As the official nonprofit partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, Washington’s National Park Fund works closely with the parks. Our role is to support park priorities that have been carefully selected by park staff.

Whether you hike, camp, kayak, climb, relax in lodges, volunteer, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery, caring for these national parks is our responsibility here and now. It’s up to us to make sure they can thrive today and in generations to come.

Washington's National Parks

Mount Rainier National Park

Est. 1899

368 sq. miles

Opening up accessible and unforgettable experiences in Paradise, Sunrise, and beyond to every visitor of “the Mountain”

1,674,294 visitors in 2023
Annual Attendance

North Cascades National Park

Est. 1968

789 sq. miles

Protecting and preserving a rugged wilderness sanctuary for the future, while enabling recreation and exploration by all

40,351 visitors in 2023
Annual Attendance

Olympic National Park

Est. 1938

1,441 sq. miles

Creating new access and opportunities for all, from the Hoh Rain Forest to the Pacific coast and into the peaks of the Olympics

2,947,503 visitors in 2023
Annual Attendance

Washington’s National Park Fund acknowledges the fact that the national parks we partner closely with – Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks – are situated on the ancestral lands of many Tribal Nations. We celebrate the first stewards of these land- and sea-scapes and recognize their continued deep connection to these special places. Their voices are, and will forever be, vital in protecting, preserving, and sharing their homeland and traditions with the world.

We encourage park visitors and supporters alike to learn about the Tribes that call home the land the three parks encompass by visiting the dedicated webpages on Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Park’s websites.

Planning Your Visit

There are many resources to help you explore the beauty of Washington’s national parks. Reserve campsites, get permits, and make other recreational reservations at Recreation.gov. Find helpful information about the parks, historical sites, national landmarks, and other federally owned areas at the National Park Service WA Index.

Looking to hit the trails? Check out Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic’s websites to get started. Our friends at the Washington Trails Association also have tons of great resources, interactive maps, guides, and more to help you along the way.

The Milky Way appears over a tent on Sahale Pass in the North Cascades

Fee-Free Days

On fee-free days, the National Park Service (NPS) at Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks open the gates and welcome all visitors at no cost. North Cascades National Park has no entrance gates so visitors may come and go free of fees throughout the year.

2024 Fee Free Days:

  • Monday, January 15:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Saturday, April 20: First Day of National Park Week
  • Wednesday, June 19: Juneteenth
  • Sunday, August 4: Great American Outdoors Day
  • Saturday, September 28: National Public Lands Day
  • Monday, November 11: Veterans Day

Get a Park Pass

A park pass is a great option to save costs. If you’re planning a trip that includes multiple national parks, consider the $80 annual pass that provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other federal lands – more than 2,000 in all.

Is there one park you find yourself returning to over and over again? You can purchase an annual pass to that park for $50. And an important note: when you buy your pass inside your favorite park, that park receives a greater share of the funds compared to when you purchase online!

There are a number of special passes you can look into. For example, the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is offered free to all active-duty military members and their dependents. Passes are also available for people with permanent disabilities and volunteers with 250 service hours with federal agencies that participate in the Interagency Pass Program. And fourth-graders can access the parks for free all year by obtaining an Annual 4th Grade Pass through Every Kid Outdoors.

To learn more about passes, go to nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.

Your Impact

Learn about the difference your donations make in these parks. Read our brochure.

Park photos shared by Andy Porter 📷

Help These Parks Thrive

“When I go home and look at my son, I feel proud about what I do, and that someday he will get to experience national parks in their most unaltered and raw form.”
– Carmen Archambault, Aquatic Ecologist, North Cascades National Park