Four Favorite Walks Near Tacoma, Washington

Those of us who are fortunate enough to live in western Washington state know exactly how lucky we are when it comes to places to explore. From the Tacoma area, for instance, Mt. Rainier National Park is a mere hour and a half away, and Olympic National Park is only two hours. Many state and even county parks enrich the countryside between those two places as well. But many times it's hard to get away, and all you really want is a good, local place to stretch your legs.

Here are four of my favorites:

Bradley Lake Park

The first one is in a most unlikely place, behind a Walmart and less than three blocks from a mall, but once you're out on the trail you'd never know it. Bradley Lake Park is a Puyallup (Pew-al'-up) city park, at 531 31^st Ave. East, just south of Hwy 512. It contains ballfields and a playground, but the biggest attraction is 12 acre Bradley Lake, encircled by a .8 mile paved, mostly level loop trail through woods and across the lawns. I've seen a bald eagle fish from this lake, and ducks and geese are regular visitors. The occasional rabbit can be seen where the grass meets the trees, and squirrels are common.

Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park

Another place to stroll or stride in a mile-long loop around a lake is, appropriately enough, in Lakewood, just south of Tacoma. The lake in question is Waughop (Wah-hop) Lake, and it is in Fort Steilacoom (Still-a-cum) Park, just off of Steilacoom Blvd. near the Oakbrook area of Lakewood. This is another good place to see waterfowl. On weekends, it's sometimes a good place to watch remote-controlled boat races, too. But most days it's a peaceful place to enjoy the quiet, just over the hill from the Fort Steilacoom campus of Pierce College.

Tacoma Nature Center at Snake Lake

The last two walks are in Tacoma itself. The Tacoma Nature Center at Snake Lake is an amazingly quiet place tucked in between Highway 16 and busy S. 19^th St., on Tyler St. The Nature Center itself is a fascinating place, with many programs and exhibits, but the trail, which winds along both sides of Snake Lake (named after its shape, not any particular denizens), is also a main attraction. Several different loops are possible, ranging from half a mile to slightly over a mile and a half in length. This trail comes with a guide leaflet, too, available at the Nature Center, which talks about the many plants and animals that are encouraged to live here.

The Promenade at Point Defiance

Then there's Point Defiance, one of the largest city parks in the United States at 702 acres, and located at the tip end of the peninsula jutting into Puget Sound that is the north end of Tacoma. The park contains a world-class zoo and aquarium, many gardens including an enormous rose garden, and the five-mile drive with its outstanding views. And miles and miles of trails, many through old-growth forest.

But my favorite walk at Point Defiance runs right along the water, between Owen Beach and the Boathouse (you can park at either end) for a little over half a mile one way. This concrete promenade is not far above the waterline at high tide, and shaded by enormous big-leaf maples. Waterbirds are everywhere, the views, from the Olympics to Mt. Rainier on clear days (photo), as well as Vashon Island and Browns Point, are spectacular, and the boat-watching is great fun. You can even watch the Tacoma-Vashon ferry make its sturdy way back and forth. When you're done with your walk, Owen Beach is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the scenery or to eat a picnic, and perhaps to contemplate even more exploration of this incredible park.

I hope you have the chance to explore and enjoy these trails as much as I have. Whether you're just visiting the south Puget Sound area of Washington, or are lucky to live here like I am, our local outdoors can be just as wonderful as the great outdoors this area is famous for.