Explore the best rated trails in Olympia, WA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Cheshiahud Lake Union Loop and Seattle Waterfront Pathway. With more than 39 trails covering 318 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The delightful Ruston Way Path sits in the Old Town neighborhood of northern Tacoma. Its linear, flat and paved nature make it a cinch for all travelers and it offers lovely views of Commencement Bay,...
The Scott Pierson Trail runs parallel to State Route 16 for most of its journey from 25th Street in Tacoma to 24th Street on the southern edge of Gig Harbor. The 5-mile trail is a safe and convenient...
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The Interurban Trail between Seattle and Everett stitches together a dense residential and commercial patchwork that the original electric railway helped to grow in the early part of the 20th century....
The Alki Trail rides along the northern and eastern shore of West Seattle along Alki Avenue. Largely riding on a widened sidewalk, separated from traffic by a parking lane and curb, traffic on the...
The 14-mile Yelm-Tenino Trail travels through the rural towns of Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino on a paved route through agricultural areas, forests, and wetlands. Commuters can access Olympia, Lacey, and...
The Des Moines Creek Trail offers a nice connection between the south side of Seattle and the waterfront community of Des Moines on Puget Sound. The paved trail begins just south of the Seattle-Tacoma...
The Green River Trail currently stretches nearly 20 miles through the industrial heart of the Green River Valley from the southern suburbs of Seattle to Kent, connecting to a number of neighborhoods...
Tacoma's Prairie Line Trail follows the former Northern Pacific Railroad that was established here in 1873. Tacoma was the terminus of the rail line that stretched all the way to the Great...
Scenic and interesting are uncommon terms used to describe a trail alongside a busy freeway, but the I-90 Trail in Washington is different. The trail begins in the west in Seattle and runs for 10...
Gig Harbor's Cushman Trail is a paved, non-motorized route for pedestrian and bike use. The trail shares much of its corridor with overhead Tacoma Power electric lines. Along the way, trail users will...
Running north to south along the industrial Duwamish Waterway, the 3-mile Duwamish Trail is an important connector in southwest Seattle. Beginning a half mile south of the Alki Trail, the Duwamish...
The Eastside Rail Corridor Trail, built on a former BNSF freight railroad, will one day traverse 42 miles through King County, connecting Renton, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Woodinville. In 2018,...
The Chehalis Western Trail follows the route of a Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. railroad by the same name that carried millions of logs out of Washington forests to the coast for shipment from the 1920s to...
Across the waterway from its big brother (the Burke-Gilman Trail), the Ship Canal Trail runs along the southern edge of the Lake Washington Ship Canal near Seattle Pacific University. The trail links...
When complete, the Sound to Olympics Trail will extend across Kitsap County to link two Washington State regional trail systems: the Mountains to Sound Greenway to the Olypmic Discovery...
The Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail is located in Lake Sylvia State Park north of Montesano on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The interpretive trail winds through the deep forest and alongside scenic...
The Chehalis Riverfront Walkway provides a scenic route from the south side of Aberdeen to the sprawling Bishop Athletic Complex along an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade and levee. The...
The Chief Sealth Trail runs northsouth along Seattle's southeast side between S. Ferdinand Street at Beacon Avenue S. and S. Gazelle Street at 51st Avenue S. The paved trail provides access to...
The Thea Foss Waterway Esplanade begins at Thea's Park along Tacoma's eastern waterfront. The park offers access to the water for fishing, swimming, boating, and wildlife viewing (harbor seals and sea...
Spanning nearly 19 miles between Seattle and Bothell, the Burke-Gilman Trail is as much a thoroughfare for commuting to work and the University of Washington as it is a staple for social recreation...
This short community rail-trail connects the cities of Aberdeen and Cosmopolis through some original wetland areas. The trail also leads directly to the large sports complex at Pioneer Park, while...
The Thea Foss Waterway Esplanade begins at Thea's Park along Tacoma's eastern waterfront. The park offers access to the water for fishing, swimming, boating, and wildlife viewing (harbor seals and sea...
The Soos Creek Trail travels through heavily wooded forest on a north-south route spanning the eastern edge of the Seattle suburb of Kent. Following the path of its namesake creek, the trail begins...
Meandering down a Bonneville Power Administration overhead electric utility corridor, the BPA Trail serves as a connector between Celebration Park and the downtown areas of Federal Way with its...
Gig Harbor's Cushman Trail is a paved, non-motorized route for pedestrian and bike use. The trail shares much of its corridor with overhead Tacoma Power electric lines. Along the way, trail users will...
The Scott Pierson Trail runs parallel to State Route 16 for most of its journey from 25th Street in Tacoma to 24th Street on the southern edge of Gig Harbor. The 5-mile trail is a safe and convenient...
When complete, the Sound to Olympics Trail will extend across Kitsap County to link two Washington State regional trail systems: the Mountains to Sound Greenway to the Olypmic Discovery...
Across the waterway from its big brother (the Burke-Gilman Trail), the Ship Canal Trail runs along the southern edge of the Lake Washington Ship Canal near Seattle Pacific University. The trail links...
