Saturday June 2 is State Parks Day and parks across Oregon will be celebrating with free camping, free parking and a whole host of other events you can be a part of.
Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department will offer free camping for all tent, RV and horse campsites at over a dozen parks June 2 and 3. Meanwhile, 26 parks that usually charge a day-use fee will have free parking those same days. OSPRD will also offer free barbecue picnics, a family safety fair, outdoor concerts, ranger-led hikes and more.
Along with free access to parks, fishing is free June 2 and 3, thanks to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
State Parks Day has been held annually since 1997. This year OPRD partnered with Oregon Lottery to sponsor events at Milo McIver State Park, The Cove Palisades State Park and Wallowa Lake State Park.
“State Park Day is our way of thanking Oregonians for their commitment to our state parks,” OPRD Director, Lisa Sumption says. On this day, she says, “We invite people to discover a new park or revisit an old favorite.”
Free camp sites include:
CASCADE RANGE AND CENTRAL OREGON
—Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
—LaPine State Park
—Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint
—The Cove Palisades State Park
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
—Champoeg State Heritage Area
—Silver Falls State Park
—State Capitol State Park
—Willamette Mission State Park
COAST
—Fort Stevens State Park
—Humbug Mountain State Park
—Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park
PORTLAND AND COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
—Crown Point State Scenic Corridor
—Milo McIver State Park
—Tryon Creek State Natural Area
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN OREGON
—Goose Lake State Recreation Area
—Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area
—OC&E Woods Line State Trail
—Wallowa Lake State Park
Some things to keep in mind:
Campsite rental is free, but you’ll pay a $8 non-refundable transaction fee when you book at oregonstateparks.org.
Make reservations at least 24 hours in advance.
This article appears in May 9-16, 2018.
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