This was an interesting stop for me because I wasn't exactly sure what this place was. Turns out it…read moreis a giant nature park along the river, but it's privately owned/managed, which I have never really experienced with a park before. The owners basically donated this area to the public to use. It's actually really cool. There are a bunch of waterfalls here which were the most enjoyable part for me personally. I sat for a while on a hilly slope in the shade and just enjoyed the sound of the water. There's also a walking trail that is not too long and definitely doable that has some bridges and nice spots where you can see and hear the water. They had ample clean restrooms and a lot of information about the area posted on boards that you could read. As I was headed to the bathroom I saw a woman picking something and eating it. That was another thing that was a new experience for me. After I used the restroom I walked over to where she was and I saw that there were wild strawberries growing. It felt strange, but I decided to pick one myself and eat it. When in Rome right? It actually wasn't ready yet and it was a bit sour but it was a new experience for me to forage on public use land. They also had a place for viewing salmon and I was excited for that because I love to go to my local fish hatchery but unfortunately we came in the wrong season and everything was dried up and empty. I definitely would have enjoyed that section of the park if it had been the right time of year and I think it's a cool experience that everyone should have. Overall this is a very good road trip stop or place to check out if you're in the area. I definitely learned a lot and I was able to just relax and appreciate the beauty of nature for a while.

During our lunch break we took a walk on the trail alongside the river. Didnt expect it to be so…read morenice. There was plenty of parking, nice grassy area, and picnic tables to eat lunch, which we did. The trail was shaded with trees and it was nice to just be by the river. Many beautiful nature photo ops. You can complete the trail in less than an hour. The only con is that its not completely quiet and serene since its close proximity to the freeway. Pretty much parallel. It was a nice change of scenery for a lunch break. I'm glad we went, such a beautiful day.

I have several favorite walks in Olympia including Capital Lake, Watershed Park, and Darlin Creek…read moreNature preserve. Each has its charms, but I keep coming back to McLane more often than any other. I like that there are always people there, yet it never feels crowded. Two loop trails joined by a connecting path provide plenty of options depending on your energy level and time limitations. There are several water features, and plenty of waterfowl to view. Much evidence of beavers, yet oddly I've never seen one. Dogs are allowed and honestly these are the politest dog owners around as I've never felt menaced as I have at some other locations. There is a pet waste collection bin, and people seem to use it. A rest room is provided, as well as a small covered picnic area near the larger parking area. Be sure to bring your Discover Pass as it's required for parking. If you don't have one, there are a couple of wide spots along Delphi Road where you could park.

This is a very easily walkable 1.1 mile trail that leads to a spawning ground for wild chum salmon…read more The trail is very well marked and level. I visited during mid December, so there were still a handful of salmon making their way upstream and spawning in the gravel beds. There's a little footbridge spanning over the stream and so you can get a good look at the fish swimming without being tempted to wade into the water itself (which is highly, highly discouraged since it's very easy to crush fish eggs and disrupt the migration). I would describe this as a multisensory experience as you can see the fish, hear them splashing in the water...and smell the dead fish. I wouldn't advise going if you have a sensitive nose! This was a cool experience otherwise.

Lovely and quiet. NOT accessible. You cannot drive to where you can see, let alone dabble your feet…read morein, the water. You can not drive to a restroom. The road going in is too steep for a wheelchair or a scooter. There is 1 picnic table at the parking lot, but no water, restroom, or garbage can. I was so disappointed that I couldn't access the water. The website didn't mention lack of access.

Frye Cove County Park is on the Eld Inlet, which is close to Olympia as the bird flies, but driving…read morethere gives you the feeling of seclusion. There is one main road, Steamboat Island Road, heading up the peninsula that has consistent traffic, but not so much to think that you are actually close to the state capital. Leaving Steamboat Road, you head deeper into this forest. Frye Cove lies at the end of one of these roads. There were an assortment of smaller trails at the park that ran along the water. We did see one fisherman there, a fly fisherman, and I was going to ask him if he was having any luck but I noticed that he was trying to finagle his fly out of a tree. This didn't seem like the ideal time to ask him if he was having any success, so we kept walking. My inclination was confirmed in the parking lot. He didn't have any success. Except for the truly knowledgeable fly fishermen, flyfishing is more of a way to appreciate nature's beauty rather than to reel in big fish.

Pioneer Park is AWESOME! I love going here with fellow doggy owners so our pups can swim in moving…read morewater.

Dropped by for the annual Dog Day in the Park event and it was great. Lots of freebies for your…read moredogs from the sponsors and vendors at the event. The Tumwater police will usually do a meet and greet along with doing a talk. There is an off leash watering hole for the dogs to run around in, so they have lots of fun.

