservations may be available upon arrival. Remainder of the season: First-come, first-served only. Register at campground.
Facilities: Water, flush-type toilets, trailer dump station, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, amphitheater, hiking trails. Some accessible sites. No RV hookups. No showers.
Fees: Late June - Labor Day (reservations only): $14; Remainder of the season: $12.

Ipsut Creek Campground
Location: NW corner of the park
Elevation: 2300 feet
Campsites: 28 individual campsites
Season: Open year round depending on snow conditions.
Availability: Open.
Facilities: Tables and vault toilets. No potable water. No RV hookups. Road is rough and trailers may have difficulty.
Fees: $6.

Mowich Lake Campground
Location: NW corner of the park at the end of SR 165 (this 17 mile road is unpaved after the first few miles beyond its junction with the road leading to Carbon River and the Ipsut Creek campground)
Elevation: 4950 feet
Campsites: 30 undesignated, walk-in only sites (approximately 50 yard walk)
Season: July - mid-October
Availability: Road is open.
Facilities: Chemical vault toilets, tables, refuse bin, hiking trails. No RV hookups. No potable water. NO FIRES.
Fees: None.

Ohanapecosh Campground
Location: SE corner of the park, 11 miles north of Packwood off SR 123
Elevation: 1914 feet
Campsites: 205 individual sites
Season: Late May to mid-October
Availability: Late June - Labor Day: Reservations only. Make reservations online or call 1-800-365-CAMP. Reservations may be available upon arrival. Remainder of the season: First-come, first-served only. Register at campground.
Facilities: Water, flush-type toilets, trailer dump station, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, visitor center, amphitheater, hiking trails. Accessible sites under construction. No RV hookups. No showers.
Fees: Late June - Labor Day (reservations only): $14; Remainder of the season: $12.

Sunshine Point Campground
Location: SW corner of the park, 2.5 miles inside the Nisqually Entrance.
Elevation: 2000 feet
Campsites: 18 individual sites, no group sites.
ADA Handicapped Accessible Sites: Sites 1 and 3.
Season: Open year-round.
Availability: No reservations. Register at the campground.
Facilities: Water, chemical vault toilets, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans provided. No RV hookups.
Fees: $10 per site.

White River Campground
Location: NE corner of the park, five miles west of White River Entrance off SR 410.
Elevation: 4400 feet
Campsites: 112 individual sites
Season: Late June to September
Availability: No reservations. Register at campground
Facilities: Water, flush-type toilets, trailer dump station, fire grates, tables, refuse and recycling cans, hiking trails. No RV hookups.
Fees: $10 per site.

Climbing Mount Rainier National Park Washington

Mount Rainier, the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, offers an exciting challenge to the mountaineer. This 14,410 foot active volcano is successfully climbed each year by thousands of people.

Reaching the summit requires a vertical elevation gain of more than 9,000 feet over a distance of eight or more miles. Climbers must be in good physical condition and well prepared. Proper physical conditioning can offset the effects of fatigue that lead to mistakes and injuries.

Weather, snow, and route conditions can change rapidly and can make the difference between a pleasant and rewarding experience or tragedy. Obtain a current weather forecast before beginning a climb. Turn back if weather conditions deteriorate. Severe winter-like storms on the mountain are not uncommon during the summer. Contact a climbing ranger for updated information on weather, route conditions, crevasses, rockfall, and avalanches by calling 360-569-2211, extension 2314#.

Mount Rainier National Park
Tahoma Woods, Star Route
Ashford, WA 98304-9751
(360) 569-2211 x. 3314

Washington Olympic National Park, WA Olympic National Park Info

WA Olympic National Park Description
Often referred to as "three parks in one", Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different ecosystems—rugged glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest. These diverse ecosystems are still largely pristine in character (about 95% of the park is designated wilderness) and are Olympic's gift to you.

Olympic is also known for its biological diversity. Isolated for eons by glacial ice, the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Olympic Peninsula has developed its own distinct array of plants and animals. Eight kinds of plants and five kinds of animals are found on the peninsula and live nowhere else in the world.