The Foothills Trail is a 30-mile collection of six unconnected segments of the old Burlington Northern Railway that served the farming, coal-mining, and logging economies near the base of Mount...
The Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail is located in Lake Sylvia State Park north of Montesano on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The interpretive trail winds through the deep forest and alongside scenic...
Scenic and interesting are uncommon terms used to describe a trail alongside a busy freeway, but the I-90 Trail in Washington is different. The trail begins in the west in Seattle and runs for 10...
The West Campus Trail provides access from the BPA Trail to Federal Way's West Campus medical centers. The short trail also offers the many surrounding neighborhoods a safe off-street connection to...
The Green River Trail currently stretches nearly 20 miles through the industrial heart of the Green River Valley from the southern suburbs of Seattle to Kent, connecting to a number of neighborhoods...
The Chehalis Western Trail follows the route of a Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. railroad by the same name that carried millions of logs out of Washington forests to the coast for shipment from the 1920s to...
Running north to south along the industrial Duwamish Waterway, the 3-mile Duwamish Trail is an important connector in southwest Seattle. Beginning a half mile south of the Alki Trail, the Duwamish...
The Alki Trail rides along the northern and eastern shore of West Seattle along Alki Avenue. Largely riding on a widened sidewalk, separated from traffic by a parking lane and curb, traffic on the...
The highly urban Seattle Waterfront Pathway is a continuation of the Elliot Bay Trail and carries on south from Broad Street south to South Royal Brougham Way. The trail parallels Alaskan Way along...
An adventure awaits those who tackle all, or part, of the 56-mile-long Willapa Hills Trail in southwestern Washington. The former Northern Pacific Railway line rolls through remote farm and forestland...
The East Aberdeen Waterfront Walkway is a 6-foot wide asphalt trail that meanders along the north side of the Chehalis River in Aberdeen. Historically, this land was used for industrial purposes, and...
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The Cedar River Trail follows the old Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad corridor on a straight, flat shot out of the sprawling Seattle metro area and into the rural...
The Soos Creek Trail travels through heavily wooded forest on a north-south route spanning the eastern edge of the Seattle suburb of Kent. Following the path of its namesake creek, the trail begins...
The East Aberdeen Waterfront Walkway is a 6-foot wide asphalt trail that meanders along the north side of the Chehalis River in Aberdeen. Historically, this land was used for industrial purposes, and...
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The Interurban Trail (South) connects several towns south of Seattle along the historic route of the Puget Sound Electric Railway. The trolley ran between Tacoma and Seattle from 1902 to 1928, falling...
The scenic Soundview Trail runs along and through the Chambers Bay public golf course—site of the U.S. Open in 2015—within Pierce County's Chambers Creek Regional Park. The 2-mile trail links at both...
The 14-mile Yelm-Tenino Trail travels through the rural towns of Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino on a paved route through agricultural areas, forests, and wetlands. Commuters can access Olympia, Lacey, and...
This short community rail-trail connects the cities of Aberdeen and Cosmopolis through some original wetland areas. The trail also leads directly to the large sports complex at Pioneer Park, while...
The Interurban Trail between Seattle and Everett stitches together a dense residential and commercial patchwork that the original electric railway helped to grow in the early part of the 20th century....
Across the waterway from its big brother (the Burke-Gilman Trail), the Ship Canal Trail runs along the southern edge of the Lake Washington Ship Canal near Seattle Pacific University. The trail links...
The Green River Trail currently stretches nearly 20 miles through the industrial heart of the Green River Valley from the southern suburbs of Seattle to Kent, connecting to a number of neighborhoods...
When complete, the Sound to Olympics Trail will extend across Kitsap County to link two Washington State regional trail systems: the Mountains to Sound Greenway to the Olypmic Discovery...
Commuters move between the cities of Olympia and Lacey along a former Burlington Northern corridor now known as the Woodland Trail. The Chehalis Western Trail runs north and south from the midpoint of...
The Chehalis Riverfront Walkway provides a scenic route from the south side of Aberdeen to the sprawling Bishop Athletic Complex along an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade and levee. The...
An adventure awaits those who tackle all, or part, of the 56-mile-long Willapa Hills Trail in southwestern Washington. The former Northern Pacific Railway line rolls through remote farm and forestland...
Tacoma's Prairie Line Trail follows the former Northern Pacific Railroad that was established here in 1873. Tacoma was the terminus of the rail line that stretched all the way to the Great...
The delightful Ruston Way Path sits in the Old Town neighborhood of northern Tacoma. Its linear, flat and paved nature make it a cinch for all travelers and it offers lovely views of Commencement Bay,...
The Chehalis Western Trail follows the route of a Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. railroad by the same name that carried millions of logs out of Washington forests to the coast for shipment from the 1920s to...
The Green-to-Cedar Rivers Trail is an extension of the Cedar River Trail, which heads south from Witte Road where the two trails intersect. The Green-to-Cedar Rivers Trail passes through Lake...
Spanning nearly 19 miles between Seattle and Bothell, the Burke-Gilman Trail is as much a thoroughfare for commuting to work and the University of Washington as it is a staple for social recreation...
