By far, my favorite walking trail in the South Sound…read more It's completely paved, probably has some of the most scenic views that a walking trail boasts, has ample restrooms along the trail, and more. Up top is a playground and on the bottom is a off-leash dog park. So much green space, too. Gladly will make the 40-minute drive to visit here over and over again!

I definitely feel this is one of the pleasantly lengthy and well maintained bike and walking trails…read morein the University Place and Tacoma area. There are a few others I feel that are of this good of quality but notable exceptions would be the walking paths at Ruston Way, Cushman Trail (in Gig Harbor) and maybe a trail in Orting, WA which I have yet to go to. I am focusing on the surface of the trails because a lot of Tacoma trails have pretty significant bumps and upheavals in the path caused by roots, frost and time. And seeing them neglected is a bit sad and possible hazards. The views while walking the trail are breathtaking in which you can see the Olympic Mountains, neighboring islands and Puget Sound as well as different angles of the park in which you can get in great views of the concrete structures on one side of the park and the golf course. Definitely a trail I recommend taking if you are into scouting out bike and walking trails and don't mind going up tall hills and a giving up some time to do the loop. This trail is pretty popular as ts in the summer lots of people use it and I can easily understand why.

Great for a little getaway trail running. Mixed gravel, old growth, and sand throughout. Beautiful…read morechange of landscape in such a short amount of mileage. If parked at Dockton park, small kick in elevation at the beginning but levels out with rolling ish hills if you stay up on the hill. Great view on a beautiful day at the top viewpoint with park bench. If tide is right, you can run along beach.

This review is in regard to the wooded area across the road from Dockton Park, the area with access…read morefrom the gravel car park. It's a vast area and it is quite the hike up the path from the gravel car park to the main trails but, wow, it's amazing once you reach the "summit". If you are a dog, this wooded area is basically dog heaven. Four paws up from my German Shorthaired Pointer! The end. P.S. If you've read this, which you have, please don't tell your friends. Let's keep this little secret between you, me and my German Shorthaired Pointer.

Nice park, however it's a long way down a steep hill, last time I went it had 2 inch gravel that…read morewas uncomfortable to walk on. The smash and grab meth heads break into many cars at the trail head.

Beautiful park, clean and well-kept! I do wish that there were bathrooms but other than that it is…read morebeautiful!

Once again, thank you Yelp! I found this gem of a nature preserve on Yelp. I don't think I would…read morehave ever found it if not for Yelp. The drive down the road to get here was itself an adventure. Down through a fern covered small valley it seemed. A small parking lot with one port a potty let me know I'd arrived. There are a couple trails you take. I took the one to the cove. Short, easy and beautiful. Come and explore. Next time, I'll wear walking shoes/ hiking shoes to explore more. Have fun peeps! SYOY!

This is a public park, but one that is not very well known, which is why I wanted to review it…read more Fern Cove is an estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial conservancy located on the northwest end of Vashon Island. Although the official address for this lovely stretch of Vashon shoreline is listed as being on Cedarhurst Rd, you can also access the beach almost directly via Southwest McCormick Place. Either make your way down McCormick Place or park across the street from the Belle Baldwin House and walk towards the water's edge. Do so and you won't be disappointed! There is a huge stretch of tidal mudflat featuring lovely eelgrass beds teeming with a diversity of algae, macroalgae (seaweeds) and invertebrate life, from juvenile fish, crabs, and of course, geoducks too. Just please be respectful of the shoreline and the marine life. Please do NOT litter here, and don't take anything out of the water to take home. Respect the environment to keep this place a gorgeous natural habitat for future generations to visit and enjoy.

Wasn't expecting this to be breathtaking but it was! It was breathtaking taking as in there are a…read morenumber inclines at 8% or more the we encountered and the view was beautiful. We thought we would do a simple 2.5 miles in and out but ended up doing 5.5 in and out. The trail is paved 100% of the way. Makes it good for everyone from bikers, walkers, baby strollers, those differently abled and little kids. Lots of fun and plenty of energy food along the way (blackberry's) Enjoy this hike.

