This park is one of my favorites! I discovered this years ago and try to go whenever I can…read more Beautiful and serene.

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.

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.

Was on a drive from Portland to Tacoma, and I need to stop and stretch my legs so I found this…read moreshort hike right off the freeway and it is wonderful for a nice break. You can hear the traffic on the five freeway, but you are in the woods And you are able to get off and take a short hike without getting too far from your trip. I'd recommend this stop to anyone that needs to get out and enjoy the woods. Trail is very well-maintained and I haven't seen a soul. Old growth forest, all surrounding me. And while you're here, go see the state capital of Olympia.

It's a short, paved trail that has bikers, pedestrians, and pups making their way around. Beautiful…read morescenery, especially when there's snow. If you squint you can see some of the homeless camps in the distance and sometimes you'll see a bag of abandoned clothes or a transient sitting near the entrance or a broke down car with a homeless couple sitting in it so it can be a little sketch and you don't want to go alone. In spite of that, the place is lovely.

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.

What a gem in our back yard! Easy, flat well maintained…read moretrails, good for the whole family. No bikes allowed so safe for the little ones. A bird watcher's paradise any time of the year. Presently, lots of ducklings swimming amongst the water lillies that are in bloom. Lots of old timber and vegetation to walk through In the fall, spawning salmon in the creeks that have look-out platforms for your viewing Swimming in the main pond are beaver and other aquatic animals. A couple of modern outhouses that are fairly well maintained too. And for the price of a Discover Pass ($35 annually that covers 2 cars) you can visit 7 days a week. You can also buy a day pass on line. The penalty for no pass is quite expensive - $99 !

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.

Gorgeous hidden gem. Not a long hike but definitely steep. Your quads will feel it. It's on a…read morehillside so you're going mostly up or mostly down depending on where you start, and it has a few turns you can take to mix it up. Kids and dogs will love it. Great workout and SO beautiful. Huge ferns and maple trees, moss, mushrooms, snails, etc. Thank you to the first reviewer (Chris) for your description, this is a perfect little workout, and easy access from west Olympia.

Local walking trails on the southwest portion of Tumwater Hill. Access from the north or "top" of…read moreTumwater Hill Elementary School or from Ridgeview Loop in between some of the homes; enter from the south or "bottom" of the hill from Vista Loop SW, just off Crosby Blvd, near 2 lone homes. Open all year long, it's a step into the wilderness amidst this suburban community. It's kid & dog friendly too. I've spied rabbits, deer, salamanders, mushrooms & toads along the trails at different parts of the year. Ferns, evergreens & big leaf Maple trees line the well defined walking trails.

This is the biggest national forest I've ever visited! There are many ways to get in, but one thing…read moreis for sure..do not follow this Yelp address. It will only take you to the headquarters. The forest is an hour away from this building. You can type in the name into any map and choose one of the entrances. The way we went was through a back road passing several homes in the flat valley that's surrounded by mountains and woods. It will lead you to the welcome sign, then you'll pass a camp ground. There are less people going this way, so the hikes might only have 1/2 a dozen people on it. You will see many trails options, and they will all be gorgeous! The Skokomish Lower South Fork Trail is a great one. It has a very small gravel parking area, and it is a 6 mile hike in total. You'll go in 3 miles to Brown Creek, and then back 3 miles. I would say it's a semi strenuous hike. There's some down hill, and uphill, but mostly its level. Bring plenty of water, SPF, and snacks. Also stop at the restroom just before heading up the gravel road to the beginning of the trail. You'll pass a few little ice cold babbling brooks that will be very easy to walk across without getting your feet wet.

went here with Brandon and it was so nice with the clean air coming in at any elevation. There are…read moreshort and long hikes, so up to you what you want to do. There are levels to the hiking trails if you want steepness or not. Just do your research beforehand where it is you want to go and what it is you want because there is no signal here at times. this is a reeaaalllly big park, so a lot to do, but also a lot where you could get lost. there are winding roads to drive through and it gets a bit scary if you going during nighttime because the downhills make u go fast...especially with the snow ;-; watch urself and have gps on!!!!

I love this park! Such a beautiful area that is kid and dog friendly. It's a must-visit for the…read morearea.

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.