Outdoors | The Daily Chronicle

A clam gun is seen from behind a freshly dug hole during a razor clam dig at Grayland Beach on March 8, 2024.

WDFW approves seven days of razor clam digs beginning April 17, with additional dates planned through early May

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Friday confirmed razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from April 17 … more

4/10/26

A couple sits on the edge of Mineral Lake during a fishing derby on Saturday, April 26.

Mineral Lake Fishing Derby set for April 25-26, with $5,000 in prizes up for grabs

The stage has officially been set for anglers hoping to catch one of Mineral Lake’s famous “10-pound trout,” as pre-registration for the 33rd annual Mineral Lake Fishing Derby is now open, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 4/10/26

Jim Whittaker, the first American man to climb Mount Everest, in his home office. Pictures pinned to a cork board reflect his life, from playing basketball as a young man to discovering mountaineering and meeting several United States presidents. He became good friends with Robert F. Kennedy and was a pallbearer at his 1968 funeral.

Jim Whittaker, Washington mountaineer who was first American to summit Everest, dies at 97

Jim Whittaker, a Seattle-born-and-raised mountaineer who achieved legendary status when he became the first American to summit the world’s tallest peak in 1963, died Tuesday in Port Townsend at the … more

By Gregory Scruggs / The Seattle Times (TNS) | 4/10/26

An aerial photo shows the Skookumchuck River, top, flowing into the Chehalis River just south of Fort Borst Park in Centralia on Wednesday, April 8.

WDFW study to target invasive bass in Chehalis River near Centralia and Chehalis

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife will study the main stem of the Chehalis River near Centralia and Chehalis this spring as it looks for ways to control invasive bass species and … more

By Jacob Moore / jacob@chronline.com | 4/8/26

A seagull walks off with a freshly caught clam during a razor clam dig at Grayland Beach on March 8, 2024.

WDFW approves coastal razor clam digs beginning April 1 with additional dates planned through early May

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Thursday confirmed razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from April 1 … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/27/26

A line of clams are placed on a tailgate after being cleaned during a razor clam dig at Grayland Beach on March 8, 2024.

WDFW urges shellfish harvesters to follow rules as state clam, mussel and oyster seasons get underway

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is encouraging shellfish gatherers to visit less popular public beaches to spread out harvest pressure, which has increased in recent … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/25/26

White Pass Ski Area Castle Jam freestyle trick competition open snowboard division winners, from the right, third place Jamin White, second place Luke Sprunger and first place Oliver Belland along with his dog Emmy on Saturday, March 17, following the end of the East Lewis County ski resort's competition.

White Pass Ski Area Castle Jam: Trick competition winners pose with prizes and medals following last weekend’s contest

While the weather was not the best for the competition, with intermittent drizzles making the snow slow and sticky for snowboarders and skiers, dozens of them still turned out last Saturday for the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/13/26

Elk graze off of U.S. Highway 12 in Packwood on Monday, March 9.

In Focus: Packwood elk make usual appearance along U.S. Highway 12

3/13/26

WDFW approves eight days of coastal razor clam digs beginning March 17 with additional dates planned through early April

Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers this week confirmed razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from March 17 … more

3/11/26

David Lee, from Portland, catches a smelt on the Cowlitz River near Longview on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Upcoming changes for hunters, anglers as WDFW modernizes licenses

Beginning July 8, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will no longer provide hunting and fishing licenses or other license products on waterproof, tear-resistant license paper … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/11/26

WDFW to new hunters: Complete hunter education before spring seasons

With Washington’s spring turkey hunting season quickly approaching, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) urges new hunters to complete hunter education so they can participate in … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/9/26

Skier Jacob Jones' skis point towards the sky during a front flip on Saturday, March 7, in East Lewis County at the White Pass Ski Area Castle Jam freestyle trick competition.

Skiers and snowboarders throw down at White Pass Ski Area Castle Jam despite slushy conditions

Dozens of skiers and snowboarders took to the slopes of the White Pass Ski Area Saturday, March 7, for the East Lewis County ski resort’s annual Castle Jam freestyle trick competition, despite the … more

By Owen Sexton / owen@chronline.com | 3/9/26

WDFW invites public to two Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area virtual planning meetings

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will host two virtual public meetings on long-term management of the Olympic-Willapa Hills Wildlife Area Complex, which consists of the Johns … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/2/26

Public input sought on proposed rules for use of motorized vehicles on WDFW-managed lands

The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will host a virtual public meeting next week as part of developing new rules governing the use of motorized vehicles on WDFW-managed lands, … more

By The Chronicle staff | 3/2/26

A deer walks along a field near the Skyline Loop Trail as the sun sets at Mount Rainier National Park on Monday, Sept. 22.

Mount Rainier National Park will not require timed entry reservations in 2026

Mount Rainier National Park will not implement a timed entry reservation for any portion of the park in 2026, a news release from the park announced. The park will use parking management … more

By The Chronicle staff | 2/27/26

A daily limit of 15 razor clams dug near Ocean Park, Washington on Oct. 17, 2020.

WDFW approves seven days of razor clam digs beginning Feb. 26, with additional dates planned through early April

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Friday confirmed razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from Feb. 26 … more

2/23/26

Former Chronicle sports editor Eric Trent with a spring-run Chinook salmon he caught on the Columbia River on June 18, 2021.

2026 Columbia River spring Chinook seasons announced

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon approved this year’s Columbia River recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing season during a joint state hearing Thursday, a news release from the … more

By The Chronicle staff | 2/23/26

A line of dipnetters search for smelt at Gerhart Gardens Park on Feb. 18 in Longview. (Photo by Henry Brannan/The Columbian)

Luck and hard work align in success for Cowlitz River smelt dippers

LONGVIEW — Last Wednesday’s Cowlitz River recreational smelt dip fishing was cold, windy and overall fruitful — at least for the people who worked hard and were a little lucky. Sea lion … more

By Henry Brannan / Murrow News | 2/23/26

Dip-netters land smelt during a one-day fishery on the Cowlitz River on Wednesday.

Anything but a ‘bust’: WDFW approves another one-day smelt fishery after successful opening

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved an additional one-day recreational smelt fishery on the Cowlitz River from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21. The … more

By The Chronicle staff | 2/20/26

Washington finalizes game management plan

Washington has a new management plan for species that are hunted and trapped throughout the state, and nobody's entirely happy with it. The state Fish and Wildlife Commission last week … more

Michael Wright / The Spokesman-Review (TNS) | 2/19/26