Columbus Park

(51 reviews)

6.6 mi

I drive into this park on a whim last weekend and think I've found a gem hidden in Olympia,…read moreliterally minutes from downtown. Straddling Boston Harbor Road, the park has a bridge that connects both sides of the sprawling property. On the East side of the park, you immediately feel like you've driven into a forest. Big and old trees line the park roadway. Several picnic areas are available, I assume by reservation, at least for the covered areas. I found a restroom building and took advantage. This place is well maintained. More picnic areas. Nd two more restroom buildings are on the West side of the park, and so is the Sound. Lots more parking, and a kids playground. Squaxin has something for everyone. Lots of hiking paths on both sides of the park that are now on my to do list. Squaxin is an oasis in Olympia!

Squaxin Park is a wonderful place to spend the day at and there is plenty of things to do! I have…read morelived in this area for many years, have heard of and seen this park as we've been around town, but never actually visited. I can confidently say that after being there yesterday that my boys and I will be back! I decided on taking the kids there because I was looking for a new playground space. We had usually gone to other parks/playgrounds and we were all getting a wee bit tired of the same old, same old. I showed the pictures of the playground to the kids and they thought it looked fun too. We went there and were pleasantly surprised at what all else they had to do. The playground itself has a big toy that's shaped like a large ship, which they had fun playing on. However, it was the walking trails and beach access that they enjoyed the most. The trails are partly paved and partly unpaved (so do remember to wear your boots). They lead you through the woods, along and close to various benches and covered pavilions, and down the hills to the beach. The trail hills are not that steep, so it's doable and not extremely strenuous (my 6 year old made it around easily - and the 3 year old mostly was good ... just got tired near the end, after a couple of hours of walking and playing). The best part of the walk was getting down to the beach! It's a beautiful view and very easy to walk around. Hard-packed sand, shells, and flat made for a nice walk. Because of all the recent rain, it was a wee bit sloppy; but fun. My kids had a wonderful time walking/running around and watching the water, looking for shells, and just being kids! We felt very safe there and I never felt like I needed to be "on guard" like at some parks. Overall, the park is large enough to spend a couple of hours there, and yet small enough to not get lost of feel overwhelmed with the number and length of the trails. I asked the kids if they had fun and would want to come back again. They both immediately said yes to both questions. There you have it. We'll be back!!

Shelter 1 is huuuge

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Playground

Tolmie State Park

(47 reviews)

12.9 mi

What a nice little chill park! The beach is rocky and not sandy. Nice views. It's a good chill…read morespot.

Last time I visited was in the summer when the water had really receded. It was lovely, but dry…read more This current visit was in the winter so the tide was high. We walked down to the beach and my niece had a fun time scooping up sea life from the sand and she found things like baby crab legs and shellfish so we got to talk about what was in the water. People were kinda standing around or taking pictures since Mt. Rainier is in the distance, since there's nowhere to sit to relax. There are lots of signs telling you to respect private property, so I imagine the residents get frustrated when people wander over the line, but that's what you get if your property is right next to a state park. The path over was nice, with netting on slippery spots and there are a couple of Pokemon Gyms and Pokestops so its a pretty good place to play. Just be mindful that they require you to carry your trash out of the park with you, so there's nowhere to leave your dog poop bags if your pup does his business. We obediently took our stuff with us, but I wonder how many people don't honor the request.

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Olympia Tumwater Foundation

4.7

(72 reviews)

3.9 mi

We were at the lower park playground it was nice and clean…read moreWords words all ljgdssdgjlkgfds

An easy, enjoyable area to walk around the historic waterfalls. The scenery is lovely and the…read moreinformation was interesting.

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Decatur Woods Park

4.3

4.0 mi

Cute little park. There is a public restroom the homeless use a lot if your worried about that…read more Also, it's near power lines.

