(1) No horses,
llamas, sled dogs or similar animals used for recreation shall be permitted on
trails in any state park area, except where designated and posted to
specifically or conditionally permit such activity. The director or designee
may open or close trails to such use. This decision shall include an evaluation
of factors including, but not limited to, conflict with other park users,
public safety, and damage to park resources and/or facilities. This evaluation
shall include a reasonable effort to involve interested trail users of the park
in question, including, at a minimum, one public meeting advertised and
conducted in the region where the park is located. Trails designated open for
such use may be temporarily closed by the park manager due to emergency health,
safety, or resource protection considerations.
(2) No horses, llamas, sled dogs or similar
animals used for recreation shall be permitted off trails in any state park
area, except where authorized by the commission and posted to specifically or
conditionally permit such activity.
(3) Horses, llamas, sled dogs or similar
animals used for recreation shall not be permitted in any designated swimming
areas, campgrounds - except designated horse or pack-oriented camping areas -
or picnic areas, nor within a natural area preserve.
(4) Horses, llamas, sled dogs or similar
animals used for recreation shall not be permitted within natural areas or
natural forest areas, except that relocation of existing equestrian or other
similar trails into natural areas or natural forest areas may be permitted upon
a finding by the director or designee that such relocation is for the purpose
of reducing overall resource impacts to a state park area.
(5) No person shall ride any horse or other
animal in such a manner that might endanger life or limb of any person or
animal, or damage park resources and/or facilities, and no person shall allow a
horse or other animal to stand unattended or insecurely tied. Persons using
horses or other animals for recreation shall obey regulatory signs, including
those permanently or temporarily erected, that govern the timing, location,
speed, type and/or manner of use.
(6) Any person bringing a horse, llama,
sled-dog or similar animal into a state park area shall cleanup animal feces in
parking lots, at trail heads and other central locations used by park
visitors.
(7) Any violation of this
section is an infraction under
chapter
7.84 RCW.