I got an electric scooter recently and have gone on a run or two on it on some bike trails. My…read morefirst run was on the Scott Pierson trail in Tacoma which ends at the Narrows Bridge. There isn't a trail that resumes right after at the bridge on the Gig Harbor side but the Cushman Trail isn't far from the bridge at all. You just cross the viaduct that goes over the toll area for the bridge , get on the road that heads west and before long you will come across a sign indicating that you are at the Cushman Trail. So arguably it's a continuation trail but probably not technically. This is a great trail as it is well maintained and is wide and has lanes for bike, walking and scooter traffic. As you head into Gig Harbor you will see a sign that you are entering the city limits of Gig Harbor. A couple of times the trail becomes part of a road or a sidewalk but the signage is great and as long as you pay attention to the signs you won't lose the trail. I was here just after the trees hit their peak with Autumn color but the Cushman Trail is great to take in in that regard. After hitting the city limits there were signs for each crossing that indicated that motorized vehicles were not allowed. So yeah. my scooter sort of fits under that. Nobody seemed to mind that though and the trail was busy. I even saw other electric scooters as well. I didn't get to ride my scooter as much as one would think because there are several pretty steep hill grades on this trail especially towards the middle to end but it was ok...I was enjoying the scenery. My scooter doesn't do hills well let alone steep ones so that's why so much walking happened for me. For the walker or the bicyclist those hill grades would be great for exercise. Cushman Trail is a very nice trail to explore much how it is with visiting the town in general.

The Rotary Forest We had a good and safe experience at the Mc park. It was pretty vacant as we…read morewent in the middle of the day, but enjoyed having the place to ourselves! Sophie, our 3 year old doggie, loved zooming through the woodsy areas and just had a great time. We met up with 3 or 4 others, with their dogs well behaved and social as well. It can get a bit muddy as expected, so just be ready to clean off paws later. We had Sophie wear a little windbreaker light jacket, as once you get in to the woods more deeply it does get chilly. There was a muddy creek, but small, and hear a fun little 'bridge' to go over. Not much for squirrels or chipmunks, but we walked around the perimeter and it was well fenced in. There was also a smaller fenced in area, as you entered the main entrance I think, there are several entry ways, for small doggies. Google the directions and then verify. The first google maps took us way out of the way from a Gig Harbor start point, so we think that the address may not be completely accurate on google maps. Once there we parked in a nearby business lot, and walked over to a secured entry. It had 2 gates to go through, both secured and nice, esp for excited pets. We brought along our usual, poo bags, treats to practice recall skills, water bottle, and travel dish. You can spend up to 1-2 hours walking about and meandering through the little internal off trails. The trails are easy around the perimeter, and then more hilly and rustic in the interior towards the little creek.

Open during Covid!…read more Honestly besides not living in gig harbor it's my only complaint I have to pay $6 to cross the bridge. But it was worth it! I honestly loved this dog park it was a little tricky to find for me signs aren't that noticeable. Besides that there's no parking you kinda have to park on the side of the road. You hike up this hill to get to the dog area. It's all nature and they also have down below an area for the dogs to just run and play together! Stella absolutely had a blast also if you scared of snakes beware their there. Also they have water so if you like to bring a gallon and leave it do so! Help the dog park out don't be selfish.

This park includes a few pretty little, heavily cedar woody chippy trails, and some meadows that…read moreabut the steep incline of the paved Cushman Trail (with an access trail behind the barn on private property) on one side, as well as a very well-hidden pond (note the invisible quacking) undergoing secondary succession. In addition to the meadows and the very short woody-chippy trails, there are bat houses, a community garden plot (for private cultivation, not a u-pick) and a historic barn, on a private homestead. Blackberry vines crisscross every trail. At first glance, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot here, but follow a few of the well-worn rabbit and deer paths into a thicket and you may discover a feral apple orchard, or the perfect quiet spot of shade or sun to have a summer picnic or catch a tan. There is a small parking area, a wheelchair accessible pit toilet, and a few picnic tables--also a water fountain and dog water fountain with a bowl. I have had a picnic, tended my tomatoes, and picked black berries here all on the same day, and seen families with small children or sausage-y dogs enjoy the largess nature provisions us with in its uninhibited, wild state. It's a rare gem that many people know about, but pass by because the proximate Gig Harbor waterfront, just a few blocks away, is far more eye-poppingly scenic, and a much bigger draw. And that's why I love it here. Linger a while and most of the people you encounter will be folks tending their gardens or locals walking their pups, but I have also seen kids in homemade super hero costumes filming a movie, and about a hundred-thousand bunnies. It's a great place in any season, and lovely for a fall photo shoot. We're lucky to have this green space in the middle of an increasingly crowded and busy city.

Looking for a great place to hike through an awesome forest well this would be that place!…read more Coming here I knew it would be awesome as well as super green and just amazing as this area is pretty much in the middle of no where and a bit of a mission to get to but once your here the amazingness of the forest takes over and makes you feel right at home! There are a few trails that lead deeper into the forest as well as to creeks and streams that do have some fish in them if your looking to catch some dinner you've definitely came to a right place as the scenery is amazing the trails are easy to hike through and the forest provides a great deal of shade on those days that actually do get hot here. As in pretty much most of the state you can find Wild berries growing here and pretty much everywhere certain times of the year so they definitely probably an awesome trail side snack for all to enjoy! Overall this is an awesome area to hike and just enjoy nature so definitely check it out!