Washington National Parks Map

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The Washington National Parks Map highlights the several national parks, recreational centers and historical sites of the state.

Some of the well known national parks of Washington are North Cascades National Park, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, Nez Perce National Historical Park, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Mount Rainier National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Klondike Gold Rush- Seattle Unit National Historical Park, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Olympic National Park, Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, San Juan Island National Historical Park and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

The Olympic National Park offers the tourists to explore the natural scenic beauty of the place through the adventurous sport of hiking. Exotic mountain ranges, rivers and luxuriant forests represent the North Cascades National Park of Washington. Mount Rainier National Park is another favorite tourist spot of Washington. Mount Rainier is one of the active volcanoes of the state.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is known for its unparalleled natural splendor. The Whitman Mission National Historic Site displays the rich archaeological remnants of the ancient times. The Washington State Map indicates the exact geographical location of the national parks of the state.

How Many National Parks in Washington?

There are 3 designated national parks, 5 historical parks, 3 historic sites, 3 geologic/historic trails, and one each of a Historical Reserve, Recreation Area, and Affiliated Area in Washington. Let’s check out the best national parks, historic sites, geologic/historic trails, and more in Washington.

Best National Parks in Washington

National Parks in Washington State

 

1. North Cascades National Park (Marblemount, WA)

   The North Cascades National Park is an alpine landscape, which is just 3-hours from Seattle. Get the chance to discover the communities who live there and are perfectly adapted to recurring fire in the east and moisture in the west. If you are a glacier lover, you’ll be spoilt of choices exploring the jagged peaks. There are more than 300 glaciers on these peaks. As you move through the forested valleys, take your time to listen to cascading waters.

   Its physical address is 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Use the State Route 20 (SR 20) corridor to access both North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area. At Burlington, the North Cascades Highway of SR 20 connects with Interstate 5 (Exit 230). At Twisp, the highway intersects with SR 153 from the east. At Okanogan, the highway also intersects with US 97 from the east.

   During winter, a part of the road between Ross Dam Trailhead and Lone Fir Campground is closed by the State Department of Transportation. You can reach Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Stehekin) either by ferry or a plane from Chelan.

   The best time to visit North Cascades National Park is from mid-June to late-September. The average daytime temperature during summer revolves around 70 °F (21 °C). By mid-July, snow melts off in most parts of the trail. Spring is colorful and gives you an opportunity to witness a wide range of wildlife among the vibrant natural landscape.

   A few days of rain and wind are common in these parts. Storms also take place. In comparison to the western parts, it remains warmer and drier along the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains. At Stehekin, temperatures during summertime reach 90 °F (32 °C).

   Enjoy the adventure, exploration, learning, and fun-filled moments at the North Cascades National Park Complex. Plan your visit to North Cascades National Park to get the best out of your tour.

2. Olympic National Park (Port Angeles, WA)

   When it comes to Olympic National Park, it showcases an incredible range of precipitation and elevation. Its hallmark is diversity. This national park is spread across a total of around a million acres. A vast wilderness, coupled with several distinctly different ecosystems, and more than 70 miles of wild coastline, this NP provides you hundreds of reasons to visit.

   Visit Olympic national park to explore more than 70 miles (113 km) of wild coastline, old-growth temperate rainforests, glacier-capped mountains, and a wide array of distinctly different ecosystems.

   The physical address of this national park is Olympic National Park Visitor Center

   3002 Mount Angeles Road, Port Angeles, WA 98362. You can take one of the quieter state roadways, the I-5 corridor, to reach this national park. You can visit any part of this national park with Highway 101.

   Take I-5 to Highway 101 From Tacoma and State Route 16 to Bremerton. From Bremerton, take State Route 3 to move north to State Route 104. In Aberdeen, connect to Highway 101 from Washington/Oregon Coast.

   The temperature during summers tends to remain warm and fair. It revolves around 65-75 °F (18-24 °C). The weather remains driest from July to September. However, the amount of precipitation remains higher during the rest of the year.

   At lower elevation, winters remain mild. However, in the mountains, heavy snowfalls take place. As different weather conditions persist within the park at a single point in time, always remain prepared while visiting.

   There are 11 sites and visitor centers in Olympic National Park:

   1. Olympic National Park Visitor Center
   2. Mora Ranger Station
   3. Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center
   4. Kalaloch Ranger Station
   5. Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
   6. Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station
   7. Ozette Ranger Station
   8. Storm King Ranger Station
   9. Staircase Ranger Station
   10. Sol Duc – Eagle Ranger Station
   11. Elwha Ranger Station

   The main visitor center remains open every day of the year. However, times of entry and exit vary with season. It remains closed just 2-days in a year – Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

   Throughout the park, cellular access remains spotty. You can expect reliable service in the Front country areas near Port Angeles and Forks. Don’t expect access in other parts of the park.

3. Mount Rainier National Park (Ashford, Enumclaw, Packwood, Wilkeson, WA)

   Mount Rainier is an icon in the Washington landscape. It is an active volcano that stands 14,410 feet (around 4,400 m) tall above sea level. This mountain has the most glaciated peak in the contiguous USA. It spawns 5 major rivers. While the icy volcano is surrounded by subalpine wildflowers, its lower slopes are cloaked by ancient forests. Mount Rainier National Park’s ecosystem is a vibrant one, teeming with wildlife.

   The physical address of Mount Rainier National Park is 55210 238th Avenue East, Ashford, WA 98304. However, don’t use this address with geosteering systems (GPS) to reach the destination. This is the address of a national park administration building.

