What a find! Take a stroll along the little loop around the lake, over the bridge and through the woods. Easy parking. Nice views. Bottom line: Nice little park and place for a walk! read more

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I'd say Wapato Park is a decent place to go for a walk along the trailhead, especially around the lake. There's a dock and pedestrian bridge area where many people fish or disembark from a boat. There's also plenty of picnic areas, pergolas, and grassy areas with shade where you can take food, read, or just have a conversation and relax. I also observed a dog park in close proximity as well as unleash areas in and around the park. My only complaint was that I had an encounter with a gaggle of aggressive geese that left me kind of uneasy, but other than that, it was a fairly calm environment. read more

Beautiful park for walking, has a nice big lake with lots of ducks! I will always come back here when I'm in the area :) great for walking alone or with your significant other. read more

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It is a very nice park to take the kids or walk the trail. It's nice that it's a level so it doesn't hurt my bad knee.

I love coming to Wapato Park to walk around the lake. There is always a decent amount of people here and ample parking available. The restrooms are decent - sometimes they aren't in the best condition, but it's a public park so I get it. My kids love the playground and watching all the ducks here. My favorite time of year to visit is early summer! read more

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I'm not sure why this is considered a business to recommend but it definitely is a park to recommend. It is a great for walking while viewing all different kinds of plants and trees. Great place to play Pokémon. A great place to bring kids and great place to go walking with or without dogs. Makes a great place altogether including the lakes and dog parks. I'd love to see the original plans and the property used to be Someone's sure did a wonderful job. read more

This is a lovely place to get out and walk around! The lake has a ~1 mile trail going around it. Flat, paved, and highly accessible for all. A couple of bathrooms along the way, and plenty of views of the lake. There's also an area with dog parks, a fairly sizable shelter, and a playground. Lake is stocked with trout and fishing is allowed for children, seniors, and those with a harvester card. Swimming is allowed; I personally wouldn't, but if that's what floats your boat! Definitely a nice park if you're in the area! read more

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I've always enjoyed coming to Wapato Park!! The trail around Wapato Lake is under 1 mile, just over 3/4 of a mile. The path is wide enough for runners and walkers, and it was great coming here in the morning. There's 2 parking lots here, I also seen 2 restrooms, and they were very clean and well kept. This is a very nice park, clean well maintained. Glad I was able to come here a few times during my stay!! read more

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Just a walking trail, they could easily improve the quality of the pond/lake, instead citizens act like it's the toilet for their dogs. I have no idea how they get away with having a kids camp here, absolutely ridiculous! read more

Now wait a min, this has been in the middle of South Tacoma?! Who knew? Back home, one of my favorite past times was to watch the sunset over the ocean and journal/do devotionals. But when I moved here, I ended up getting a place that's pretty landlocked, and I saw that the sound was ~30-45min away depending on the day :(( But lately, I realized that I could cry no longer- Wapato Park happened to be relatively near me! After the gym one evening, I jumped at the chance to check it out, and it's truly a neighborhood gem! Little Wapato Lake is essentially a wildlife sanctuary with ducks galore. Surrounding it are boardwalks that jet into the lake, green areas, and a paved path that loops around the lake. How neat! Now I know where to go when I want to decompress- thankful to have found this place! read more

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I love this place. It's very peaceful and the lake is beautiful. If you're in the Tacoma area, go to this park and just stroll around the lake. It's worth it. The park for kids is always kept up. And if you're adventurous, this park has a lot of secret little passage ways to get lost in. read more

Wapato Park - Lake. - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I think walking around Wapato Lake on a warm evening in the summer is one of the most relaxing ways to spend an evening. It has a little something for everyone. For my husband and I, it is a chance to enjoy a tranquil walk. For our daughter, there is the playground and ducks. For our dog, a million things to sniff and the dog park. There is even a man who plays Disney songs on a mini tuba by the water on Friday nights. I have never had any safety concerns and while there are occasionally inconsiderate people, there are also a lot of families. read more

Wide, flat path with offshoots and amenities. Pretty lake, nice trees and shrubs, respectful people. Popular for dog walkers, joggers, exercisers, chit-chatters, and family strolls. Well done, Metro Parks Tacoma. read more

Who knew this gem was hidden in Tacoma. Nice path around the lake which is level and easy to walk. Saw some folks fishing and apparently they stock the lake. There is a bridge across the wetlands which is fun. Picnic spots with tables and lots of grass for the kids. We saw turtles and ducks as well. There is also a dog park which looked very nice with an area for both large and small Dogs read more

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Loved this park. Clean, family restrooms, wheelchair/stroller accessible, pets on leash and beautiful view of the water. Squirrels, birds and ducks of all kinds. Parking at main park and more addtional parking at other entrance where the dog parks is located. I didn't not check out the dog park and only walked around the water. Playground in park. Walkers keeping safe distance of other due to Covid 19. Plan on returning soon. Bring binoculars! read more

