Free park-ing: The next day to visit Washington state parks in 2020 without an entrance fee is March 9 (the state park system’s 107th birthday). Other free dates are March 19 (State Park’s 107th birthday), April 11 (Spring Day), April 22 (Earth Day), June 6 (National Trails Day), June 7 (Fishing Day), June 13 (National Get Outdoors Day), Aug. 25 (National Park Service’s 104th birthday), Sept. 26 (National Public Lands Day), Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) and Nov. 27 (Autumn Day). More at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Adventure Speaker Series: McKenzie Johnson will give a talk about her mountaineering experiences from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 12, Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St., Marysville. Johnson, who credits her accomplishments to being almost eight years sober, will also share her work with Recovery Beyond, a nonprofit that helps addicts recover via outdoor training and mountaineering. Doors open at 6 p.m. Entry is $5 at the door. More at www.marysvillewa.gov or 360-363-8400.
Green Everett: The next Green Everett Partnership work party is from 9 a.m. to noon March 14 at Rotary Park, 3505 Lowell Snohomish River Road. Help improve Everett’s parks and natural areas by removing invasive species, planting trees and maintaining plants. The Green Everett Partnership is a collaboration between the city parks department and Forterra, formerly the Cascade Land Conservancy. Call 425-238-0065 or go to www.greeneverett.org.
Get wild: The Camano Wildlife Habitat Project, sponsored by Friends of Camano Island Parks, hosts presentations the third Wednesday of the month. The next presentation, “Living with a Green Roof,” is set for 7 p.m. March 18 at the Island County Multi-Purpose Center, 141 NE Camano Drive, Camano Island. Janet Hall, who recently retired from Washington State Parks, will talk about the benefits of having a roof covered with vegetation. Call 360-387-2236 or go to www.camanowildlifehabitat.org.
Snowshoe treks: The U.S. Forest Service is leading interpretive snowshoe walks Fridays through Sundays through March 29 at Stevens Pass, Snoqualmie Pass and the Big Four Picnic Area near Granite Falls. The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Snowshoe Program is for all ages and experience levels. Snowshoes are provided. Call 425-783-6050 or go to www.fs.usda.gov/mbs for more information.
Day hike: Join the Everett Hiking & Backpacking Committee on April 2 for a moderately difficult hike up Mount Washington. The hike is 8 miles and gains 3,200 feet. The hike, set for 5:30 p.m., starts at the Mount Washington trailhead. Take exit 38 from I-90, drive south and take the first right turn into Ollalie State Park, then follow the gravel road to the end. A Discover Pass is required to park. RSVP at www.mountaineers.org.
Washington Outdoor Women: A WOW Waterfowling Workshop is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 4 at French Creek Hunt Club, 12325 Old Snohomish Monroe Road, near Monroe. Practice duck hunting with a variety of methods, including shooting clay targets, setting decoys and practicing calls. The workshop is for beginners and novices ages 18 and older. Cost is $140. More at www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org.
Wallace Falls State Park: Washington State Parks recently installed a parking lot camera at the popular state park near Gold Bar off U.S. 2. The parking lot often exceeds capacity during high volumes of traffic at certain times of the year. View the camera at www.parks.state.wa.us/289/Wallace-Falls.
Big Four Ice Caves Trail: The U.S. Forest Service has closed the popular 3.2-mile hiking trail for the season. Erosion damage to a footbridge crossing the South Fork Stillaguamish River led rangers to remove a section of the bridge on the trail. The Big Four Picnic Area and elevated boardwalks may still be used at this time, but the seasonal winter closure will close vehicle access to the trailhead in the near future. More at www.fs.usda.gov.
Find your favorite park: Get started on your next outdoor adventure with Washington State Parks Foundation’s website, which features an interactive map of Washington’s 124 state parks. It also includes virtual tours, park information and trip reports. The virtual tours provide a 360-degree view with navigational tools and a walk-through of state parks, trails, campgrounds, retreat centers, interpretive centers and vacation houses. More at www.waparks.org.
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