This is a great little park! There's a kids jungle gym, nice open spaces, cute trails, and a…read moresurprisingly interesting sign about water management with the "test street" next to the park

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Fun park

Bigelow Park

(2 reviews)

5.9 mi

So after my first review, Fengie O. came to the rescue regarding the disappointment I originally…read morefelt about Bigelow Park. Thanks to her kind instructions, I found that I had gone to the wrong park. I actually visited a small patch of land next to someone's house and thought that was the park. I was obviously off my meds that day. Anyway, this park is major cute and nice for the kids or if you wanted to grill out. The amount of space between the grill stations is sufficient enough to not make you feel like you're encroaching on someone else's territory. There is also a decent amount of kids equipment. It all looks pretty safe and there is even a single basketball net on the half court. The park is surrounded by huge trees that in a way hide the grounds and provide ample shade. There are also unisex restrooms on site and doogy doo bags for life's little messes. It's definitely a nice park now that I actually went to the right one. Thanks Fengie.

Guess who finally moved near Bigelow Park? That's right--I did! I can walk to the park from my…read morehouse. It's a decent sized park. The equipment is appropriate for children 12 months old to 11 years old. Some children who have limited mobility can enjoy the play structures. The wide stairs are set near the ground so children can transfer out of wheelchairs and climb into parts of each structure. My oldest kid will play football with her friends, but my 2 year old likes to hide in the tube connected to the small play structure and scream! In addition to the 2 play structures, there are also two spinning toys. One is shaped like a cup. Kids sit in it and spin around. The other is a pole with a platform. 2 children get on the platform and spin each other. There are swings for babies and for older children. The swings for the older children are set near the basketball court. The swings for the younger children are closer to the main play area. A tire swing is attached to the large play structure. The park is surrounded by a grassy area. It's fun to play soccer or football. Keep in mind the area is not fenced. One of the grassy sides of the park is right next to a moderately busy road. It's good to keep an eye on younger children. The parking area is a decent size. I've seen 6 minivans parked with room to spare. There are also at least 2 large handicap parking spaces. The bathrooms are a decent size. There is a drinking fountain, a covered area for picnicking and a few picnic tables. If all the picnic tables are taken, it's a lovely place to lay a blanket down and have a sit down picnic.

The tube of the small play structure

Small play structure

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Large play structure

Margaret McKenny Park

(2 reviews)

6.4 mi

Clean, nice park, colorful, far off street so it's safe from street traffic. Definitely old…read moreequipment though, needs a paint job and upgrade. Nice shelter, volleyball courts, walking trails, bathrooms

Nice quite neighborhood park that has a trail. The playground is nice it is like a challenge…read morecourse. It also has swings everything is in good conditions. Very well maintain, tree coverage and very green. My kiddos loves it and enjoyed our time here

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Percival Landing Park

4.3

(21 reviews)

5.1 mi

Came out for the middle school concert at the Shelter. Beautiful backdrop with the sailboats…read morefloating past being the kids. They need more chairs, but I brought camping chairs, so I'm good. It's very clean and the restroom is surprisingly clean too.

I went here during nighttime, and it was okay. it just would have been nice to have street lights…read moreof some sort so that I could take nicer photos and really see the bottom of the depression. Also, there was this car that watched me to do all of this and if that was U, I was just checking out the scene. Was not about to k-word myself. But thank u for being on standby

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Yashiro Japanese Garden

3.5

(17 reviews)

5.3 mi

Definitely a hidden gem to have but it's small and unfortunately there's a homeless camp living…read morebehind the park. We think it's an otherwise calming place but we don't always feel safe there.

I took my daughter to Yashiro Japanese Gardens expecting it to be a relaxing and inspiring…read moreexperience. I also wanted to experience our local Asian culture. I was very disappointed and a little embarrassed. The whole garden was in a state of neglect. There were leaves floating on the Koi Pond, which was the home of only two Koi. Furthermore there was algae growing in the pond which gave it the appearance of a swamp. The rest of the garden appeared neglected. There were no labels identifying the plants. Identifying plants is minimum expectation of a public garden. I would preferred a reference to their significance. At bare minimum the garden could have weeded and raked. I feel this garden was a disgrace to the city of Olympia and an insult to our Asian population

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Barclift Park

4.6

(5 reviews)

4.3 mi

We only went once, but it won't be the last! The facility was clean, the bathrooms were clean, kids…read morewere having lots of fun. Literally no complaints. People were friendly, and it was a fun time! Took my two year old there, for context.

