Parks around Bellevue

Drive east from Seattle on I-90 through pastoral valleys, lush forests and a dramatic mountain landscape. Visit historic towns and scenic spots for forest walks or challenging hikes. Cross the Cascades into a drier climate where coal mining built pioneer towns on the way to the Columbia River.

Follow the thundering Skykomish River from pastoral Puget Sound through the towering peaks of the Cascade Mountains. At Stevens Pass the byway descends sharply to the fragrant pine forests and fruit orchards of the Wenatchee River Valley. Historic communities shaped by the rugged landscape share their stories and their hospitality.

Historical Research Original records NARA's Pacific Alaska Region (Seattle) has more than 30,000 cubic feet of archival holdings, among them textual documents, photographs, maps, and architectural drawings, dating from the 1850s to the 1980s. These archival holdings were created or received by the Federal courts and over 60 Federal agencies in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Federal law req...

So read the headlines of a Seattle newspaper on July 17, 1897, igniting dreams of easy riches in the minds of thousands as word of a rich gold strike in remote northwestern Canada spreads by telegraph across the globe. The Seattle unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the story of the subsequent stampede to the Yukon gold fields and Seattle's crucial role in this event.

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks is the most popular site along the Lake Washington Ship Canal. The diversity of visitors from around the world attests to its universal appeal. The project is a combination of features: two navigation locks, a spillway dam, a fish ladder, a botanical garden, a regional visitor center and gift shop.

Upon completion in 1948, Mud Mountain Dam was the highest rock and earth-filled dam in the world.

Keechelus Dam which is part of the Yakima Project was constructed at the lower end of a natural lake. The reservoir is located on the Yakima River about 10 miles northwest of Easton. This lake contains 2,560 water-surface acres. Anglers will find salmon, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout.

The Clearwater Wilderness now contains a total of 14,192 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Clearwater Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "....

Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier's lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park's ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.

The Boulder River Wilderness now contains a total of 48,674 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Boulder River Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age...

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is located where the freshwater of the Nisqually River meets the saltwater of south Puget Sound, creating the Nisqually River Delta. The delta is a biologically-rich and diverse area that supports a variety of habitats including the estuary, freshwater wetlands and riparian woodlands. It is considered the last unspoiled major estuary in Puget Sound. The Nisqually...

The Brothers Wilderness now contains a total of 16,682 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 The Brothers Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...in...

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness now contains a total of 362,789 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1976 the Alpine Lakes Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age ...

Operated as part of Fort Casey State Park. Fort Casey State Park (including Keystone Spit) is comprised of 411.46 acres with 7,000 feet of freshwate frontage and 110,810 feet of saltwater shoreline on Admiralty Inlet.

Kachess Dam and Reservoir are part of the Yakima Project. The reservoir is located on the Kachess River. The reservoir has 6,535 surface acres and 24 miles of shoreline. Fish species include kokanee salmon, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout. Boat launching is poor after reservoir is drawn down in late summer and fall.

The Buckhorn Wilderness now contains a total of 44,258 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Buckhorn Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...in...

The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness now contains a total of 100,356 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In...

This stunning landscape at the gateway to Puget Sound, with its rich farmland and promising seaport, lured the earliest American pioneers north of the Columbia River to Ebey's Landing. Today this National Historical Reserve preserves the agricultural and cultural traditions of Ebey's Landing – both native and Euro-American – while offering spectacular opportunities for recreation.

Easton Diversion Dam, Yakima Project, is located on the Yakima River near the town of Easton, Washington the area has 112 acres of land, 240 water surface acres and 1 mile of shoreline. There is a state park that provides facilities for camping, swimming, and boat launching. Fishing opportunities for rainbow trout.

Protection Island Refuge is located near the mouth of Discovery Bay in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Jefferson County, Washington. Approximately 70 percent of the nesting seabird population of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca nest on the island, which includes one of the largest nesting colonies of rhinoceros auklets in the world and the largest nesting colony of glaucous-winged gulls in...

Cle Elum Dam and Lake, of the Yakima Project, are on the Cle Elum River 8 miles northwest of Cle Elum, Washington. Cle Elum, Kachess, and Keechelus reservoirs are in the Wenatchee National Forest. Camping, swimming, boating, picnicking, and fishing are available at all three reservoirs especially in the streams below the dams. Available fish species are lake trout, kokanee, and rainbow trout.

The Norse Peak Wilderness now contains a total of 52,180 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Norse Peak Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "....

The Mount Skokomish Wilderness now contains a total of 13,015 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Mount Skokomish Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an...

The Mount Rainier Wilderness now contains a total of 228,480 acres and is managed by the National Park Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1988 the Mount Rainier Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. I...

The Glacier View Wilderness now contains a total of 3,123 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Washington. In 1984 the Glacier View Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of...