Washington’s national, state parks are free on Friday

Washington has plenty of beauty. A lot of it is tucked away at the state's three large national parks. Take a look. Washington has plenty of beauty. A lot of it is tucked away at the state's three large national parks. Take a look. Photo: Michael Riffle, Getty Images/Flickr RF Photo: Michael Riffle, Getty Images/Flickr RF Image 1 of / 134 Caption Close Washington’s national, state parks are free on Friday 1 / 134 Back to Gallery

The Evergreen State's rugged landscape is one of its calling cards. Forests, mountains and water (and the accompanying wildlife) combine to create a unique beauty full of recreational opportunities, whether you feel like going for a strenuous hike or a bike ride or want a leisurely traipse down a trail.

Friday marks the National Parks Service's 101st birthday. If you can get off work, it might be a nice day to throw the kids or dog in the car and head off to one of Washington's three national parks -- Mount Rainier, North Cascades or Olympic -- all of which will feature free admission in honor of the milestone.

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It won't cost you anything to visit any one of Washington's 186 state parks on Friday, either, as it's one of 12 free days scheduled throughout the year. If you want to stay close to Seattle, check out one of the 12 state parks located in King County.

For U.S. citizens over 62 years old, Friday is also one of the last days to buy a lifetime national parks membership for just $10. The price increases to $80 on Monday, though seniors can get a lifetime pass after buying four annual passes at $20 each, which saves some money up front.

The parks all figure to be a little more crowded than usual Friday, so be sure to give yourself some extra time.

In honor of the free day, check out some historic photos of Washington's state parks in the gallery above.

Seattlepi.com reporter Stephen Cohen can be reached at 206-448-8313 or stephencohen@seattlepi.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter at @scohenPI.