Update: 06/06/23 I have to knock off some points from this…read morereview. We went there over the weekend & was so disappointed how so much dog poops weren't picked up by their owners. It's just irresponsible to have a dog & have someone else clean after. This just seem a beginning of how a park gets trashed.

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Apple tree

Tumwater Historical Park

4.6

(26 reviews)

4.1 mi

Absolutely beautiful area; a little bit of nature nestled into the city. Nice walking path and a…read morepark accessible through a paved trail. Lovely and very soothing.

This is an absolutely gorgeous and well maintained park. I love coming here with family and friends…read moreto go on walks. When it gets warmer in the year, it is wonderful for picnicking. I recommend coming here and enjoying a nice stroll whether rain or shine. My friends, family, co-workers, and I come here pretty often! I'm glad that it is cared for so much by the community and is always lively.

My one year old having some fun too.

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A cool rope climbing toy

Delphi Golf Course

(9 reviews)

1.7 mi

It's overpriced but descent little course to practice your short game. Greens are super super slow…read morebut tricky. Doesn't roll true.

Great little nine hole golf course!! late afternoon is the time to play. We're very early. I…read moregenerally walk it, but carts are available refreshments available after.

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Airport Golf Center

3.6

(25 reviews)

3.7 mi

So I'll be honest, I just got into golfing and have no basis of comparison for Driving Ranges, but…read moremy experience at Airport Golf Center has been stellar. Let's just start with he owner, who is friendly and gracious. He was very thankful to us for coming in and made us feel right at home. He explained how everything worked to us newbies with patience and it really set a good tone from the start. Next is the view... you're hitting golf balls right toward Mt. Rainier which is awesome. It hard to ask for a better setting. Lastly, they use the Top Tracer golf app which has lots of games, tools, and tracking to help you improve your game. The pricing from what I understand is very competitive as well. There is a refreshment bar inside with snacks and drinks, including adult beverages. There is also a modest pro shop and all staff are kind and friendly. Out front you'll also find a free putting green area for putting practice, as well as a new building which will eventually house batting cages as well. I highly recommend Airport Golf Center.

Great place, a lot to offer and can help your golf game. I just need to go more so my game gets…read moremore consistent, and hopefully better. Thanks, Jeff, for offering great services to the overall community.

My buddy taking a swing.

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Nice View of Mt. Rainier

Black Lake Bible Camp & Conference Center

4.2

(13 reviews)

0.7 mi

Summer and winter camps are very fun. Lots of activities like: Tubing, Swimming, going on a boat,…read moreBB guns, archery, rock climbing wall, canoeing, nice camp counselors, nice service, great chapel, funny camp side theatrical plays,

My daughter and I were at a conference here in the fall of 2021, and had a lovely time. Great…read morefacility and grounds, good food, and a stellar staff. Our cabin was a little older but was being updated. We thought the food was delicious and plentiful. There were plenty of activities during the day, but also space to just get off by yourself and think, and rest. I really enjoyed the walking paths! It was a little chilly for water activities, so we didn't participate in those. Overall, though, it was a great place for a retreat or family camp. We plan to go again in the future! We were recommending this place to someone and I was surprised to see it only had a 3 star rating! Then I found 9 "not recommended" reviews below that give it high marks. I'm not sure why the Yelp algorithm marked the positive reviews as "not recommended," so I thought I'd jump on and write another positive review to balance things out. :) Happy camping, friends!

Teepees at Harmony Springs

Fun on the Lake!

Tubing!

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1 review that is not currently recommended

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Brian G.

5 years ago

This place fucking sucks I went to fish and there were no fucking fish whatsoever there was dog shit on the fucking floor everywhere please never go here at least I know I'm never going here read more

Columbus Park - parks - Updated August 2026

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4.7

(145 reviews)

The Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is incredible! The best $3 (cash deposit) I…read morehave ever spent! Over 3 hrs of birdwatching, deer sighting, eagle watching, heron mating dances, moss, frogs, snakes, and more. The brackish water and estuary allow for diverse life cycles across fresh to salty habitats. The boardwalk is well maintained, gravel moving into wooden slits. Incredible! Highly recommend. Big parking lot, fairly busy on a Monday in March.

