Events listed here are scheduled to happen after April 6, when the statewide stay-at-home order is slated to end. Check with each venue for the latest information.
Free park-ing: The next day to visit Washington state parks in 2020 without an entrance fee is April 11 (Spring Day). Other free dates are 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.
Swamp Lantern Festival: The Northwest Stream Center’s festival, running through the end of April, celebrates the coming of spring outdoors. There will be an expanse of the Pacific Northwest’s first spring flowers, including skunk cabbage (also known as swamp lantern), mock orange nicco and Indian plum. Admission is $7 for adults over 18, $6 for seniors, $5 for students and $3 for EBT cardholders. Children younger than 5 and Adopt a Stream Foundation members have free entry. The center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Reservations are required. Call 425-316-8592 or go to www.streamkeeper.org.
Green Everett: The next Green Everett Partnership work party is from 9 a.m. to noon April 11 at South Everett Forest Preserve, 1018 109th St. SE, Everett. 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, “Gardening for Pollinators and Birds,” is set for 7 p.m. April 15 at the Island County Multi-Purpose Center, 141 NE Camano Drive, Camano Island. Brenda Cunningham of the Washington Native Plant Society and Bob Gillsepie, a retired entomology professor from Wenatchee Valley College, will lead the presentation. Call 360-387-2236 or go to www.camanowildlifehabitat.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 popular 3.2-mile hiking trail is currently inaccessible. 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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