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Huge park with a beautiful lake, hiking trails, playground, clean restrooms with running water (at least the ones by the lake) and a dog park. My husband and I, along with our little girl dog came here on a Monday afternoon around 1:30 pm. We parked and walked towards the lake and found a table to sit and eat our picnic lunch. Nearby, there are 2 unisex (single use) restrooms to use with running water, which was clean upon this visit. There is also a water fountain and nearby is a playground for your little ones. I can't believe that there is no admission for this park because it is well maintained, clean and has plenty of greenery. After our lunch, we went for a light hike. There are numerous of trails here. If we had more time or if we lived near by, we would definitely come back. What a shame there are not more parks like this (especially those that are free). read more

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God this park is so amazingly beautiful and well kept. The landscaping is on point. They even have a dog park. I'm sold! Seriously though, you really have to see how well kept this park is. I'm glad I decided to drive around while waiting for the near by Value Village to open. Now I can check one more park off my list of parks & trails in my trails of Washington book. Going around the lake is about 1.25 miles give or take. There are some off the beaten path trails too. Even if you drive in the upper part and you see the police substation, even the landscaping and sculpture outside the police department is nice. I'm glad that I've found a new park to visit with a cool lake (no swimming allowed) and nice grass to sit in to read a book and a great trail to walk or bike. They've got restroom facilities and a really nice playground too. They are right about DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE though. Those squirrels are a hot mess. read more

Beautiful family park Enjoyed the covered area Nice location for a wedding #weddingsbyshari.com read more

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This's my favorite Metro Park In Tacoma Washington. Beautiful for spending a day with the nature around the lake,also good for family with kids. Is lovely place for walking and jogging too.Cheers and Shares salphotoworld.com read more

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This park overall is great, we have enjoyed riding our bikes here, my kids have loved playing in the playground area and there's a great walking trail that loops around the park. There's picnic tables for bbq or parties and you could rent the pavilion building. It's a beautiful park, has lots to offer. If you have fur babies don't forget to stop by the off leash dog area, it's a great place. There's a big dog, small dog and little trail off leash area. read more

Most weekends I almost always have something planned on going to visit. This usually means having to go out of town however last weekend I behaved myself and stayed close to home. I did want to do a little bit of an outing however and went to Wapato Park. I have been here at least once but stumbled across it more by accident when I did stop here and could never recall the name. I made a promise to my myself to return and go on a walk around the beautiful lake here. The walk around the lake is very relaxing and you can see all kinds of water fowl there. Some features to the path though were not currently available for some reason. For instance there is a very nice dock you can go out on and get a really good view but the entrance to get on there was sealed off. Some edges around the pond are a little scummy and there are signs that you and your pets should not go swimming in the pond due to toxic algae. Yikes! Despite those off putting features to my stroll it was overall a beautiful lake as well as the rest of the park. I didn't go to inspect it but there is also a leash free dog park here too which would be nice for your pooches to get in some exercise! read more

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This is one of those urban oases, where you're within a few blocks of a major interstate but you're surrounded on all sides by dense foliage and peaceful green space. There's a good-size lake for walking some short laps (smaller than Green Lake Park in Seattle, but similar vibe), and there's a cool off-leash dog park (separate Yelp entry). There's not much to say about this park other than that it's both super easy to get to and also surrounded by very busy streets; it's well-maintained but the facilities are modest, and every chunk of green space in an urban setting is a bit of a blessing. This is more of a park for people to get their walks in, for themselves and their dogs, than it is a showpiece for the parks system. But it's very necessary and the Metro Parks District is doing a great job maintaining it. read more

What a great park! I never knew this place was here especially with all the business that have appeared to grown up around it keeping it hidden away. I recently came here for a fund raiser on a weekend and had the pleasure of enjoying the many activities at this park. There is a wonderful walking path around the lake with hidden places to picnic, play sports and venture out on side roads. Taking the main road up further will lead you to a seperate fenced dog park and other walking trails appearing to offer several smaller parks within the large one. Beautifully designed for park dwellers pleasure. It feels like a smaller quaint version of seward park or Golden Gate park. Defintely a urban oasis! Downside, parking is limited and scattered at each park location. It can be very difficult and requires patience in circling to find a spot. A police station is also located at the entrance of the park so I would advise not illegally parking =D read more

The Dog Parks were great, the dogs were friendly and the people are nice. The park is compartmentalized into a small dog park, all dog park, and big dog park. The upper dog park (all dog park) had many trees and a bit of that forestry feel which my furbaby and I love. I noticed some people not picking up after there dogs here and there, which is gross, I mean it makes the place feel dirtier than necessary... but hopefully that changes. (Come one guys, we can do it ) Definitely will come back though, love the size of it read more

I actually went here late at night. I don't know what the whole park looks like in the morning but the night view was pretty too :) I hope to come here again in the daytime to visit. read more

I've waiting so long to give this park a chance because I've always driven past it and assumed it would be too close to busy intersections to be nature-y enough to enjoy as a park. It's a pretty decent sized urban space for picnicking, playing, walking, or just enjoying a gorgeous Washington day. A simple walk around the little lake is really pleasant, short-but not to small 0.9 mile walk on paved pathways and gorgeous scenes of lily pads and wildlife. Two separate restroom facilities along the way make for a clean, convenient amenity. There is a playground for little ones, a rental venue on the lake and a pretty trellis near additional parking. Further into the woods there are several dog parks that have lots of puppy owners socializing. The park is well-kept and and has felt like a safe place each time I have been there, for the most part. read more

