Camping.
(1) Camping facilities of the state parks within the Washington state parks and recreation commission system are designed and administered specifically to provide recreational opportunities for park visitors. Use of park facilities for purposes which are of a nonrecreational nature, such as long-term residency at park facilities, obstructs opportunities for recreational use, and is inconsistent with the purposes for which those facilities were designed.
No person or camping party may use any state park facility for residence purposes, as defined (WAC
352-32-010).
(2) No person shall camp in any state park area except in areas specifically designated and/or marked for that purpose or as directed by a ranger.
(3) Occupants shall vacate camping facilities by removing their personal property therefrom no later than 1:00 p.m., if the applicable camping fee has not been paid or if the time limit for occupancy of the campsite has expired or the site is reserved by another party. Remaining in a campsite beyond the established checkout time shall subject the occupant to the payment of an additional camping fee.
(4) Use of utility campsites by tent campers shall be subject to payment of the utility campsite fee except when otherwise specified by a ranger.
(5) A campsite is considered occupied when it is being used for purposes of camping by a person or persons who have paid the camping fee within the applicable time limits or when it has been reserved through the appropriate procedures of the reservation system. No person shall take or attempt to take possession of a campsite when it is being occupied by another party, or when informed by a ranger that such site is occupied, or when the site is posted with a "reserved" sign or when the campsite has an incoming reservation. In the case of a reserved site, a person holding a valid reservation for that specific site may occupy it according to the rules relating to the reservation system for that park. In order to afford the public the greatest possible use of the state park system on a fair and equal basis, campsites in those parks not on the state park reservation system will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. No person shall hold or attempt to hold campsite(s), for another camping party for present or future camping dates, except as prescribed for multiple campsites. Any site occupied by a camping party must be actively utilized for camping purposes.
(6) One person may register for one or more sites within a multiple campsite by paying the multiple campsite fee and providing the required information regarding the occupants of the other sites. An individual may register and hold a multiple campsite for occupancy on the same day by other camping parties. Multiple campsites in designated reservation parks may be reserved under the reservation system.
(7) In order to afford the general public the greatest possible use of the state park system, on a fair and equal basis, and to prevent residential use, continuous occupancy of facilities by the same camping party shall be limited. April 1 through September 30: The maximum length of stay during this period shall be established annually for each park by the director or designee and shall be no less than ten and no more than fourteen nights. Campers may stay the established maximum consecutive nights in one park, after which the camping party must vacate the park for three consecutive nights. October 1 through March 31: The maximum length of stay is twenty nights. Campers may stay twenty consecutive nights in one park, after which the camping party must vacate the park for three consecutive nights, not to exceed forty days in a sixty-day time period. These limitations shall not apply to those individuals who meet the qualifications of WAC
352-32-280 and
352-32-285.
(8) A maximum of eight people shall be permitted at a campsite overnight, unless otherwise authorized by a ranger. The number of vehicles occupying a campsite shall be limited to one car and one recreational vehicle: Provided, That one additional vehicle without built-in sleeping accommodations may occupy a designated campsite when in the judgment of a ranger the constructed facilities so warrant. The number of tents allowed at each campsite shall be limited to the number that will fit on the developed tent pad or designated area as determined by a ranger.
(9) Persons traveling by bicycles, motor bikes or other similar modes of transportation and utilizing campsites shall be limited to eight persons per site, provided no more than four motorcycles may occupy a campsite.
(10) Water trail camping sites are for the exclusive use of persons traveling by human and wind powered beachable vessels as their primary mode of transportation to the areas. Such camping areas are subject to the campsite capacity limitations as otherwise set forth in this section. Exceptions for emergencies may be approved by the ranger on an individual basis. Water trail site fees, as published by state parks, must be paid at the time the site is occupied.
(11) Overnight stays (bivouac) on technical rock climbing routes will be allowed as outlined in the park's site specific climbing management plan. All litter and human waste must be contained and disposed of properly.
(12) Emergency camping areas may be used only when all designated campsites are full and at the park ranger's discretion. Persons using emergency areas must pay the applicable campsite fee and must vacate the site when directed by the park ranger.
(13) Designated overflow camping areas may be used only when all designated campsites in a park are full and the demand for camping in the geographic area around the park appears to exceed available facilities. Persons using overflow camping areas must pay the applicable campsite fee.
(14) Overnight camping will be allowed in approved areas within designated sno-parks in Washington state parks, when posted, provided the appropriate required sno-park permit is displayed.
(15) Any violation of this section is an infraction under chapter
7.84 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
79A.05.030 and
79A.05.035. WSR 13-17-037, § 352-32-030, filed 8/13/13, effective 9/13/13; WSR 13-15-020, § 352-32-030, filed 7/8/13, effective 8/8/13; WSR 12-22-031, § 352-32-030, filed 10/31/12, effective 12/1/12. Statutory Authority: Chapter
79A.05 RCW. WSR 07-03-121, § 352-32-030, filed 1/22/07, effective 2/22/07. Statutory Authority: RCW
79A.05.030,
79A.05.070, and
79A.05.075. WSR 03-01-079, § 352-32-030, filed 12/13/02, effective 1/13/03. Statutory Authority: Chapter
79A.05 RCW, including RCW
79A.05.030,
79A.05.035,
79A.05.055, and
79A.05.070. WSR 00-13-070, § 352-32-030, filed 6/16/00, effective 7/17/00. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040. WSR 98-04-065, § 352-32-030, filed 2/2/98, effective 3/5/98. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.180. WSR 96-02-015, § 352-32-030, filed 12/21/95, effective 1/21/96. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040 and [43.51.]060. WSR 95-22-067, § 352-32-030, filed 10/30/95, effective 1/1/96. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040. WSR 94-23-024, § 352-32-030, filed 11/7/94, effective 1/1/95; WSR 93-06-001, § 352-32-030, filed 2/17/93, effective 3/20/93. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040 and
43.51.180(7). WSR 92-19-098, § 352-32-030, filed 9/17/92, effective 10/18/92. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040 and
43.51.060. WSR 87-08-008 (Order 100), § 352-32-030, filed 3/23/87, effective 5/15/87; WSR 86-06-020 (Order 91), § 352-32-030, filed 2/25/86; WSR 83-09-031 (Resolution No. 67), § 352-32-030, filed 4/15/83; WSR 82-09-035 (Order 60), § 352-32-030, filed 4/14/82; WSR 81-09-034 (Order 50), § 352-32-030, filed 4/14/81; WSR 80-05-007 (Order 45), § 352-32-030, filed 4/4/80. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.51.040(2) and
43.51.060(6). WSR 78-05-082 (Order 39), § 352-32-030, filed 5/1/78; Order 33, § 352-32-030, filed 4/28/77; Order 9, § 352-32-030, filed 11/24/70.]
