Title 79A — Title 79A PUBLIC RECREATIONAL LANDS
13 chapters · 330 sections in this title.
RCW 79A.35.140 Electric-assisted bicycles—Use—Public process—Report—Persons who possess current parking placard for persons with disabilities.
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(1) The department of natural resources and the department of fish and wildlife shall each undergo a public process to collect information related to electric-assisted bicycle use on nonmotorized natural surface trails and closed roads open to bicycles to determine where such use…
RCW 79A.35.900 Short title.
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This chapter may be cited as the Washington State Recreation Trails System Act.[ 1970 ex.s. c 76 s 1. Formerly RCW 67.32.010.]
RCW 79A.40.010 Safe and adequate facilities and equipment required of owner and operator—Operator not common carrier.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2272.SL) ***Every owner or operator of any recreational device designed and operated for the conveyance of persons which aids in promoting entertainment, pleasure, play, relaxation, or instruction, specifically including devices generally associated wi…
RCW 79A.40.020 Plans, specifications to be submitted to state parks and recreation commission—Approval—Certification by a qualified engineer—Penalty.
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(1) It shall be unlawful after June 10, 1959, to construct or install any such recreational device as set forth in RCW 79A.40.010 without first submitting plans and specifications for such device to the state parks and recreation commission and receiving the approval of the commi…
RCW 79A.40.030 Orders directing repairs, improvements, changes, etc.—Notice—Forbidding operation.
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The state parks and recreation commission shall have the authority and the responsibility for the inspection of the devices set forth in RCW 79A.40.010 and in addition shall have the following powers and duties:(1) Whenever the commission, after hearing called upon its own motion…
RCW 79A.40.040 Penalty for violation of chapter or rules, etc., of parks and recreation commission.
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Any violation of this chapter or the rules, regulations and codes of the state parks and recreation commission relating to public safety in the construction, operation and maintenance of the recreational devices provided for in this chapter shall be a misdemeanor.[ 1965 ex.s. c 8…
RCW 79A.40.050 Inspector of recreational devices—Employees.
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The state parks and recreation commission shall employ or retain a person qualified in engineering experience and training who shall be designated as the inspector of recreational devices, and may employ such additional employees as are necessary to properly administer this chapt…
RCW 79A.40.060 Powers and duties of inspector—Condemnation of equipment—Annual inspection.
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The inspector of recreational devices and his or her assistants shall inspect all equipment and appliances connected with the recreational devices set forth in RCW 79A.40.010 and make such reports of his or her inspection to the commission as may be required. He or she shall, on …
RCW 79A.40.070 Program funding—Costs of inspection and plan review—Administrative fee—Fee schedule—Lien—Disposition of funds.
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The program authorized by this chapter and chapter 79A.45 RCW must be funded by fees charged to the owners or operators of ski areas. The expenses incurred in connection with making inspections and reviewing plans and specifications under this chapter shall be paid by the owner o…
RCW 79A.40.080 State immunity from liability—Actions deemed exercise of police power.
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Inspections, rules, and orders of the state parks and recreation commission resulting from the exercise of the provisions of this chapter and chapter 79A.45 RCW shall not in any manner be deemed to impose liability upon the state for any injury or damage resulting from the operat…
RCW 79A.40.090 Rules and codes.
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The state parks and recreation commission is empowered to adopt reasonable rules and codes relating to public safety in the construction, operation, signing, and maintenance of the recreational devices provided for in this chapter. The rules and codes authorized hereunder shall b…
RCW 79A.40.100 Judicial review.
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The procedure for review of the orders or actions of the state parks and recreation commission, its agents or employees, shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 2007 c 234 s 98; 1959 c 327 s 10. Formerly RCW 70.88.100.]
RCW 79A.45.010 Ski area sign requirements.
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(1) The operator of any ski area shall maintain a sign system based on international or national standards and as may be required by the state parks and recreation commission.All signs for instruction of the public shall be bold in design with wording short, simple, and to the po…
RCW 79A.45.020 "Trails" or "runs" defined.
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As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise."Trails" or "runs" means those trails or runs that have been marked, signed, or designated by the ski area operator as ski trails or ski runs within the ski area…
RCW 79A.45.030 Standard of conduct—Prohibited acts—Responsibility.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2272.SL) ***(1) In addition to the specific requirements of this section, all skiers shall conduct themselves within the limits of their individual ability and shall not act in a manner that may contribute to the injury of themselves or any other perso…
RCW 79A.45.040 Skiing outside of trails or boundaries—Notice of skier responsibility.
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Ski area operators shall place a notice of the provisions of RCW 79A.45.030(7) on their trail maps, at or near the ticket booth, and at the bottom of each ski lift or similar device.[ 2000 c 11 s 91; 1989 c 81 s 5. Formerly RCW 70.117.025.]Notes:Severability—1989 c 81: See note f…
RCW 79A.45.050 Leaving scene of skiing accident—Penalty—Notice.
