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 42 trails covering 324 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.
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 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...
Closure Notice: Beginning September, 2020, the Interurban Trail will experience intermittent closures between 2020-2022 to make room for Lynwood Light Rail construction project. These closures will...
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...
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 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 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...
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...
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 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...
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...
Renton's Springbrook Trail is a good spot for a relaxed walk surrounded by nature in the heart of an urban district. The trail exists in two segments: the north segment begins in Black River Riparian...
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 Lake Boren Esplanade is a wide, paved pathway sitting on the west side of Coal Creek Parkway. The esplanade begins at Lake Boren Park and then parallels the road, offering glimpses of the lake...
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 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 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...
The Puyallup Riverwalk Trail traces the tree-lined shoreline in northern Puyallup, a few miles southeast of Tacoma. The paved pathway consists of two completed segments with about a mile of...
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 Grandview Trail runs in a straight line for more than a mile on the eastern edge of Pierce County's Chambers Creek Regional Park. The trail appropriately never strays too far from Grandview...
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...
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 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 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...
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 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 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...
The Grandview Trail runs in a straight line for more than a mile on the eastern edge of Pierce County's Chambers Creek Regional Park. The trail appropriately never strays too far from Grandview...
Elliott Bay offers trail users the opportunity to enjoy art, history, and a wide variety of outdoor activities in a beautiful waterfront setting. Myrtle Edwards Park is adjacent to the Olympic...
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 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...
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...
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 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...
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 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 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...
Closure Notice: Beginning September, 2020, the Interurban Trail will experience intermittent closures between 2020-2022 to make room for Lynwood Light Rail construction project. These closures will...
Renton's Springbrook Trail is a good spot for a relaxed walk surrounded by nature in the heart of an urban district. The trail exists in two segments: the north segment begins in Black River Riparian...
The Lake Boren Esplanade is a wide, paved pathway sitting on the west side of Coal Creek Parkway. The esplanade begins at Lake Boren Park and then parallels the road, offering glimpses of the lake...
Sumner Link Trail provides an important connection between the Interurban Trail and the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail. Along the way, the trail follows the White River, offering views of the water,...
Closure Notice: Beginning September, 2020, the Interurban Trail will experience intermittent closures between 2020-2022 to make room for Lynwood Light Rail construction project. These closures will...
The Grandview Trail runs in a straight line for more than a mile on the eastern edge of Pierce County's Chambers Creek Regional Park. The trail appropriately never strays too far from Grandview...
A shared use path runs along the Beacon Avenue in the Beacon Hills neighborhood of southeast Seattle. The path sits in the street's wide median and intersects with the Chief Sealth Trail around Dawson...
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...
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 Coal Creek Trail offers trail users a wealth of coal history, fitness, and nature in a forested fish and wildlife habitat, with interpretive signs that highlight the relics to be found along the...
Elliott Bay offers trail users the opportunity to enjoy art, history, and a wide variety of outdoor activities in a beautiful waterfront setting. Myrtle Edwards Park is adjacent to the Olympic...
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 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...
Closure Notice: According to the King County website, starting Sept.1, 2020 a section of trail will close between Newcastle Beach Park and Hazelwood Lane SE. No pedestrian detour is available for this...
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 Lake Boren Esplanade is a wide, paved pathway sitting on the west side of Coal Creek Parkway. The esplanade begins at Lake Boren Park and then parallels the road, offering glimpses of the lake...
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...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
Renton's Springbrook Trail is a good spot for a relaxed walk surrounded by nature in the heart of an urban district. The trail exists in two segments: the north segment begins in Black River Riparian...
Most of the trail was covered in garbage and debris including shopping carts EVERYWHERE! There were several homeless camps and tents throughout the trail and this tunnel on 19th street with piles of rotting garbage big enough to fill a dump truck! It was discussing! I even rode past a few used syringe needles! Very unsafe and horrible to see. Disappointed in our community.
This trail is trying its best. It does have its bad moments, like being poorly marked and running alongside a busy road. We all have our faults. I appreciate the quirks and under rated ship yard, and industry views. Take the good with the bad, and set your biases aside and enjoy the down to earth, no fuss no muss trail.
Nice trail pretty views the only problem is the trail stops in places and can’t find where it starts back up. Also detours .
We were blown away by how nice this trail is and all the fall colors still are popping. You might want to keep an eye out for horse poop piles hidden in the leaves, and was fun to see mixed use of this trail. I would have expected more people on this trail and will be back to section ride this trail to the coast.
Rainbow falls state park was a great spot to rehydrate and refuel before riding back. Take time to find paths to view the falls.
Overall, this trail was in great condition and a flat trail. Be mindful of the gaps between the gravel and bridges. I ended up breaking a spoke on this ride.
Paved portion of the Willapa Hills Trail is short, 5 1/2 miles, narrow and not well maintained. There are spots where it is so overgrown that it would be tight for passing.
Currently under construction and fenced off.
Looks like a great trail, but it appears to be closed for renovations. Not sure how much of it is closed, but the trailhead is under construction.
Started out at Renton Community Center and headed south. I wasn’t aware of the detour near the trestle which meant riding on the sidewalk along 169 for about a mile or so. Thankfully it wasn’t crowded but was a bit nerve wracking riding back with my 5 year old on the wide walk against oncoming traffic going 50mph - was relieved we didn’t have to share the sidewalk at all. We rode about 5 miles and then turned around. Overall really nice - virtually empty today maybe due to holiday weekend or bc so much sun exposure?
We were looking forward to trying out the ERC today since we were short on time but wanted to get in a ride. We arrived at Newcastle to find that the trail is closed for paving for the 2 miles bet Newcastle and Seahawks training facility. Riders are using on-road detour but hills were prohibitive for my new rider and we prefer trails to shared roads for kiddo’s safety. Decided to head to Cedar River Trail instead (which also had a detour but a shorter one on sidewalk)
I really enjoy this trail. I only run from Lynnwood to green lake. I guess it’ll be closing until the light rail construction is finished. Great run
Trail is closed for construction until 9/30/2020 west of the intersection with the Chehalis Trail. We didn’t feel comfortable detouring on the highway running parallel and are not sure how long the closed section was. We did enjoy our ride on it from Yelm to the closed point and then just turned around a did about 6 miles on the Chehalis trail before heading back to Yelm. Great cookie bakery in Ranier- The Cookie company on Main St. It was a bonus on the way back to Yelm.
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