WA Olympic National Park Information
Hours/Seasons: The park itself is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Most roads remain open year round, although several are subject to winter closure because of snow. Some campgrounds are open year round, while others close for the winter. Visitor center hours vary throughout the year. It is best to contact the park for current information.

Directions: From the Seattle/Tacoma area, travelers may reach U.S. 101 by several different routes, either by crossing Puget Sound on one of the Washington State Ferries or by driving south around Puget Sound. Travel time along any of these routes is approximately two-and-a-half to three hours from the Seattle/Tacoma area to Port Angeles, where the main park visitor center and park headquarters are located. All major rental companies serve the SeaTac Airport. Rental cars are also available on the Olympic Peninsula in Port Angeles, Sequim and Grays Harbor.

WA Olympic National Park Fees:
Entrance Permit and Pass - $10 - 7 Days
Campground Permits - $8-$12 one time
Ozette parking pass - $1
Wilderness Permit - $5 plus
The Permit Registration Fee is $5.00 for a single permit good for up to 14 days and a maximum of 12 people. The Individual Nightly Fee is $2.00 per person per night for any overnight stay in the park backcountry. Call the Wilderness Information Center for backpacking info, permits and reservations.

Weather: Olympic has a moderate marine climate with pleasant summers and mild, wet winters. Summers are generally fair and warm, with high temperatures usually between 65 and 75 degrees F. Summer is the driest season, with heavier precipitation during the rest of the year. Winters are mild, with temperatures at lower elevations in the 30's and 40's.

For Additional Information Contact:
Olympic National Park
600 East Park Avenue
Port Angeles, WA 98362-6798

Visitor Center 360-565-3130
Wilderness Information Center 360-565-3100
Olympic NP Headquarters 360-565-3000
E-mail OLYM_WIC@nps.gov

Washington National Parks. Washington Recreation Areas

Washington National Parks. Washington Recreation Areas

Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve - Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve provides a vivid historical record of Pacific Northwest history, including the first exploration of Puget Sound by Captain George Vancouver in 1792; early settlement by Colonel Isaac Ebey, an important figure in Washington Territory; growth and settlement resulting from the Oregon Trail and the Westward migration; the Donation Land Laws (1850-1855); and the continued growth and settlement of the town of Coupeville.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site - Fort Vancouver was the administrative headquarters and main supply depot for the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trading operations in the immense Columbia Department. Under the leadership of John McLoughlin, the fort became the center of political, cultural, and commercial activities in the Pacific Northwest. When American immigrants arrived in the Oregon Country during the 1830s and 1840s, Fort Vancouver provided them with essential supplies to begin their new settlements.

Klondike Gold Rush-Seattle Unit National Historic Park - In 1897 news of a gold strike in the Canadian Yukon reached Seattle, triggering a stampede North to the Klondike Gold Fields. From 1897 to 1898, tens of thousands of people from across the United States and around the world descended upon Seattle's commercial district. While in Seattle, the hopeful miners purchased millions of dollars of food, clothing, equipment, pack animals, and steamship tickets. The final outcome of this great stampede helped shape the Seattle we know today, bolstering the city's reputation as the Queen City of the Pacific Northwest.

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area - Here the beautiful Stehekin Valley, with a portion of fjordlike Lake Chelan, adjoins North Cascades National Park. The national recreation area is managed with the national park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area as the North Cascades National Park Service Complex.

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area - In 1941, damming of the Columbia River as part of the Columbia River Basin project created a 130-mile long lake. Named for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the lake is now the largest recreation feature in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The man-made recreation area provides opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking and tours of Fort Spokane and the Dam.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail - This site celebrates the heroic expedition of the Corps of Discovery, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark. Thirty three people traveled with them into unknown territory, starting near what is now known as Wood River, Illinois in 1804, reaching the Pacific Ocean in 1805 and returning in 1806.

Mount Rainier National Park - Established in 1899. 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows.