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(1) Any person who is involved in a skiing accident and who departs from the scene of the accident without leaving personal identification or otherwise clearly identifying himself or herself before notifying the proper authorities or obtaining assistance, knowing that any other p…
RCW 79A.45.060 Insurance requirements for operators.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2272.SL) ***(1) Every operator of an aerial lift, surface lift, or similar device shall maintain liability insurance of not less than one million dollars per occurrence.(2) This section shall not apply to operators of tramways that are not open to the …
RCW 79A.45.070 Skiing in an area or trail closed to the public—Penalty.
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A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if the person knowingly skis in an area or on a ski trail, owned or controlled by a ski area operator, that is closed to the public and that has signs posted indicating the closure.[ 2011 c 276 s 1.]
RCW 79A.50.010 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Regents' consent, when.
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The department of natural resources is hereby authorized to withdraw from sale or lease, and reserve for state or city park purposes, public lands selected by the state parks and recreation commission, for such time as it shall determine will be for the best interests of the stat…
RCW 79A.50.020 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Rental—Deposit of rent.
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The department of natural resources and the state parks and recreation commission shall fix a yearly reasonable rental for the use of public lands reserved for state park purposes, which shall be paid by the commission to the department for the particular fund for which the lands…
RCW 79A.50.030 Use of public lands for state or city park purposes—Removal of timber—Consent—Compensation.
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No merchantable timber shall be cut or removed from lands reserved for state park purposes without the consent of the department of natural resources and without payment to the particular fund for which the lands are held in trust, the reasonable value thereof as fixed by the dep…
RCW 79A.50.040 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands, payment of full market value rental—Other lands, rent free.
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The parks and recreation commission shall pay to the department of natural resources the full market value rental for state-owned lands acquired in trust from the United States that are used for state parks. All other state lands used by the parks and recreation commission for st…
RCW 79A.50.050 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands—Determination of full market value by board of natural resources.
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The full market value shall be determined by the board of natural resources for trust lands used for state park purposes.[ 1969 ex.s. c 189 s 1; 1967 ex.s. c 63 s 5. Formerly RCW 79.08.1064.]
RCW 79A.50.060 State lands used for state parks—Trust lands—Full market value rental defined—Factor in determination.
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The full market value rental for trust lands used by the parks and recreation commission shall be a percentage of the full market value of the land and the board of natural resources shall consider in its deliberations the average percentage of return realized by the state during…
RCW 79A.50.070 State lands used for state parks—Certain funds appropriated for rental to be deposited without deduction for management purposes.
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Any funds appropriated to the state parks and recreation commission for payment of rental for use of state lands reserved for state park purposes during the 1969-71 biennium and received by the department of natural resources shall be deposited by the department to the applicable…
RCW 79A.50.080 Utilization of public lands for outdoor recreational and other beneficial public uses—State agency cooperation.
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In order to maximize outdoor recreation opportunities for the people of the state of Washington and allow for the full utilization of state owned land, all state departments and agencies are authorized and directed to cooperate together in fully utilizing the public lands. All st…
RCW 79A.50.090 Department estopped from certain actions respecting state parks without concurrence of commission.
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The department of natural resources shall not rescind the withdrawal of public land in any existing and future state park nor sell any timber or other valuable material therefrom or grant any right-of-way or easement thereon, except as provided in the withdrawal order or for off-…
RCW 79A.50.100 State trust lands—Withdrawal—Revocation or modification of withdrawal when used for recreational purposes—Hearing—Notice—Board to determine most beneficial use in accordance with policy.
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(1) A public hearing may be held prior to any withdrawal of state trust lands and shall be held prior to any revocation of withdrawal or modification of withdrawal of state trust lands used for recreational purposes by the department of natural resources or by other state agencie…
RCW 79A.50.110 Exchange of lands to secure private lands for parks and recreation purposes.
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For the purpose of securing and preserving privately owned lands for parks and recreation purposes, the department of natural resources is authorized, with the advice and approval of the state board of natural resources, to exchange any state lands of equal value for such lands. …
RCW 79A.55.005 Legislative finding—Purpose.
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The legislature hereby finds that many rivers of this state, with their immediate environs, possess outstanding natural, scenic, historic, ecological, and recreational values of present and future benefit to the public. The legislature further finds that the policy of permitting …
RCW 79A.55.010 Definitions.
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The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation commission.(2) "Participating local government" means the legislative authority of any city or county, a por…
RCW 79A.55.020 Management policies—Development—Inclusion of management plans—Identification and exclusion of unsuitably developed lands—Boundaries of river areas—Hearings—Notice—Studies—Proposals for system additions.
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(1) The commission shall develop and adopt management policies for publicly owned or leased land on the rivers designated by the legislature as being a part of the state's scenic river system and within the associated river areas. The commission may adopt rules identifying river …
RCW 79A.55.030 Administration of management program—Powers, duties, and authority of commission.