   For use with GPS, use the address 39000 SR 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304 to reach the national park. This destination will take you to the Nisqually Access on SR 706. While moving across the park, visitors are advised to use a road map in addition to GPS equipment.

   There are 5 important visitor centers in the park. They are Longmire Museum, Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center, Ohanapecosh Visitor Center, Sunrise Visitor Center, and Carbon River Ranger Station. Visit this park to make a lifetime of discovery.

   WiFi access is available at Jackson Visitor Center in Paradise. As these WiFi equipment have limited bandwidth, at the time of heavy usage it can run slow. Depending upon the service provider, mobile phone signal reception is spotty. If the need is, request your mobile provider for coverage maps directly.

Best National Historical Parks in Washington

 

1. Klondike Gold Rush – Seattle Unit National Historical Park (Seattle, WA)

   The Klondike Gold Rush helped Seattle flourish. Merchants passed through this port city to Alaska, supplying people from around the world. Klondike Gold Rush Seattle Unit National Historical Park helps you to learn more about the time when the Klondike Gold Rush happened. Visit this park to explore the remarkable adventure of the yesteryears. Don’t forget to visit the public lands of the area and also engage with the local community.

2. Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (Long Beach to Cannon Beach, OR, WA)

   If you are a lover of coastal belts and rainforests, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is the perfect place. Visit this park to unravel the dramatic stories of the most famous explorers of America. Explore the sites located along the Pacific Coast as well as the Columbia River. Get a first-hand account of the adventure that the explorers went through in American history.

3. Manhattan Project National Historical Park (Manhattan Project National Historical Park, NM, WA, TN)

   Manhattan Project National Historical Park tells you the story of the project, events, science, and engineering that led to the creation of the atomic bomb, a watershed moment in the history of mankind.

4. San Juan Island National Historical Park (Friday Harbor, WA)

   This historical park is a well-known site for splendid views, quiet woodlands, amazing saltwater shore, and a great place for orca whales. In the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region, San Juan Island is the last remaining native prairies. The tussle over the possession of this island almost led to a war between the United States and Great Britain in 1859. Visit San Juan Island National Historical Park to get a closer view of those tumultuous times.

5. Nez Perce National Historical Park (four states ID, MT, OR, WA)

   Nez Perce National Historical Park includes 38 places having cultural and historical significance to the people of Nimiipuu (Nez Perce). The inland northwest of the island includes a wide range of landscapes such as plateaus, mountains, prairies, and valleys. The people of Nimiipuu are extremely resilient, who adapted to the changing world and also survived the times when people settled in the US. Visit Nez Perce National Historical Park, explore the places, and learn their stories.

Best National Historic Sites in Washington

 

1. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Vancouver, OR, WA)

   Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is situated on the Columbia River’s north bank. It not only gives you a chance to sneak peek into the rich cultural past of the park but also gives you a marvelous sight. Mesmerized by the snowy mountain peaks coupled with a vibrant urban landscape. Explore its history at 4 unique sites. Get thrilled by exploring the origin of the American Pacific Northwest, the magic of flight, a powerful military legacy, and a frontier fur trading post. Discover the history of conflict, settlement, transition, and community.

2. Minidoka National Historic Site (Jerome, ID, WA)

   Learn about the heart-wrenching history of Minidoka from this historic site. Hostilities towards the Japanese Americans intensified after the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese forces. With the wartime hysteria mounting to its peak, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. It made more than 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast leave their homes, jobs, and lives behind. They were shifted to one of the ten prison camps that were present in the US.

3. Whitman Mission National Historic Site (Walla Walla, WA)

   The Americans, in general, and the people living in the Columbian Plateau, in particular, were impacted by the horrifying attack by the Whitmans in 1847. Whitman Mission National Historic Site gives you an opportunity to take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the tragic event in this site.

Best National Historic and Geologic Trails

 

1. Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail (WA, OR, ID, MT)

   A dramatic and distinguishing lasting mark can be seen on the landscape in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. These features were made by a series of cataclysmic floods that took place in the northwest region of the US at around 12,000-to-17,000-years back at the end of the Ice Age.

2. Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (Sixteen States: IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, MT, NE, ND, OH, OR, PA, SD, WA, WV)

   This historic trail is around 4,900 miles (7,886 km) long. It starts from Pittsburgh and continues in the mouth of the Columbia River, especially near Oregon’s Astoria. Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail covers both outbound and inbound routes of Lewis and Clark Expedition.

3. Oregon National Historic Trail (Various States ID, KS, MO, NE, OR, WA, WY)

   Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail in six states and serve as reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers.

Best National Historical Reserve, Recreation Area, and Affiliated Area

 

1. Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (Coupeville, WA)

   Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve is situated at the gateway to Puget Sound. It is known for having rich farmland, coupled with a promising seaport. All traditions pertaining to agricultural and cultural traditions of both Native and Euro-American are preserved here. Enjoy the scenic beauty in this reserve.

2. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (the Canadian border going to Coulee Dam along the Columbia River, WA)

   Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area cradles Lake Roosevelt in walls of stone. You can learn about the American Indians, dam builders, settlers, trappers, and traders in this recreation area. You can indulge in a wide range of outdoor activities here at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area including fishing, camping, hiking, boating, and swimming.

3. Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area (Seattle, WA)

   Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area provides you a unique experience. It gives you the chance to understand what and how it felt to be an Asian American in the Pacific Northwest. Take a guided tour and know why the local Chinatown-International District is unique. Explore the exhibitions of the real stories. Don’t forget to get a closer look at the actor and martial arts master Bruce Lee’s real-life stories.