Washingtonians love to be outside no matter the weather. The long fragrant days of late spring into sultry summertime’s balmy afternoons really get us itching for somewhere new to explore. If you and your family are on a quest for somewhere to do it all, check out Montesano’s Lake Sylvia State Park.
Around the namesake lake, visitors can enjoy biking, camping, fishing, birdwatching, hiking and water activities all year round. So, grab your Discover Pass and head over to this nearby, all-weather gem of a destination.
Montesano’s Lake Sylvia Embodies Western Washington History and Expansion
During the late 1800s, the land around Lake Sylvia was privately owned by two men. One, Michael Luark, survived the Oregon Trail in 1853 before eventually opening a saw mill nearby in 1871. His was the first sawmill in Grays Harbor County.
The other, James N. Wilder, married into the Luark family and his children later operated a hydroelectric generation station there in 1909. Wilder’s daughter-in-law Elsie was the first woman in Washington hired as plant operator and worked there until it closed in 1936.
In 1931, the City of Montesano purchased a portion of the land to reforest and protect valuable water access. In 1936, additional acres were added and the site was deeded to the State Parks Committee. Two kitchen areas and a bath house were later built by FDR’s Works Progress Administration and recently a non-profit designed and built the Lake Sylvia Legacy Pavillion.
Whatever Your Favorites, Lake Sylvia has Recreation Galore
While visiting Lake Sylvia, there’s truly something for everyone. Guests are welcome from 8 a.m. until dusk during the summer season. Weather permitting, enjoy swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and non-motorized boating. Or hit the trails mountain biking, birdwatching, metal detecting and hiking then spend lazy afternoons fishing from the fishing bridge. Leashed dogs are welcomed but there is no horseback riding at the park.
When you get hungry—or if you’re hosting an outdoorsy summer get-together—the park has a kitchen shelter with electricity, a sheltered picnic table, 75 unsheltered picnic tables and an ADA-accessible playground. For weddings and events up to 60 guests, reserve the Legacy Pavillion up to nine months in advance. Though fully enclosed, the Pavillion ‘s three glass walls can be opened by staff for fresh air and an iconic, panorama view.
If you prefer to spend the night, there are multiple options as well. A tent-only group camp can accommodate up to 50 people and has parking for five vehicles. This large camping area as well as smaller, individual campsites can be reserved from April 1 through September 30.
There are 31 standard campsites, four with partial hook-ups, a dump station, three restrooms and six showers. One restroom and four of the showers are ADA. While at Lake Sylvia, kayaks and paddleboards can be rented during the high season to make your stay a real splash.
Don’t Forget a Discover Pass to Explore Lake Sylvia and Parks Statewide
Make your site reservations online and direct questions to lake.sylvia@parks.wa.gov or 360.249.3621. Entry is free with your $30 annual Discover pass or $10 day use option. There is an on-site park ranger station and automated pay station.
You can purchase a Discover Pass online or from more than 600 vendors and 80 retail locations. It’s also a common add-on when renewing your vehicle license. Try before you buy, so to speak, with a dozen day use Free Days thanks to the Washington Departments of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Natural Resources (DNR). In 2025, these include:
- Jan. 1: First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
- Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- March 9: Billy Frank Junior’s Birthday
- March 19: State Parks’ Birthday
- April 22: Earth Day
- June 7: Free Fishing Weekend
- June 8: Free Fishing Weekend
- June 19: Juneteenth
- Aug. 9: Smokey Bear’s Birthday
- Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
- Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day
- Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day
Before you visit, check the Lake Sylvia page with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for information about current burn bans and other restrictions.
The Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia (FOSLS) Facebook page and website list meetings, educational classes, tour schedules and other interpretive events. Members dedicate funds and volunteer hours to keep the sites vibrant and welcoming for guests.
Lake Sylvia State Park is located at 1812 N. Lake Sylvia Road in Montesano. Next time you’re looking for an outing, whether it’s a quick hike to burn off youthful energy or lazy day fishing in the shade, head over and explore iconic Washington scenery.
Read about more fun events, activities and things to do in Grays Harbor here.
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