The Alki Trail rides along the northern and eastern shore of West Seattle along Alki Avenue. Largely riding on a widened sidewalk, separated from traffic by a parking lane and curb, traffic on the...
The Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail is located in Lake Sylvia State Park north of Montesano on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The interpretive trail winds through the deep forest and alongside scenic...
Love this trail. To be honest I'm a bit attached to it since it's the first trail I rode and it's only 2 miles from home. I ride it almost every day even in the winter. It's pretty deserted at night except for a few people but it's a delight. I normally start at celebration park and go all the way to madrona park, but on weeknights, I turn around at 356th st because there are some drivers who don't stop even when the crossing lights are flashing. But it's an absolute delight and gives me a work out due to the hills
Just moved to the Bonney Lake area. I bought my house at it's location with this trail as a main part of the decision making process. It has not disappoint me. Me and fur babies have been going there every chance we have since Sep 2019. Not a lot of people. Even on weekends. When you go more than 1 mile beyond the parking lots, there's really no one there walking except the cyclists. It's pretty peaceful and quiet. The only segment that I don't like is at the South Prarie lot toward the RV park. The residents from the RV park use the same trail for their dogs. Unfortunately, there are a couple of residents with big dogs that don't pickup their dog poop. I used to walk my dog through that segment. I would carry extra bags to help bag them up. In one short segment around the RV park, I easily can bag up 6-8 poops (not including my own pet's). Especially if I've not been there a couple of days. I wish those pet owners would take more responsibility to keep the trial clean. I'm not saying not to go to that segment. But, be careful where you, your kids and your dog step.
Other than the RV park segment, the rest of the trail is serene, well kept. It is a safe haven for cyclists and walker / joggers.
I give 5 stars to what has been completed. It is definitely an urban trail, but I love that it stops by parks along the way. It is so much nicer to be able to have a trail to not only take walks but to travel between areas to shop. I look forward to its continued development. I hope that all the cities involved do a better job of keeping pedestrians in mind as they plan for the future.
What a beautiful ride especially in the fall. The Foothills Trail is all around awesome!!!!
My entire family has enjoyed using this bike path for many years. The views are beautiful, especially near sunset. The path is heavily used by walkers, joggers, cyclists and rollerbladers. Always using proper trail etiquette, passing "on your right" and this should reduce the possibility of any mishap.
My wife and I finally rode this trail over the weekend and we couldn't be more thrilled at the great workout it provided us. Trail started out through a quiet section of Renton, but got louder as it followed a busy road. The trail provided a lot of chances to see the Cedar River. We stopped and turned around at the end of the paved trail and just raved at the views and the total experience. We will definitely come back and ride the whole stretch.
I've ridden the entire length of this trail once by myself and twice with my wife, who is new to riding. We both enjoy the ever changing scenery as the trail hugs the Green River. There are some iffy spots, mostly late in the day, due to some homeless encampments under some of the bridges/overpasses. On those portions of the trail, I usually take lead with her riding close by.
Bikers we've encountered are generally friendly folks.
Rode the whole trail first 12 1/2 miles paved too bad it is so close to road. The last part which is a hard packed gravel is very pretty all in woods crossing back and forth over river
My mothers family is from the area, and lived in Lebam, so was interested in riding a section. Happened upon a local who said that the edges of trail were mowed at least yearly to keep branches and blackberry vines back and this section was being finished. Thanks to info re: getting on from Robertson Rd, I located the very small entrance and rode about 3 miles W to the Trap Creek Bridge. Trail reminiscent of a very long private road with 2 small single tracks and some grassy patches. Doable on cross bike or better.
I ride this trail twice a week from Everett to work in Mountlake Terrace and mostly love it. The areas in which you actually ride on the trail are wonderful. That means the sections from about Lynnwood Park & Ride thru Everett. I often am alone on those sections of trail, and I love to look over at stopped traffic on I-5 and feel smugly secure that I'm getting to work faster and with better exercise than those people.
The negatives of this trail are as people described: it starts and stops and sometimes there are sketchy people. There are several streets in which the trail stops and the rider has to cross streets -- 128th Street, 164th Street, approaching the back side of Alderwood Mall, and most of Mountlake Terrace including 220th Street. Those aspects of the trail are frustrating because they break the riding flow and make bikes feel like second class transportation. I especially hate the uphill/downhill approaching the mall, as it required riding on the road up a hill. It's a shame the city of Lynnwood couldn't widen that bridge to allow for bikes. Near 128th Street, the trail ends at an apartment complex and you have to ride through an area congested with kids in the afternoons, requiring weaving through people. Then on the other side of 128th, towards Everett, there are occasionally sketchy people who you can just bike away from.
Despite these frustrations, I love my Interurban Trail and am happy to ride it frequently. It's been improved over the years, especially thru Lynnwood, and riding it is a great way to start and finish the day.
The trail was fantastic. The road noise from construction going on the street above was very scary for me and my dogs. We parked at Blyth Park, well maintained park area and easy access to the trail. It was a HOT day and it was nice to find a place where the dogs could jump in the water and kool off.
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