Introducing Washington's national parks
Lonely Planet Editors
26 February 2021
Washington is blessed with some of the most rugged, diverse scenery in the lower 48 states. With snow capped peaks rarely seen on this scale outside Alaska, ragged coasts strewn with timber stripped by the waves, pin-drop quiet forests, and active stratovolcanoes right in the backyard of the Evergreen State's major metros, there's nowhere else quite like it. So it should come as no surprise that Washington is home to three national parks, each of which contains some of the state's best natural areas and unique ecosystems.Â
Whether you're hoping to hike, camp, rock climb, ski, raft, or simply chill by the lake in the lodge with a mug of Washington's famous coffee, there's no shortage of experiences to be found in Mt. Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park. From coasts to caves, moss-strewn trees to slopes buried under ice-blue glaciers, there's a lot of ground to cover. That's why we wanted to introduce each of these special places, and a little bit about their history, their best features, and where to get started for an unforgettable adventure.