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Alert: On Oct. 1 the federal government began a partial shutdown that will impact National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and U.S. Forest Service lands in Washington. Here's the latest information we have for hikers and campers. 

Fort Simcoe Historical State Park

Central Washington > Yakima
 46.3442, -120.8376 Map & Directions
Length
1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
89 feet
Highest Point
1,443 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Easy
Experience history and natural beauty at Fort Simcoe Historical State Park. Photo by Bob and Barb. Full-size image
  • Good for kids
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Wildlife

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

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Fort Simcoe Historical State Park consists of 196 acres in the Yakima Indian Reservation. The Park is closed in the winter from October 1 through March 31. Continue reading

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Hiking Fort Simcoe Historical State Park

Fort Simcoe Historical State Park consists of 196 acres in the Yakima Indian Reservation. The day-use heritage site is primarily a historic preservation effort. Fort Simcoe is part of the National Register of Historic Places because it is one of the few pre-Civil war forts that remain in the west. Between 1860 and 1922, Fort Simcoe was used as a boarding school Native American children were forced to attend.

The school building burned in 1955 and no longer stands on the property, but a lookout, officer and servants’ quarters, and a jail remain behind. Additionally, the park has 0.8 mile of hiking trails, as well as an Interpretive Center, museum, volleyball field and two horseshoe pits.

A wide variety of birds, like the Lewis’s woodpecker, can be spotted at the Fort Simcoe Historical State Park.

The Park is closed in the winter from October 1 through March 31.

Hike Description Written by
Claudia Lopez, WTA Community

Fort Simcoe Historical State Park

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 46.3442, -120.8376 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

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Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Discover Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

From I-82 E, take exit 44 for Wapato. In approximately 1.7 miles, make a right onto Donald Wapato Rd toward Wapato then continue straight onto Donald Road then N Wapato Ave. After a little under a mile from where you turned, take another right onto W 1st St, and continue for around half a mile onto W Wapato Rd.

In around 8.5 mile, make a left onto Brownstown Rd. After about 5 miles, take a right at Fort Rd. Continue on Fort Rd for approximately 6 miles, then take a left at the Fort Rd Extension. In about 0.3 mile, turn left at Signal Peak Rd. Continue on Signal Peak Rd for around 2 miles. Take a right at Fort Simcoe Rd, and after about 5 miles, Fort Simcoe Historical State Park will be on the left.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Central Washington > Yakima

Washington State Parks

Guidebooks & Maps

Washington State Parks: a Complete Recreation Guide 3rd Ed. (Mueller and Mueller - Mountaineers Books)

Fort Simcoe State Park PDF Map: https://bit.ly/2Yfij6v

News

Hiker Headlines: Discover Pass cost increasing; Blewett Pass, Lena Lake and more fire closures; free day

September 25, 2025

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Fort Simcoe Historical State Park

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