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Very pretty and clean park. It's less 'forest-y' and more open. The lake is cute, not very big. Lots of animals! There also a lot of runners, dogs, and people just out in a hike. Very well kept. read more

Wapato Park - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Apparently Wapato Lake has been cleaned out because it's bright bluish green and you can see clear to the bottom now! Beautiful. read more

Wapato Park - Wapato Lake - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Well the walk around the lake is nice and the waters very clean. You dont see any poop on the walk way for the most part because I just seen some right after typing that out. Lol. I have to say its not a bad walk if you want to see lots of people on your workout. As a runner in a gym I couldn't run here although there is runners here. Its just not for me to many people walking dogs kids in strollers as a new runner I wouldnt like zig zaggin around kids and elderly. But as a dog walker and as a fitbit walker I love this park. The police stations in the end of the parking lot so it feels safer then other places to walk. They could really improve the bathroom facility as there is only TWO BATHROOMS and they are not clean . The water fountains taste okay but I don't know if its asking alot but in the future id love to see all gyms and parks add ice makers. For water bottle users. It took me 14 minutes walking at normal speed to get around the lake which by my fitbit charge 2 is 2050 steps for me . That info is for fitbit users most people dont care for all that info Sheree A Spindel read more

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This is a great park in Tacoma ! The neighborhood isn't the best, but there is plenty of parking. My boyfriend and I come here often, as they have a closed off section for dogs ! Many people come to the dog park, and there is also a separate park for small dogs ! Dogs are free to run off leash, and poop bags / disposal bins are located inside the park. There is also a water fountain and dog bowls for all the dogs to drink out of ! read more

Great hidden park! It has a nice short loop around a lake and a few random trails off the main path. The entrance is beautiful with a small waterfall, pretty flower landscaping and large white columns. We've seen many different types of birds, turtles and fish. read more

This park is quite beautiful! Our little weenie dog loved coming here to look at the ducks and roll in the nice green grass. The restrooms are clean, and they do a wonderful job of caring for the grass and keeping the path around the lake clean. read more

Very beautiful park I love how it goes around the pond very beautiful view and interesting park

Great park to get a walk in with you're dog & friends. Great clean space & yard. Wish they had more signs where to go to the dog park on the trail but it was good overall. read more

My experience here was ruined by some shady people sitting in black Kia parked by the dog park. They were acting weird and had dumped numerous used condoms and wrappers on the ground next to them - so disgusting. There were also couple people hiding in the brush (homeless?). And a guy in main parking lot blasting rap music as loud as he could with F word and N word for all the kids to hear from his car with his car doors wide open. I don't know what's happening with this park, but I'm never going here again. read more

This isn't the worst park I have been too, but it isn't the best. But for the Tacoma area this is a really great park. My dog and I walk around the lake almost daily. So beautiful no matter what the weather. No complaints on this end, except if you are going to take your running kid into the off leash dog area don't get mad at my herding dog for chasing after the animal/kid that is running. It's in her blood to herd. And I shouldn't have to leash up my dog in the off-leash area because you don't want your kid chased. read more

Wapato Park - Found this while jogging :) - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Such a beautiful park. Me and the fur baby walked all the way around the lake. I loved how their were benches along the whole park. Lots of wide open spaces. The parking lot was good size. They had a playground area and a huge off leash dog park is located to the right just as you turn off of the main road. I love who you could stroll in the open space near the lake or in the forest. Also found my first painted rock, and this cute little tree face. This park also had some small picnic benches and a picnic area covered Pavillion. Also what looked like a huge room to rent. Great photo opportunities at this park. read more

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Growing up, I lived only a few blocks away from Wapato park. My brother and I would bike over almost every day during the summer. They have improved this park so much! The loop around the lake wasn't always there, part of it was gated off because there were private homes on the far side of the lake. For a long time, this park has always been a bit, well, ghetto. Kind of shady and you really didn't want to be there after dark. That's changed. There's now a police station right on the edge of the park and the maintenance department as been working hard to clean everything up. They started doing some major improvements to this park in the last few years. The improvement plans look great. I'm so happy to see this park getting the face-lift it needs. Lots of fun memories here! read more

I love this park! I have been coming here since I was a kid. I feel like we have been through a lot together lol at one point this park had seen better days, but now it is just as beautiful as before. Plus the dog park is awesome. This is a great place for a night time jog, never too crowded and it is very well kept. I rarely ever notice garbage. Oh yeah and I feel really safe here! Considering tpd has an office right on the 72nd side and they let there presence be known which I like! read more

Wapato Park - Watching the ducks... - Parks Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

I'm glad I re-discovered this park, where the old baseball fields used to be now is a cool off leash dog bark area. Or you can walk around the lake, let the kids play at the playground. Plenty of restrooms here, and plenty of parking too!! DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE!! read more

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