***Patented pre-review tips: The parking lot is very small, and a Discovery Pass is required. No…read morebikes allowed on the trail, but there is a covered rack to store them. NO DOGS, EVEN ON LEASH, allowed. Don't know if that includes service dogs, but the point is to keep wildlife from being disturbed. The trail from parking lot to the bay is paved, but the one mile loop trail isn't.*** This is a great, short, low-intensity walk in nature. It was formerly a railroad terminus where trains would dump their loads of logs into the bay to be taken by boat up north. There are still some tracks and lots of historical placards telling about this, and there are more placards about the many kinds of wildlife in the area. The paved trail and maintained spur are both fairly low elevation and provide views of the water as well as surrounding woods. All-in-all a great short nature walk close to Olympia and Lacey!

Love this place. Seal breeding ground in the summer and and amazing mushroom and slug trail…read more There are two ways to get to the end of the trail. The paved trail is about a 1/2 mile and is a very easy walk. Dogs and bikes are not allowed on these trails. The second trail is approximately 1.6 miles long and weaves along the inlet. This is a mild hike, but it is more difficult than the paved trail (not for strollers).

Love this trail so much. During my time in Olympia I found it highly convenient to bike it to the…read moretarget plaza. Loved the highway overpasses as well. Highly recommend this trail.

The trail is lovely! be careful sometimes the concrete can…read morebe alittle bumpy in certain spots It tends to be VERY busy on some days and popular times but everyone is very considerate Sometimes you get to see people on horses

The city has updated this trail by extending it to the Nisqually. It's a bit more shaded because of…read morethe tree line which is great in the summer. Flat walking trail and great area for exercising.

Well this trail is cute. I had avoided going on the trail because usually I am in the area at night…read moreand there aren't any lights down on the trail at night so it's kind of spooky because you don't know what's lurking down below. I parked at the West Bay park and walked up and over to the trail. I did like that the trail has direct access to water. The land next to the water wasn't too muddy or loose where your shoes might get stuck either, so that was nice. As there is nothing preventing your from walking up to the stream, watch your kids to make sure they don't fall in. The trail is just wide enough for a stroller, but it's uneven in sections and has steps and bridges so be aware of that. I think the stream is feed by water that runs off the streets as there are large black plastic tubes running down the hillsides carrying street water to disperse into the stream. I guess that's why it's important to watch what you throw into the gutters and streams. Even though this trail is short there are no shortage of inclines, stairs, bridges, and declines. It's a lot of variety in a short stretch. Although the sign says no running there were several people running or with their dogs. At the end of the trail furthest away for West Bay there are steps that lead up to a bus station just in case you're trying to catch the bus. Overall, it's a cute & short trail which may be just enough to get your heart pumping.

This is a super short trail, less than a mile round trip, but a nice way to escape the heat of the…read moreday and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. I parked for free at West Bay Park and crossed the main road at the pedestrian walkway to find the trailhead. There is a bench at both ends of the trail as well as one other at the halfway point. Signs at both ends clearly indicate the rules of the park including leashed dogs allowed; but no jogging is permitted. Seriously? I'm not sure why that last one is an issue. There were very few people, mostly women of all ages, that I saw on the trail, but perhaps the no jogging rule was implemented because the path is narrow and could be slippery when wet. I met two leashed dogs on trail with their responsible owners. The trail winds down from the road at both ends and follows a creek bed. There are bridges, retaining walls, wood planks, steps and dirt path that make it easy to follow this trail from start to finish. You will be surrounded by large trees throughout that provide a canopy blocking out the sun and heat of the day. At a few points, you can see water trickling through the brook below. I imagine that it is more powerful during and after a few days of rain. I could hear the stream and birds squawk. This easy trail basically offers a nice, short stroll through the woods to breakup the monotony of the day.

If you walk across the street from the parking lot to Karen Fraser Woodland Trail, turn left and to…read morethe right of you is a trail. Go down that trail and you'll be heading down a path that at first overlooks the freeway, but then veers left and is a woodland wonderland. Took the pups here and I keep them on leash because I'm always worried about coyotes or my dog getting triggered by a squirrel and running off path where I can't get to him. As you walk you'll see gorgeous change of colors in the fall, sparse trees in the winter, and beautiful green in the summer. I hate hiking, but for these views, I can forego that hate. The trail is a two mile loop either way which I haven't done yet, but can't wait to try when the weather gets better.

Wow! This is such a gorgeous park. It looks like a rainforest because it IS a rainforest...a…read moretemperate rain forest, complete with moss, mushrooms, and VERY big trees! From the various trailheads to and around the loop it's about 1.5 miles give or take. The main parking area is on Henderson. Really nice place for a daily walk/hike. Kids and dogs love it, and so do adults. The trail is mostly dirt and rock, with various boardwalk bridges along the way over the stream. It gets muddy in parts in the winter. It's not a difficult trail but if you have stability issues the uneven terrain could be challenging. If you have bad knees bring poles and/or a buddy to assist you, since there are quite a few sets of stairs. Most are only 2-3 steps and a few with maybe 6 steps, but also one with 15-20 steps.

They recently thinned some of the trees and underbrush along the running path, the park is in great…read moreshape and a beautiful spot for a walk or jog. The trail is only about .6 miles from End to end, .4 from the road to the stairs leading up to proctor st. Its always fun incorporating this trail into morning runs when the weather is nice.

I was interested in a new place to get some walking in and this place was suggested. The trail…read moreitself it quite short, about a mile, but it easily links up with the waterfront so you can extend your walk by a little or a lot. The trail in the natural area are very well maintained and pleasant to walk on. This area is apparently salmon bearing, but I'm really questioning how they get though as some of the areas I saw looked completely blocked with debris from a fishy standpoint. I suppose time will tell? If the salmon do come through this area, it's definitely a great place to get a close look! Trail had some muddy areas, but overall it wasn't too bad.

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.

Running across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge has been on my list every since they built the new bridge…read morewith the wide pedestrian path. Well, I found out that path is part of the Scot Pierson Trail. I parked at War Memorial Park and picked up the trail from there. It was a cold Tacoma morning, and running over the bridge was very windy. But it was sunny, and there were a few bicyclists, walkers, and runners out there. But very few, maybe 6 people total. But I definitely enjoyed running on this trail, seems like the Narrows Bridge is the best part of it!!!

Pros: It's a separate (from cars), paved multi-use trail that takes you from just east of the…read moreNarrows Bridge to the Hill Top district near the southeast corner of the Allenmore Golf Course. That puts you within striking distance of downtown Tacoma. Also, it's very rare to see someone else riding or walking on it, so one is usually all alone, making faster cycling speeds possible and safer. Cons: It's not really very long and covers a fraction of the urban Tacoma landscape. It crosses many major streets, where you often wait long times for the pedestrian crossing lights to change. It's strewn with garbage and debris. The deafening sound of cars is always nearby since it parallels Hwy 16. The graffiti is prevalent and ugly. Homeless camps on its edges are numerous. In the summer the bushes and shrubs rarely get cut back and often spill onto the trail. Overall I'm glad it's there, because Tacoma in general is a pathetic place for cycling infrastructure (there basically is none). So I'll take anything I can get, even if it's the rather sorry and forelorn Scott Pierson trail.