North Cascades National Park - The North Cascades National Park Service Complex includes North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. North Cascades National Park contains some of America's most beautiful scenery -- jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers -- within its 505,000 acres (202,000 hectares).

Olympic National Park - Often referred to as "three parks in one", Olympic National Park encompasses three distinctly different ecosystems—rugged glacier capped mountains, over 60 miles of wild Pacific coast and magnificent stands of old-growth and temperate rain forest. These diverse ecosystems are still largely pristine in character (about 95% of the park is designated wilderness)and are Olympic's gift to you.

Ross Lake National Recreation Area - Ross Lake National Recreation Area is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Ringed by mountains, it offers many outdoor recreation opportunities along the upper reaches of the Skagit River, between the north and south units of North Cascades National Park.

San Juan Island National Historic Park - San Juan Island NHP commemorates the peaceful resolution of the 19th century boundary dispute between Great Britain and the United States over the Oregon Country. The crisis on San Juan Island -- which both nations claimed -- ignited when on June 15, 1859, an American farmer shot a British-owned pig. Soon the U.S. Army and Royal Navy were at gunpoint. However, officials on both sides quickly restored calm and the nations agreed to a military joint occupation of the island until the boundary dispute could be resolved.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site - Whitman Mission, located in the southeastern part of Washington state, preserves the site of Waiilatpu Mission, a Presbyterian mission to the Cayuse Indians from 1836 to 1847. During the eleven year period of the mission, it also became a way-stop for Oregon Trail pioneers. The mission ended in violence in November, 1847 after an outbreak of measles killed half the Cayuse tribe. Marcus Whitman, Narcissa Whitman and eleven others staying at the mission were killed by the Cayuse. The park preserves the foundations of the mission buildings, the Mill Pond and irrigation ditch, a short segment of the Oregon Trail, and the grave where the victims are buried. Native grasses give visitors a sense of how the area looked in 1840s.

Washington MLS. Home Prices Fall At Record Rate

Home Prices Fall At Record Rate

Associated Press: U.S. home prices tumbled in April at the fastest rate since a widely followed index was begun in 2000 with all 20 metropolitan areas surveyed posting annual declines for the first time.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 cities fell by 15.3 percent in April versus a year ago, according to Tuesday's report. Prices nationwide are at levels not seen since August 2004.

The narrower 10-city index declined 16.3 percent in April, its biggest decline in its more than two-decade history.

Meanwhile, a report from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight said U.S. home prices fell 4.6 percent in April from the same month last year, when the index peaked. That marked the biggest decline ever in the agency's monthly index which dates back to January 1991.

The government index is calculated using mortgage loans of $417,000 or less.

While the government report has shown nationwide price declines, the Case-Shiller index has shown far greater drops because it focuses on larger cities where prices rose further during the boom years, and includes riskier loans.

No surveyed city stayed above water, according to the Case-Shiller index. The last holdout, Charlotte, N.C., finally succumbed to the national housing downturn, with prices there slipping 0.1 percent from a year ago.

Las Vegas and Miami both continue to post the largest declines, falling 26.8 percent and 26.7 percent, respectively.

However, the annual declines in Denver, Dallas and Cleveland were less severe than in the previous month, but Maureen Maitland, a S&P vice president, is reluctant to peg that as an indication of stabilization.

“We wouldn't call a trend on one-month data,” she said.

The report also showed prices in eight metro areas increased in April from March, but the gains could be seasonal blips as the home-buying spring season starts up rather than a sign of a turnaround, Maitland said.

The housing slump, along with higher food and fuel prices and disruptions in the credit markets, has taken its toll on consumer sentiment.

An industry group Tuesday said U.S. consumer confidence fell unexpectedly sharply in June to the fifth-lowest level ever. The Conference Board's reading of consumers' expectations also hit an all-time low.

Ready to find a home at a great price in Washington. Speak To A Professional Washington Realtor NOW....We can show you foreclosures, Short Sales, REO, as well as any and all homes for sale in the Maricopa area. Search the complete Washington MLS for free