Always a great solitude hike to clear my head and solve my problems. Frankly, I like to talk with…read moreGod out here. Somehow, I feel closer to him when surrounded by the beautiful Nisqually nature trails. Only $3 to gain access (honor system drop box), there are miles of gravel trails and boardwalks to enjoy. No biking, no jogging, and no pets allowed, but plenty of bird enthusiasts taking pics with long lens cameras. It's a quiet place to be in your thoughts. Occasionally, you see deer, rabbits, seals, coyote, lots of birds, and awesome eagles! Makes it so worth it? I highly recommend coming out here for a low effort hike, the quiet, and all things beautiful in nature!

Millersylvania State Park

4.2

(55 reviews)

We recently visited for one night. We stayed in one of the few open spots, right near the front of…read morethe campground. The only sections open for winter were the small section we stayed in and the open field area. Unfortunately for us, the sections closed for the season were the prettiest...much more treed and private feeling there. We enjoyed one hike, the boardwalk-old growth-orchard sections and back to the campground. Apparently there is some damage to parts of the trail system here, but those we took were in good shape, just a bit muddy. Although we didn't get around to the lake, it looked gorgeous when we passed by driving in. Aside from the site across from ours after the teens left that morning, the grounds were all very clean. Pretty area and park...although I probably would only return if I could stay in the closed sections. :)

I moved up from SoCal where I have access to beaches and pools and easy access to the airport so I…read morecan be somewhere tropical in the winters when I want. Moving to Olympia, I was near none of that. So how cool was it to discover we lived almost around the corner from a nice park that has access to a lake where you can rent kayaks and duck boats or swim in the lake. Yes, after a couple months of summer, the water is a little gross from all the lie bottom being stirred up and mixing with the sunscreen and people soup, but if you want to get a cool dip on a hot day, it's nice (just don't dip your head into the water). Lots of picnic tables, but they do run out on weekends, so when we want to go we bring our own tables and can park it underneath the forest shade). On the first lake side parking lot when you come in, you're close to a place that serves beer and pizza. Halfway down in the next parking lot, you're near the place that sells nachos and ice cream. The parking is limited to the point that on the busiest summer days, they have to refuse entry and tell you to come back in the afternoon. For all the problems, it's a good park and one of our favorite places to hang out with our dogs.

Deschutes Falls Park

4.4

(24 reviews)

Returned to this location and lots of updates to share. The trail, larger porta-potty and new…read moreoverlook of falls. They also put in a old style designed cabin. So cute and loved it. Two different areas to view Falls. Both muddy. Still bring your rubber boots or old shoes. Several benches, tables and doggie bags. Many visitors bringing their pups for this walk. East hike but prepare for muddy areas and slippery rocks. The view of the falls is divided left and right side. Right side is not as muddy as the left.

One of my favorite waterfalls. There's a new viewing deck in place since the last time I visited…read more It's not a far walk, but could be considered somewhat challenging to those who have any kind of mobility concerns. There are no stairs, decline can be steep. But for those who can, it's beautiful to see, and an adventure. Make sure to wear good shoes, or take water shoes for wading or swimming. The trail is easy, but getting to the river and views (in all areas) can be difficult due to the rocks.

William A Bush Park

Such a great clean park. Manicured and we'll cared for. Play equipment is very clean. The lawn is…read morenice and flat with almost no potholes. 10/10 would recommend.

This park, so amazing! I don't know who was mad and rated this 3 stars but it is CLEARLY a 5 star…read morepark. We picked up Mexican food from Don Garcia's and ate at a picnic table here - incredibly pleasant.

Rainier Vista Community Park

4.9

(20 reviews)

I can't believe I've never been to this park before! There is so much space, 46 acres of it to be…read moreexact. Luckily it was one of the few days of sunshine and good weather in WA, so I could enjoy laying in the grass. There is something here for everyone. BBQ grills, rugby/soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, trails, doggie doo bags, public restrooms, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, picnic shelters, child & toddler playgrounds and a skate park. It's very well kept and still looks brand new even though it's been around since 2004 I believe. Check this place out before summer is over.

Beautiful park with plenty of outdoor activities from volleyball, tennis, basketball, baseball and…read moreeven a skateboard/scooter park. They have restrooms and gazebos for rent. Definitely a fun park.

