Northern State Recreation Area

A combination of gorgeous nature and eerie abandoned buildings, this site is a must-see in Washington state. There are extensive trails to walk on these 726 acres, plus two groups of buildings to explore. Photographers expert and amateur will have a field day out here! One group of buildings is the Northern State Hospital compound, which in the 1920s was the local mental asylum. A few of the buildings are still in use, but others are abandoned. The other group of buildings is the (now abandoned) on-site dairy and canning farm for the asylum. It's almost impossible not to be absorbed by the creepy, haunted feel of the place, with its rotting rooves, shattered windows, and nature reclaiming what man created. There is a fair bit of graffiti and broken glass, so be aware of that, but to me, it adds history to the place, even if in a somewhat crude manner. There are public restrooms at the entrance, as well as a covered picnic area and a disc golf course through the area. Lastly, the park closes at dusk, so be respectful 🙂