Great Places to Walk in Tacoma, Washington

With spring right around the corner and Old Man Winter's icy grip beginning to subside, I'm finding myself wanting to venture out of my walking norm. One of the places here in Tacoma Washington that is pristine for walking is Five-Mile Drive located in Point Defiance Park.

The 702-acre, family friendly park, sits nestled along the beautiful Puget Sound surrounded by Old Growth forests with literally miles and miles of trails. Suitable for walking, running, biking and hiking, all with views that will make you kick yourself if you forget your camera.

You will lose yourself on Five-Mile Drive as it is like stepping into another place in time. It's hard to believe it is adjacent to the urban sprawl of the city, when you enter the lush old growth forests that are relatively undisturbed. It's like stepping into a dampening field with the noise of the city being replaced with the sounds of the parks abundant wildlife.

Yes, I said wildlife! Don't be too surprised to see an occasional Deer, Raccoons, and the resident Bald Eagles that make this park their home. Watch out for Flying Fish, as I have had a close call with an eagle's lunch on more then one occasion and it is not a pleasant thing to step on, unless you're into the slime factor and are about 8 years old.

Five-mile drive is fully paved and very walker friendly having the walking lane clearly marked, with several pit stop stations and places to refill your water bottles along the way. There are also several points along the drive with picnic benches, which are available if you need to take a breather while out walking.

This is a Medium challenge walk, if you stick to the main road, as there are several medium inclines. If you are not used to ground variations while walking this will absolutely get some new muscles working. Glutes in particular, as the hills are perfect for toning those up quickly! You can always take the turn to Owens beach for even more of a challenge and add to your mileage a bit, but you may get a bit sidetracked with the wonderful beach and sweet view of Vashon Island.

This park is nearly always populated with other exercise enthusiasts and both the Ruston and Tacoma Police departments do make several passes through Five-Mile Drive. It is important to think about safety no matter where you are walking.
I am a firm believer in the buddy system both for safety and because I like to talk lot. Sometimes that is not possible so it is a good idea to have a cell phone along just incase you get an injury and need to call someone for help.

This park is open at sunrise and closes a half hour after sunset, 7 days a week, 356 days a year. However if there are high winds or very bad weather they will close five-mile drive. On Saturdays, Five-Mile Drive is closed to vehicle traffic until 1 pm, and open only to walkers, runners and bicyclists. It is a nice change and one does not have to worry about cars and can really enjoy this scenic walk.