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(1) The management program for the system shall be administered by the commission. The commission shall have the responsibility for coordinating the development of the program between affected state agencies and participating local governments, and shall develop and adopt rules, …
RCW 79A.55.040 State agencies and local governments to pursue policies to conserve and enhance included river areas—Shoreline management act—Private lands—Trust lands.
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(1) All state government agencies and local governments are hereby directed to pursue policies with regard to their respective activities, functions, powers, and duties which are designed to conserve and enhance the conditions of rivers which have been included in the system, in …
RCW 79A.55.050 Criteria for inclusion of rivers within system.
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Rivers of a scenic nature are eligible for inclusion in the system. Ideally, a scenic river:(1) Is free-flowing without diversions that hinder recreational use;(2) Has a streamway that is relatively unmodified by riprapping and other stream bank protection;(3) Has water of suffic…
RCW 79A.55.060 Authority of department of fish and wildlife unaffected.
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Nothing contained in this chapter shall affect the authority of the department of fish and wildlife to construct facilities or make improvements to facilitate the passage or propagation of fish nor shall anything in this chapter be construed to interfere with the powers, duties, …
RCW 79A.55.070 Rivers designated as part of system.
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The following rivers of the state of Washington are hereby designated as being in the scenic river system of the state of Washington:(1) The Skykomish river from the junction of the north and south forks of the Skykomish river:(a) Downstream approximately fourteen miles to its ju…
RCW 79A.55.080 Inclusion of state's scenic rivers in national wild and scenic river system not precluded.
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Nothing in this chapter shall preclude a section or segment of the state's scenic rivers included in the system from becoming a part of the national wild and scenic river system.[ 1977 ex.s. c 161 s 9. Formerly RCW 79.72.090.]
RCW 79A.55.090 Funds from certain accounts not to be used.
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No funds shall be expended from the limited fish and wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.170(1) or the fish, wildlife, and conservation account created in RCW 77.12.170(3) to carry out the provisions of this chapter.[ 2020 c 148 s 26; 1988 c 36 s 59; 1977 ex.s. c 161 s 10. Form…
RCW 79A.60.010 Definitions.
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Accredited course" means a mandatory course of instruction on boating safety education that has been approved by the commission.(2) "Boat wastes" includes, but is not…
RCW 79A.60.020 Violations of chapter punishable as misdemeanor—Circumstances—Violations designated as civil infractions.
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(1) A violation of this chapter designated as an infraction is a misdemeanor, punishable under RCW 9.92.030, if the current violation is the person's third violation of the same provision of this chapter during the past three hundred sixty-five days.(2) A violation designated in …
RCW 79A.60.030 Operation of vessel in a negligent manner—Penalty.
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A person shall not operate a vessel in a negligent manner. For the purposes of this section, to "operate in a negligent manner" means operating a vessel in disregard of careful and prudent operation, or in disregard of careful and prudent rates of speed that are no greater than i…
RCW 79A.60.040 Operation of vessel in a reckless manner—Operation of a vessel under the influence of intoxicating liquor, cannabis, or any drug—Consent to breath or blood test—Penalty.
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(1) It is unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a reckless manner.(2) It is unlawful for a person to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, cannabis, or any drug. A person is considered to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor, cannabi…
RCW 79A.60.045 Vessel impoundment—Procedure—Forfeiture.
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(1) Whenever the operator of a vessel is arrested for a violation of RCW 79A.60.040, the arresting officer, or another officer acting at the arresting officer's direction, has authority to impound the vessel as provided in this section.(2) This section is not intended to limit or…
RCW 79A.60.050 Homicide by watercraft—Penalty.
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(1) When the death of any person ensues within three years as a proximate result of injury proximately caused by the operating of any vessel by any person, the operator is guilty of homicide by watercraft if he or she was operating the vessel:(a) While under the influence of into…
RCW 79A.60.060 Assault by watercraft—Penalty.
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(1) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury which involves a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body.(2) A person is guilty of assault by watercraft if he or she operates any…
RCW 79A.60.080 Failure to stop for law enforcement officer.
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Any operator of a vessel who willfully fails to stop when requested or signaled to do so by a person reasonably identifiable as a law enforcement officer is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.[ 1990 c 235 s 1. Formerly RCW 88.12.035, 88.12.110, and 88.08.070.]
RCW 79A.60.090 Eluding a law enforcement vessel.
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Any operator of a vessel who willfully fails or refuses to immediately bring the vessel to a stop and who operates the vessel in a manner indicating a wanton or willful disregard for the lives or property of others while attempting to elude a pursuing law enforcement vessel, afte…
RCW 79A.60.100 Enforcement—Chapter to supplement federal law.
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(1) Every law enforcement officer of this state and its political subdivisions has the authority to enforce this chapter. Law enforcement officers may enforce recreational boating rules adopted by the commission. Such law enforcement officers include, but are not limited to, coun…