Top notch camping site. In wet weather, the conditions can be a little marshy, but theres tent…read morecamping down the hill a bit that appears to be nice. It rained the whole weekend we were here but the host was pleasant and friendly, the people there definitely maintain the park beautifully, and the ranger came by several times which made us feel remotely safe. Plenty of fun in the area for boating and swimming, two spots for RV/Travel Trailer camping. It's a serene and beautiful site that was more than adequate for a weekend away. If you're looking for just a night or several weeks, this campground is well maintained with beautiful views, and friendly and hardworking staff members. Truly a gem.

Even though we used Google Maps, we still got a bit lost trying to find this spot. I think we ended…read moreup adding 30 minutes to our driving time because we had to make a bunch of U-turns. Anywho, eventually, we found this spot, and it was exactly how my aunt and uncle described it. Lots of nature and walking paths, and gorgeous views of the water. The campgrounds are also sizeable, and there were plenty of campers and families hanging out and enjoying the sunshine. There's also a little amphitheater area made of tree stumps and wooden benches with a wooden stage. I think you have a reserve that area if you wanna use it, though. This place is chill and great for passing the time (maybe like 2 hours or so if you meander through all of the walking trails). Also, it's pet-friendly.

Easy to find off I-5, Harry Todd Park is on the civilian side of American Lake. With bathrooms,…read morepicnic tables, playground, covered areas, and fishing pier- my kids and I went for fishing and playground. Didn't catch any fish but saw a couple folks who did, the fishing pier was easy and not too crowded (though not empty either on a Saturday). Playground was nice though the park had a lot of trash on the ground. Seems to be a place where folks know they can have a cookout for a bigger group. At least 2 groups were meeting up and had staked a claim on parts of the green space early. There is a decent sized parking lot with handicapped parking a lot closer. There's also a beach for swimming but not for me today (too cold!).

What a beautiful lake! Bring the whole family, fire up the BBQ, and enjoy a fun day together!read more

This is now my favorite state park. We tied-up to the last mooring buoy available on the south end…read moreof the island then paddled the short trip to shore in our kayaks. Our mooring ball was a little exposed and we endured a few large wakes, but the visit to the island more than made up for it.

Fun to kayak out to! The bathrooms are a bit gross. Neat little island to explore. Be careful…read moreduring windy days. Kayaking the sound can be dangerous. There are a lot of weird currents around Steamboat Island and the bridge.

Jacob's Point is a small preserve on Anderson Island with a 3 mile walking path that illustrates…read moreboth the beauty and the history of the island. There are many stops along the path, mostly to see the Puget Sound and Mount Rainer in the background. I'm always impressed with Mount Rainer because it seems to poke out of the skyline from nowhere. There are certainly Cascade Mountains that border Mount Rainer, but they are not nearly as high and nor are they visible unless you head towards the mountains. There is one stop showing the remnants of one of the first homesteads on the island. The only thing left is the brick chimney. Apparently, it was a hay farm for a few years before the family moved off the island to find work elsewhere. I can't imagine how hard it would've been to have a hay farm on the island. You would essentially have to provide all the food for yourself and figure out how to transport your hay to market. The most interesting part of the trail was the old brickyard. The mud in the area provided good brickmaking material and the cove on the Puget Sound enabled the brickmaker to ship the heavy bricks to buyers elsewhere. Initially, it didn't make sense to me to have a heavy brickmaking facility on a hard to reach island but if your mode of transport is feet away from the facility, it makes more sense. The boats would float into the cove during high tide before settling on to supports at low tide. At that time, they could fill the boat with bricks. The boat would raise off the supports at high tide and head to market. For someone like myself who grew up in the Midwest, it was interesting to see how businesses could use the tides to their advantage. Unfortunately for this particular brickmaking company, the brick market collapsed a few years after they started operation and were forced to shut down.

Although you can map the GPS coordinates, there is no precise address for the park entrance. From…read morethe ferry dock, take Yoman Road south, then when it turns into Eckenstam - Johnson Road (keep left at the Y-intersection) continue south. It's about 2.7-3.2 miles from the dock, depending on how you map it, with the trailhead and small parking lot with signage on the left. Anderson Island is worth a trip just to visit this pretty little trail. It begins by winding through a marsh on a boardwalk, then proceeds through open woods to the chimney and the site of the Jacob family pioneer family. From there, the trail leads to a clean, waterless composting pit toilet. and to some cutbanks overlooking the south side of Oro Bay. At low tide you can explore the kelp-y, pebbly beaches. I heard tell of a sea cave (also mentioned on park websites), but I did not see it for myself. I did however see the sea. The website also warns of being trapped by "sucking mud" and the tides. Certainly, when the tides are coming it, be sure to know where you got down to the beach and keep it in sight, as the banks are steep all around and access points are limited. Even if the tide is in, the end of the point features a stunning view of Mt. Rainier, shining bright, or reflecting brightly, rather. The trail is mostly level with a few bumps, well maintained, and easy to follow.