Long Lake Park

(6 reviews)

Long Lake Park is one of our family's favorite spots to spend a sunny day in Lacey! The park has…read moresuch a peaceful vibe with its big open spaces, tall trees, and of course the beautiful lake. The swimming area is perfect for kids and families--it feels safe, clean, and the water is refreshing on hot days. We love that there's plenty of room for picnics, whether you want to grab a table or just spread out a blanket on the grass. The park gives kids plenty to do when they're not splashing in the lake. Parking can fill up quickly on nice days, but that just shows how popular the park is. Once you're set up, it's such a relaxing place to spend the day together as a family. We always leave feeling recharged and grateful to have such a gem right here in Lacey. If you're looking for a family-friendly spot to enjoy the sunshine, swimming, and some simple outdoor fun--Long Lake Park is a great choice!

Definitely would come here with friends for a picnic or like a lake day with friends or my husband…read more It has two volleyball courts which I thought was awesome, people were already there playing their games so we just kinda observed as we passed by. Just fair warning, dogs are not allowed at the beach (on the gravel) but can be walked technically on the paved grounds and on the grass. It's a pretty small lake but has lots of grass and places to sit. Just gotta get there early if you want a good spot. Also no lifeguard is on duty there.

Meridian Neighborhood Park

5.0

(3 reviews)

Nice playground for kids my daughter and her friends love going there a lot. Have a big run around…read morein the back and trail to get them to walk and seek some leaves.

Awesome clean and safe park. Very large and has something for everyone. Not too many people around…read morewhich made for a nice time.

Heritage Park Fountain

came here with Adam for veterans day because I have been saving this place for when the weather is…read morenice. did not get to bike here, so :(, but it was still a really good time with getting to know Adam. very serene with the calm waters. lots of ducks, especially nearing the state Capitol building side, and I think that there were two of them fighting. Straight up pecking at each other...and not the sweet, cute kind. Adam and I just watched like :( because why can they not click with one another? The fight was so deep for what? Anyway, there is a mini hike from here and up to state Capitol building, if you want some sort of challenge, but there is a paved sidewalk to go along if you just want to enjoy the nature and take cute pictures like Adam and I did. parking availa Le, but quite a bit of visitors, so had to park in a lot that was $1.10 an hour (it says $0.75 an hour on the sign, but not true). speaking of parking, the parking timer for that website where you pay actually started at 58 minutes, smh. would rank higher if parking more readily available and if they made it clear with signs about how the mini hiking trail goes.

Since there aren't really any public outdoor pools and the weather usually isn't cooperative to be…read moreconducive for a public pool, the Heritage Park Fountain is a perfect place to cool down for free. It's nestled between the roads that lead in and out of downtown Olympia. The fountain shoots water jets up from the pavement at different intervals so it keeps you guessing where the water will come from. I believe I've seen signage that they do treat the water so it's sanitary as well. It stops the water jets every couple of minutes to keep up with the filtration. One thing I love about this park is that there is a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds that come to play in the fountain or make use of the park benches. Young couples, hipsters, older married couples, families, all the single ladies, non-binary folks, and even people in business suits. It's not just a cool fountain that lights up at night, it's a place for people to commune and I think that's great since downtown Olympia often gives off that vibe. So, If you don't feel like going over to the plaza in front of the Children's museum to get wet during the summer, head over to the Heritage Park Fountain right across the street from Capitol Lake Park.

Huntamer Park

3.8

I like this park because it's clean, has a restroom, and is a good place to walk your dogs. I…read moremostly just come here for the South Sound BBQ festival and there are lots of trees so if you bring out your camping chair, you can eat in the shade. There's also a stage for performers and it's a nice vibe. If you like Pokemon Go, there are a couple of Pokestops there. And if you want to picnic here or you're here for an event, there's parking and you're only a short walk/drive away from Fred Meyers, Dollar Tree, and restaurants so if you forget anything, it's easy to grab what you need.

This park is small but it usually has pretty great events. There is a sound stage where they have…read moreperformances all the time. I recently went to a car show where they had like 300-400 classic cars (see pix). There aren't any events left for the rest of the summer, but it's still a nice clean well kept place to bring the kids and just sit in the grass and picnic or sunbathe. They have very clean restroom facilities on site and ample parking.

Grass Lake Nature Park